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David Gest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Alan Gest (born May 11, 1953) is an American television producer and concert promoter.
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Gest was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Southern California where he counted Michael Jackson and his brothers as childhood friends. He currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee.
Gest and Liza Minnelli were married on March 16, 2002 and separated less than a year and a half later, in July 2003. In October 2003, he sued her for $10 million, claiming that she had been violent and physically abusive during their marriage, behavior the affidavit blamed on Minnelli's persistent alcoholism. Minnelli denied the accusations, claiming Gest was simply after money. The suit was dismissed in September 2006 for lack of triable issue of fact.
Gest is known as an avid collector of Hollywood and Broadway entertainment memorabilia. His collection of items belonging to Minnelli's mother, Judy Garland, is said to be one of the most extensive in the world.[citation needed] A rhinestone-studded glove from Gest's collection once worn by Michael Jackson recently appeared on eBay with a reserve price of $250,000..
Gest finished in 4th place on the 2006 series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here! on ITV in the UK and proved to be popular, with his stories and "Get me outta here song" with fellow contestant Toby Anstis. He was "evicted" from the show on 30 November 2006.
During his time in the jungle, Gest participated in two "Bush Tucker trials". One trial involved him being shut in a tank which gradually filled with water. Whilst this was occurring, he had to open several compartments in order to obtain "stars" which would earn his fellow contestants meals. However, when he opened the compartments, David was joined in the tank by various animals including crocodiles and spiders. In the other trial he was joined by winner Matt Willis and Jason Donovan. They had to slide into freezing water and throw a dart at a balloon to burst it to earn one star.
Whilst on the show Gest told many funny and bizarre stories which he claimed to be true. These included a tale of a woman who didn't eat fruit for a week and consequently died, one saying that he was once forced to survive a week in the Grand Canyon after going exploring there, spoke of a hotel specifically catering to people with albinism called Albino Heights, and famously claimed that his maid is called Vaginica Seaman, apparently named after her mother's favourite body part.
In January 2007, David appeared as a judge on ITV1's Soapstar Superstar, for one night replacing Michael Ball who was coaching the singers.
Later that month it was announced that David had been signed by ITV to appear in his own reality series, The David Gest Show.
David will be part of the team of judges for ITV1's forthcoming series Grease Is the Word.