Marcus Gilbert, who immortalised Jilly Cooper’s leading man Rupert Campbell-Black in Riders, has died at the age of 67.
The actor, who also featured in shows including Doctor Who and Murder, She Wrote, died on Sunday after living with throat cancer for three years.
The Bristol-born actor is survived by his two children, son Maxi and daughter Aaliya. He was married to Homaa Khan-Gilbert up until her death in 2020 from pancreatic cancer.
A Facebook fan site for Gilbert shared a statement reading: ‘Today we have heard the very sad news that Marcus lost his battle against cancer on January 11, 2026.
‘We, along with his many fans worldwide, will mourn his loss, and remember the joy he gave us on screen and in person. RIP Marcus.’
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Gilbert’s daughter Aaliya previously shared her father’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, following the death of her mother.
Gilbert was most recently in a relationship with fellow actor Lysette Anthony, who starred in Hollyoaks and Two Up, Two Down. She has yet to comment in response to news of his death.
The actor’s peers have begun to share their tributes, including prominent Doctor Who fan Toby Hadoke, who posted a carousel of images of Gilbert, who played Ancelyn in the Whoniverse, to Instagram.
In the caption, he wrote: ‘Dashing, charming, and a strong actor with a bit of a twinkle – very sorry to learn of the death, too young, of Marcus Gilbert with whom I had a lovely time in Liverpool about a decade ago.
‘He was also great in Doctor Who’s Battlefield and had a terrific role in Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness.
‘He also told me how much he earned from being part of the second Gold Blend saga of commercials: eye-watering! Lovely chap: wore his attributes lightly.’
Who maestro Russell T Davies commented underneath writing: ‘Oh that’s sad news’.
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