Dean Gaffney
Dean Gaffney |
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Dean Martin Gaffney (born 14 February 1978 in Hammersmith, London) is an English actor who is most notable for his role as Robbie Jackson on the BBC1 soap opera EastEnders from 1993 until 2004.
Career
Gaffney trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone,[1] as well as the Ravenscourt Theatre School in Hammersmith.[2] He is best known for playing the role of Robbie Jackson in the popular BBC soap opera, EastEnders.
EastEnders
Gaffney's first appearance in the show was aired in November 1993 and remained in the role for eleven years. In 2003 the executive producer, Louise Berridge, made the decision to axe Gaffney along with the actress Bindya Solanki, who played his on-screen girlfriend Nita Mistry. In a press report Berridge commented "we do feel that the characters have reached the end of their natural course in the show, and they will both be leaving in Spring 2003".[3] Since his initial exit Gaffney has made one further appearance in the soap, returning for a brief visit in 2004 for the wedding of his on-screen half-sister Sonia Jackson (played by Natalie Cassidy).
In August 2006, Gaffney allegedly issued EastEnders a plea, to 'come and get me', as he wanted to make a return to the soap, for his on-screen sister's exit. However a BBC spokeswoman confirmed: "There are no current plans to bring Dean back to EastEnders".[4]
Other roles
In November 2006 Gaffney appeared as a guest star on the long-running ITV serial drama The Bill. Gaffney played Gavin Josef, a cocky wide-boy who was connected to an assault investigation.[5] This is Gaffney's second role in the programme, having previously appeared briefly as Paul Moose in 1993.
In 2007 Gaffney toured with the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, performing The Unexpected Guest. He played Jan, a 19-year-old murder suspect with learning difficulties.[6] He also appeared in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's Christmas 2007 Special of Extras, playing a less successful version of himself, working at the Carphone Warehouse with Merchant's character, Darren Lamb, and former EastEnders co-star Shaun Williamson.
Reality television appearances
In 2003 Gaffney took part in the ITV reality television series The Club. Gaffney took on management of a bar in a London club named Nylon and competed with two other celebrities, Richard Blackwood and Samantha Fox, to be awarded the title of 'the most successful bar manager'. Gaffney was the eventual winner.[7]
Gaffney appeared on the 2006 series of the ITV reality show, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. Thursday 16 November 2006 saw Gaffney perform his first Live "Bushtucker Trial" (dubbed the Bush Spa). Gaffney's trial was based around beauty salon treatments and required him to stick his head in hoards of cockroaches and sit in a sauna of rats in exchange for "stars". Gaffney collected nine stars, which are used in exchange for the camp's meals.
On the first elimination day, he was one of the two celebrities who might have gone out, but Toby Anstis left instead. Gaffney eventually left the jungle in fifth place following a double eviction on Thursday 30 November 2006. Gaffney was the eighth person to be voted out of the jungle, leaving just one day before the live final.
Personal life
Gaffney has developed a reputation as a ladies man and has been linked to a string of glamour models including Jordan, Michelle Daniels, Keeley Hazell, Katie Weale[8] and Alicia Douvall.[9] He has also been the victim of several 'kiss and tell' press stories,[10] perhaps most famously from Douvall who labelled him "terrible in bed".[11] Due to this he was made a member of Russell Brand's fictional "womanising circuit" in Big Brother's Big Mouth (along with former EastEnders co-star Michael Greco).
On September 17 2006 The People ran a story claiming that Gaffney, who was once paid £120,000 a year in EastEnders, is now on the dole.[12]
Gaffney lives in Surrey. He and Sarah Burge are the parents of twin daughters, Charlotte and Chloe. Gaffney and Burge were in a relationship for 10 years and were engaged. However in March 2007 it was reported that Burge had called off the engagement after she discovered that Gaffney had cheated on her with another woman, 18-year-old hairdresser Sasha Levy.[13] This is not the first time Gaffney has cheated on Burge. While appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! he admitted to David Gest that he has cheated on her in the past.[14]
Trivia
Gaffney is an avid supporter of chelsea.[15]
Filmography
- Rain in Hell (2003)
- EastEnders (1993–2003, 2004) — Robbie Jackson
- Extras (2007) - Himself
References
- ^ "Sylvia Young Theatre School", Sylviayoung.co.uk. URL last accessed on 2006-12-10.
- ^ "Ravenscourt Theatre School", Ravenscourt.net. URL last accessed on 2006-12-10.
- ^ "Dean Gaffney to leave 'EastEnders'", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Dean + Gaffney = No EE return", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Gaffney, Robson and Stapleton to guest on 'The Bill'", Digital Spy. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "The Unexpected Guest", BBC. URL last accessed on 2007-06-21.
- ^ "THE CLUB", thecustard.tv. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Gaffney in Bar Row with Glamour Models...", Showbiz London. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "STAR SECRETS: KISS & TELL", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Celebrity turn out for BSkyB music channel launch...", Showbiz London. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Celebrity Sex: Kiss and sell", Sunday Mirror. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "STARS WHO FELL TO EARTH", The People. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.
- ^ "Dean Gaffney dumped by fiancee?", Digital spy. URL last accessed on 2007-03-18.
- ^ "Gaffney Admits to Affairs", entertainmentwise.com. URL last accessed on 2006-12-10.
- ^ "Why I love...Brentford", BBC Sport. URL last accessed on 2006-09-25.