TV’s original Riders leading man Marcus Gilbert has died at the age of 67 following a three-year battle with throat cancer. The actor, who played the dashing character of Rupert Campbell-Black in the 1993 TV adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Riders, died at the weekend. He is survived by his two children, son Maxi and daughter Aaliya.
Marcus had been in a relationship with fellow actor Lysette Anthony. A fan site for the actor shared the sad news of his passing on Facebook with a statement which read: “Today we have heard the very sad news that Marcus lost his battle against cancer on Sunday 11th January 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.”
His daughter revealed in 2020 that her father had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the same time tat his wife of 28 years, Homaa, was battling pancreatic cancer. Homaa died the same year.
Fans left tributes on the site, with one saying: “Gone home, in the arms of the angels and Homaa. Oh my goodness. RIP Marcus. Such sad news.”
His role as Ancelyn in the Doctor Who episode Battlefield, led the programme’s showrunner Russell T Davies to pay tribute himself, writing: “Oh, that’s sad news.”
His actor pal Toby Hadoke, 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.”
Toby added: “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.”
After he lost his wife, Marcus said: “I wasn’t prepared to be involved with anyone after my wife. Homaa, which means bird of paradise in Urdu.”
Despite this, in 2023 he did find new happiness with Lysette, with whom he’d starred in A Ghost In Monte Carlo in 1990. He is said to have found love with Lysette, 33 years after they first kissed on-screen. A friend of the actress revealed at the time: “It’s a serious romance and has been going on for some time. They make an adorable couple. Lysette is head over heels with him.”
On social media, Lysette posted pictures of the two of them together, using shots of them kissing in the 1990 film, which is based a Barbara Cartland novel, alongside pictures of them at the time. She captioned the Instagram post: “My Forever Love.”
