Following the death of singer and actor Darius Campbell Danesh, Entertainment Reporter Rishi Davda looks back at the highlights of the star’s career. Tributes have been paid to former Pop Idol contestant and West End star Darius Campbell Danesh, who has died aged 41. The Scottish singer and actor was found dead in the bedroom of his US apartment in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 11, his family said. The cause of his death remains unknown. His old mentor and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell remembered Campbell Danesh as “charismatic, funny and just a great person to be around”. In a statement issued after Campbell Danesh’s death, his family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Darius Campbell Danesh. Darius was found unresponsive in bed in his apartment room in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 11 and was pronounced dead that afternoon by the local medical examiner’s office. “The local police department confirmed there was no evidence of intent or suspicious circumstances. The cause of his sudden death is currently unknown while medical examinations are ongoing. “We ask that you kindly respect our wishes for privacy at this time while we come to terms with the tragic loss of our son and brother.” The singer first rose to fame after appearing on ITV’s Popstars in 2001. Credit: PA The star – then known as Darius Danesh – shot to fame on ITV’s Popstars in 2001 and also appeared on the first ever Pop Idol coming third behind Will Young and Gareth Gates. His debut single, Colourblind, was released in July 2002 and went straight to number one, marking the start of a string of top 10 releases. He went on to a successful stage career, appearing in Chicago as Billy Flynn in two runs of the production, as well as Guys And Dolls, Gone With The Wind and more in the West End. Campbell Danesh lived in the US and found love with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, whose films include the sci-fi hit Species. The couple married in 2011 at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, but split a few years later. After coming third on Pop Idol in 2010, he won the first series of ITV’s Popstar To Operastar competition, beating Bernie Nolan of the Nolan Sisters in a close final. A few months after winning the ITV show, which featured Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins and Mexican-born tenor Rolando Villazon as judges, he landed his first major opera role as he covered a new production of Carmen at London’s O2 Arena. He took on the lead role of the toreador Escamillo in the production, for a unique performance that marked the first opera in the venue at the time. In 2011, speaking about reprising the role of Chicago trial attorney Flynn, he said he had based his portrayal of the character on Simon Cowell. Darius Campbell Danesh with his Chicago co-star America Ferrera. Credit: PA Campbell Danesh, who starred alongside Ugly Betty star America Ferrera in the Prohibition-era Chicago musical, said: “He’s the perfect businessman and a great guy and there’s a lot of Simon Cowell in Billy Flynn in the way he approaches things. and I recognize it in character.’ He credited Cowell with convincing him to take the role in Chicago in the first place. He said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had and all the opportunities that have come my way and to be able to call Simon Cowell a friend and to be able to have dinner with him.” Paying tribute to him after the singer’s death, Cowell said Campbell Danesh was “charismatic, funny and just a wonderful person”. friends,” he said in a statement. Campbell Danesh was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and an Iranian father. The eldest of three boys, he attended Bearsden Primary School before studying English literature and philosophy at Edinburgh University. Although he found fame as Darius Danesh, he later changed his name to incorporate his mother Avril’s maiden name, Campbell, after an emotional visit to his grandfather in a Paisley nursing home made him reflect on his Scottish heritage. He became a supporter of cancer charities, including Cancer Research UK, after both his parents recovered from the disease. Campbell Danesh went on to carve out a successful career on stage. He also made a foray into Hollywood as a co-executive producer on the 2016 horror film Imperium starring Daniel Radcliffe. Stars of stage and television paid tribute to the singer. Host and former Hear’Say member Myleene Klass tweeted a link to a video of the Campbell Danesh performance, along with a caption that read: “Everyone needs to see this show. Darius, you were so talented, so kind. A true family man. My thoughts are with them now.x”West End actress and singer Carrie Hope Fletcher tweeted: “This is such sad news” and shared a broken heart emoji. TV and radio presenter Nicki Chapman said Campbell Danesh was a “true gentleman”. Chapman, 55, who was a judge on Popstars while Campbell Danesh was a contestant on the show in 2001, tweeted: “There will only be one Darius Campbell Danesh. “A true gentleman with a kind soul and a mischievous twinge in his eyes. From that crowded first audition on Popstars to him kindly inviting me to see him perform on the West End stage. “Thoughts are with his family at this sad time.” Chapman was later a judge on the music competition series Pop Idol, which also starred Campbell Danes. Liberty X member Jessica Taylor, whose group was formed on Popstars, tweeted: “I’m so sad. Darius was only 41. He was an absolute gentleman and I know that all of us who did Popstars with him will remember him with great fondness. He had a way of bringing us all together and had such a natural warmth about him. Rest in peace dear man.” Tune in to the ITV Unscripted News entertainment podcast
