I
f there’soneskillthatcomedian
GuyWilliams’dadGaryhastaughthim,
it’sblindconfidence.“Whenwewere
youngkids,hetookustotheStaples
Center,whichis thebiggestbasketball
stadiuminAmerica,andGarywalked
straightuptothesecurityguardsandsaid,
‘Ohhi,we’refromNewZealandandwe’re
heretoseeKobeBryant,’”laughsGuy,31.
Andwhilehisdad’sattempttomeetthe
basketballgreatfailed,it’sa techniquethat
Guy’susedrepeatedly.“I wasembarrassed,but
sincethattimeI’veusedit whenI’mstalking
SonnyBillWilliams,AllBlacksandevenKaty
Perry!It workssometimes,it genuinelydoes!”
WhenWoman’sDaychatstothedynamic
fatherandson,there’sa lotoflaughterand
memoriestobeshared,withGary,66,revealing
thatGuy’scareerpathwasveryunexpected.
“Therewasa cartooncharactercalledMr
Magoo– a littleman– andGuywasbornlike
that,”recallsGarywitha laugh,addingthat
hissonwasdeliveredbyCaesareansection,
weighingmorethana whoppingfivekilos!
“Guywasa good-naturedboy,almosttoo
good.Hewaswell-behaved,obedientand
compliant.Henevergavehisschoolteachers
anytrouble.”
AndwhenhissonflewthecoopfromNelson
to Wellington’sVictoriaUniversity,Garyimagined
a futureinpoliticsorlawforhisson.But
Guy’spathveeredina differentdirectionwhen
hethoughthewasgoingona dateatthe
university’sComedyClub– onlytodiscoverthe
girlhadbroughta largenumberofpeoplealong.
“I doubtif anygirlwouldhave invited you
out,”teasesGary.
“Shotsfired!”repliesGuy.
Buthelaughedsohardatthecomedy
gigthathe’sneverlookedback.Theaward-
winningcomedianhasperformedliveand
onradio,butis bestknownforhisroleonJono
andBen. Andnowhe’ssettoreturntoour
screensashostofThree’sNewZealandToday,
travellingthecountryinvestigatingoddand
interestingstories.AndGarycouldn’tbeprouder.
“Whenyouhavechildren,youwish
they’lldowellandfindsomethingthey have
a passion for,” he says. “It’s great.”It’s a special time for
A CHIP O
Family guys
Justa coupleof
funnyguys!Dad
Garythoughthis
boywasheaded
fora careerinlaw,
butGuygotthe
last laugh.GUYWILLIAMS
& DAD GARY
18 Woman’s Day