Marcus Gilbert has died aged 67 following a three-year battle with throat cancer.
The actor was best known for portraying Rupert Campbell-Black in the 1993 television adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Riders.
The Bristol-born performer passed away on January 11 2026, according to a statement shared by a fan page on Facebook.
“Today we have heard the very sad news that Marcus lost his battle against cancer on January 11, 2026,” the statement read.
Marcus Gilbert passed away on Sunday
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“We, along with his many fans worldwide, will mourn his loss and remember the joy he gave us on screen and in person.”
Mr Gilbert is survived by his son Maxi and daughter Aaliya.
His career spanned film, television and theatre, with notable roles across a wide range of genres.
He appeared as Ancelyn in the Doctor Who serial Battlefield and featured in Rambo III alongside Sylvester Stallone.
During the late 1980s, Mr Gilbert was reportedly considered for the role of James Bond
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He also took on a memorable role in Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness and appeared in the long-running American series Murder, She Wrote.
During the late 1980s, Mr Gilbert was reportedly considered for the role of James Bond, though the part ultimately went to Timothy Dalton.
His screen presence and leading-man qualities made him a natural contender, though his career ultimately followed a different path across British and international productions.
Tributes poured in following news of his death.
The actor's most recently relationship was with Lysette Anthony
|Actor and Doctor Who enthusiast Toby Hadoke shared a series of photographs on Instagram, describing Mr Gilbert as “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 wrote.
Mr Hadoke praised his performances in Battlefield and Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness, adding: “Lovely chap: wore his attributes lightly.”
Doctor Who showrunner Mr Russell T Davies responded to the tribute, commenting: “Oh that’s sad news.”
Mr Gilbert had previously spoken about his lucrative work on the second series of Gold Blend coffee commercials, which Mr Hadoke described as “eye-watering” in terms of earnings.
The actor was married to Dr Homaa Khan-Gilbert for 28 years until her death from pancreatic cancer in 2020.
His daughter Aaliya revealed that same year that her father had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease while his wife was battling her illness.
Speaking about his late wife, Mr Gilbert once said: “Homaa, which means bird of paradise in Urdu, had the ability to laugh.
His career spanned film, television and theatre, with notable roles across a wide range of genres
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"It was an intoxicating, tireless laugh. I couldn’t imagine loving anyone else.”
In later years, Mr Gilbert found companionship with actress Ms Lysette Anthony.
The pair first worked together on the 1990 film A Ghost in Monte Carlo before reconnecting more than two decades later.
Ms Anthony, who was once described by photographer Mr David Bailey as the “face of the 1980s”, has not yet publicly commented on his death.
Mr Gilbert’s theatrical background formed the foundation of his acting career.
In 2000, he played the young Viscount Goring in a production of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband.
Beyond acting roles, he appeared in more than 50 television commercials.
Among them was a Lee Jeans advert titled Mean Jeans, directed by Mr Willi Patterson, which won best cinema commercial in 1986.
His advertising work, including the Gold Blend campaigns, proved highly profitable and helped sustain his career between screen roles.
Born in Bristol, Mr Gilbert leaves behind a legacy spanning four decades across stage, screen and commercial productions.
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