Gary Chowen

Gary Chowen was born in Toronto on Yorkville Avenue. He started his hairdressing career at the tender age of thirteen. At seventeen, he was given the opportunity to go to Los Angeles to become Cher's personal hairdresser on the highly acclaimed Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. He, along with designer Bob Mackie, were responsible for creating her signature look. It was Gary's work on the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour that inspired the Academy of Television Arts and Science to create a category for the recognition of hairdressing on the Emmy Awards.

Gary continued to work on many well known television shows, both in the United States and Canada. His credits include the Emmy Award winning special Romeo and Juliet with Dorothy Hamill, the telefilm Breakfast with Les and Bess starring Dick Van Dyke and Cloris Leachman, and The Execution of Raymond Graham starring Morgan Freeman to name a few. Gary has had the privilege of coiffing the manes of many celebrities, including Vanessa Redgrave, Jon Voigt, Loretta Swit, Richard Pryor, Burt Reynolds, Jan Smithers, Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Jay Leno, John Byner, K.D. Lang, and Crystal Gayle.

Gary continues to contribute his knowledge and skills to both the hairdressing and television industries.