Sudden death of showbiz journalist

Renowned showbiz journalist Garth Pearce (pictured) who started his career writing for the Walsall Observer, has died aged 77 after recently having been diagnosed with cancer.

Garth, whose daughter Dulcie is The Sun’s film critic, went on to work for other regional titles before joining the Daily Express aged 25 in 1973 as a reporter. He rose to the position of Showbiz Editor before taking redundancy in the 1990s. However, as a freelance, he was still writing articles for The Sun until his death.

In an incredible career, he visited 35 countries interviewing Hollywood A-listers, TV’s biggest celebrities and rock stars. He was the only reporter who could be bothered to visit the set of the predicted Hollywood flop called Star Wars. He knew all six James Bonds (according to The Sun feature writer Mike Ridley, Garth was the only journalist Sean Connery ever trusted) – and was the only British journalist to go on the first-ever tour with Eurovision winners ABBA.

“I’ve lived the life of a celebrity without having the misfortune of being one,” he once said.

All in all, Garth was invited on to more than 500 film sets to meet the stars of some of the world’s biggest blockbusters. He also wrote eight books, including “The Making of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves” where he met Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman - on set under the Heathrow flight path instead of Sherwood Forest!

Much of his work was syndicated world-wide

Garth’s daughter Dulcie, the Sun’s film critic, said: “He remained the best storyteller and a hilarious raconteur until the very end.”

Jasper Carrott, his life-long friend after they met as teenagers, said: “Garth was such a dear, devoted, generous friend who lit up the room wherever he was.”

Another pal and fellow West Bromwich Albion fan Adrian Chiles added: “Garth always had the right words - written in a lovely fountain pen hand. A true gentleman.”

Garth, who died on 5 February at his home in Berkshire, is survived by Davina, his wife of 52 years, and daughters Dulcie and Gemma.

Photo: Supplied by Garth’s family