Marcus Gilbert Obituary: Riders Star and Actor Dies Aged 67
The actor Marcus Gilbert, who has died at the age of 67 following a battle with throat cancer, achieved notable fame in the 1990s for his portrayal of the charismatic and controversial character Rupert Campbell-Black in the television adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel Riders. His career spanned several decades and included roles in major film franchises such as Rambo and Evil Dead, alongside a variety of television appearances that cemented his status as a versatile performer.
Rise to Fame with Riders and Beyond
Gilbert's breakthrough came with the 1993 mini-series Riders, based on Jilly Cooper's popular Rutshire Chronicles. In the show, he played Rupert Campbell-Black, a bed-hopping showjumper known for his ruthless rivalry with fellow rider Jake Lovell, portrayed by Michael Praed. The role involved around 20 explicit sex scenes, marking a stark departure from the more chaste heroes he had previously played in adaptations of Barbara Cartland novels. To prepare for the part, Gilbert underwent a significant transformation, losing half a stone, dyeing his hair blond, and receiving horse-riding lessons from Household Cavalry instructor Richard Waygood at Knightsbridge barracks.
His performance in Riders catapulted him to sex-symbol status and led to a lucrative four-year contract in 1993 for Nescafé's Gold Blend advertisements, where he appeared alongside Louise Hunt, succeeding Anthony Head and Sharon Maughan. Despite this success, Cooper later criticised the production as "dreadful" and described Gilbert's portrayal of Rupert as a "total wimp," and the role did not lead to sustained stardom for the actor.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Bristol on 20 July 1958, Marcus Gilbert was the son of Sheila Lucas, a mezzo-soprano opera singer, and George Gilbert, a business executive. He grew up in Shoreham, West Sussex, and faced tragedy at the age of 12 when his father and maternal grandparents died in a car crash while travelling to see his mother perform. Gilbert, the sole survivor of the accident, was hospitalised with a cracked skull and broken ribs, an experience he later described as leaving him "lost and didn't really know what to do."
After leaving Steyning Grammar School with A-levels, he initially pursued a business studies course to honour his father's memory but soon turned to acting, training at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. His early career included touring schools with the Odyssey theatre company and repertory work in Dundee, with roles in productions such as Cabaret, For King and Country, and What the Butler Saw in 1982.
Television and Film Roles
Gilbert's television career began with small parts in series like Diana (1984), Master of the Game (1984), and Robin of Sherwood (1984), where he first worked with Michael Praed. He gradually took on more prominent roles, including the German diplomat Anton von Felseck in The Masks of Death (1984) and Eric von Stalhein in Biggles (1986). In the late 1980s, he was reportedly considered for the role of James Bond but lost out to Timothy Dalton.
His starring role in the 1987 television film A Hazard of Hearts, an adaptation of a Barbara Cartland novel, saw him play the ruthless Lord Justin Vulcan opposite Helena Bonham Carter. He followed this with another Cartland adaptation, A Ghost in Monte Carlo (1990), where he starred as Lord Robert Stanford and had a brief off-screen relationship with co-star Lysette Anthony. Gilbert married Homaa Khan in 1992, and after her death from pancreatic cancer in 2020, he renewed his relationship with Anthony in 2023.
In film, Gilbert appeared as a villain in Rambo III (1988) alongside Sylvester Stallone and in Army of Darkness (1992), the third instalment of the Evil Dead series. On television, he played Ancelyn, knight commander of King Arthur's forces, in the 1989 Doctor Who adventure Battlefield.
Later Career and Personal Ventures
Following the fame from Riders, Gilbert's acting roles became less frequent, with guest appearances on shows such as Murder, She Wrote (1994), The Lazarus Man (1996), Jonathan Creek (1998), and Doctors (2001). He also toured in a theatre production of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband in 2000, but parts dwindled over time.
In response, he founded Touch the Sky Productions, focusing on corporate documentaries and travelogues. Notable projects included Kilimanjaro: Six Days (2005), documenting his ascent of Africa's highest mountain, Two Men & a Map (2007) about Peru, and Kathmandu: Transitions & Traditions (2018).
Marcus Gilbert is survived by his partner Lysette Anthony, and his two children, Maxi and Aaliya, from his marriage to Homaa Khan. He passed away on 11 January 2026, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances in both television and film.
