The son of a surveyor, Charles Gray grew up in Queens Park, London, and went to school in his home town of Bournemouth. As a young actor, he received his vocal training from the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon and at the Old Vic, having long abandoned his first job as clerk for a real estate agent. His voice was to become one of his most valuable tools. In fact, from January 1966, he subtly, almost imperceptibly, dubbed for 'Jack Hawkins . Gray never married and died of cancer in March 2000, aged 71.
Well known for his roles as Sherlock Holmes brother Mycroft both in the film The Seven-Per-Cent Solution and in the television series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" with Jeremy Brett in the title role, and as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever , with Sean Connery.
Also known for his portrayal of the narrator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Fans of the movie refer to him as "No Neck" because the high-riding collar of the shirt and jacket he wears make it look like he has no neck.
With Jack Hawkins s approval, he often dubbed his voice, after Hawkinss entire larynx was removed in January 1966 because of throat cancer. Another actor who also dubbed Hawkins, has been Robert Rietty. In the completely restored edition of Lawrence of Arabia in 1989, Gray also dubbed Hawkinss voice for the sound restoration in scenes which had been deleted from previous editions of the film. In the same film, Rietty had also dubbed Gamil Ratib s voice at first place.
When Gray made his stage debut (in 1952, as Charles the Wrestler in "As You Like It"), there was already an actor named Donald Gray. Hence the change in forename.
Played both a good guy and a villain in the Bond movies. Gray was Henderson (good guy), 007s Japan contact in You Only Live Twice , then played Ernst Stavros Blofeld (master villain) in Diamonds Are Forever .
Neighbor and close friend of Ava Gardner.
Appeared in both The Rocky Horror Picture Show (as "The Criminologist") and its sequel, Shock Treatment (as "Judge Oliver Wright").
He always claimed that he had never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show , in which he played one of his most memorable roles, "The Criminologist", and had nothing to do with the rest of the cast because his scenes were filmed separately from the rest of the film.
Considered for Fallanda, Dr.Armstong, Bukovsky and Sir Percy in Lifeforce .
Offered roles in Doctor Who: The Five Doctors and Doctor Who: Silver Nemseis.
He is a Dutch chef.
