Michael John Robert Gill(1928-1991)
- Actor
Michael was born in Braintree, Essex, England. His father was a country
doctor and his mother was the former Molly Gibbs. As a boy he was
chosen "mascot of the day" at the British Air Base during World War II
and a decade later, would serve in the Air Force himself. After his
discharge, he moved to London, where he trained as a dancer on the
theatrical stage. The highlight of his show career was dancing with
Sally Ann Howes in "Summer Song". Lack of theater work in the 1960's
caused him to change careers and he returned to school to become a
butler and chauffeur. His first position was with film actor Lawrence
Harvey, who he served for over seven years. He came to the United
States to be closer to his sister and her family and became butler to
the Marquise de Pins at Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa Valley for the next
several years. During that time he was hired to be "Private English
Butler for a Day" for an American family on a television show in Los
Angeles. By 1972 he became butler and driver to Cyril Magnin, the Chief
of Protocol of San Francisco. Michael served many elaborate dinner
parties for the "rich and famous" and became a fixture at the finest
private affairs in the city during the 1970's and 80's. Highlights of
his career were to have served U.S. presidents: Gerald Ford and Jimmy
Carter, Alice Faye, Tennesse Ernie Ford, Beverly Sills, Vivian Vance,
Clint Eastwood, Pat Montandon, and countless other celebrities. He
worked many special parties for the British Consulate and in April
1982, served Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip when they came to San
Francisco on a state visit. Though he was a permanent resident of the
U.S.A., Michael remained a proud British citizen and "loyal" to the
royal family. He retired in 1987 and moved to San Diego where he
enjoyed his retirement relaxing in Pacific Beach. He had a walk-on part
in the movie "K-9" with Jim Belushi, but missed his many friends in San
Francisco, so he returned in August of 1989, just a couple of months
before the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck. A month later, he caught
pneumonia and quickly fell victim to AIDS. He became part of the San
Francisco General Hospital program in testing new drugs against the
disease. Michael died less than a year and a half after the earthquake.