Takes more than a hat and sunglasses for Gary Busey to avoid being recognized. All he has to do is open his mouth and you can’t miss him! Gary has highly recognizable teeth! Although they did seem even bigger when he starred in The Buddy Holly Story…
Above, Gary shopping at pavilions in Malibu
Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA
Acquaintances of Gary Busey are not the least bit surprised that he filed for bankruptcy because he’s “never had a good grip on his finances.” “Gary still spends and acts like he’s an A-list star” we were told. Gary was nominated for an Oscar for “The Buddy Holly Story” in the late 70’s, followed by a number of successful movies like ”Lethal Weapon.” After that, his income went down, but his spending DIDN’T. He’s never owned a house because he always had bad credit. But he HAD to keep up “the image” so he RENTED a (modest) Malibu house for years, and drove a 20 plus year old Mercedes. Recently Gary got lucky and clicked on the reality show circuit (above, Gary on Celebrity Wife Swap) and made some money, but “spent it like the big star he isn’t any more.”
ABC is upping the ante for their culture clash show Celebrity Wife Swap by booking two religious fanatics for the reality series – disgraced evangelist Ted Haggard, and crackpot actor Gary Busey, who is also a minister with Promise Keepers. Haggard became famous when he was caught doing drugs and having sex with a male prostitute. He allows he’s probably bisexual and has returned to the ministry. For some reason his wife Gayle is still with him. Certainly anybody who can not only put up with Gary Busey’s annoying habits (played out on Celebrity Rehab,) AND have a baby with him, is puzzling. These WOMEN will be fascinating. Gary’s baby-mama Steffanie >Sampson will trade places with Ted’s wife Gayle on the show and the rest is up to Jesus.
There’s no doubt that Gary Busey is, indeed, a celebrity. He’s appeared on Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrity Rehab, Celebrity Apprentice, and now he’s on Celebrity Close Calls on the bio channel. The show is all about celebrities who’ve had near-death experiences, and features (our favorite) re-enactments. Gary of course, talks about his nearly fatal motorcycle accident. Click Here for the show’s video.
A “dramatic” situation is percolating on Celebrity Apprentice this season: Deaf actress Marlee Matlin met Gary Busey for the first time, and she immediately observed that he spoke too loud and had trouble understanding conversations. She realized he was partially deaf and pulled him aside and suggested he see her hearing doctor. The doc told Busey he had only 40% of his hearing and fit him with a hearing aid. (Since it was filmed for the show, he probably got it free.) He communicates better now, but what he says is still pretty outrageous.
Gary Busey seems to be making a decent living thanks to reality shows. He made around $100,000 as the loose cannon on Dr Drew’s Celebrity Rehab and now he’s set to appear on Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump. The other day he was pulled over by police for suspected drunk driving but he passed sobriety tests and was released. Here he’s relaxing in the park (in his pajama bottoms?) with his girlfriend Steffanie Sampson and their one year old baby Luke.
Also from the Hollywood Collectors Fair, Gary Busey (Celebrity Rehab) made lots of money, but whenever he had a free moment he was seen socializing with attractive women. According to a witness, both actors and fans were subjected to his overt flirtation and angling for phone numbers. Surprising, because Gary has a girlfriend waiting at home (Steffanie Sampson, above, who must have a screw loose) with his two month old baby Luke.
