Scottish singer and actor Darius Campbell Danesh, who became popular with his  ITV talent shows Popstars and Pop Idol, died Aug. 11, 2022, at the age of 41.

Campbell Danesh was born in Glasgow on August 19, 1980, to a Scottish mother, Avril Campbell, and an Iranian father, Booth Danesh. His family live in Bearsden. He is the eldest of three boys – his younger brothers are Aria (born 1983) and Cyrus (born 1995).

Campbell Danesh attended Bearsden Primary School and the Glasgow Academy, before going on to study English Literature and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

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He came third on Pop Idol behind Will Young and Gareth Gates in 2002. Under the name Darius, he recorded two studio albums, Dive In (2002) and Live Twice (2004), with both reaching the top 40 in the UK Albums Chart.

His debut single, “Colourblind,” reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 2002. His next singles, “Rushes” and “Incredible (What I Meant to Say),” reached top ten in UK in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

After making a breakthrough in the chart, he went on to become a West End star, appearing in musicals like Chicago and the Olivier Award-winning Guys and Dolls.

He played the originating role of Rhett Butler in Sir Trevor Nunn’s theatrical adaptation of Gone with the Wind.

“I look back at it all with fond memories, and with deep appreciation of the support of the British public at a time when I first went through Popstars – I made mistakes and I was too cocky and I didn’t have humility,” Campbell Danesh said, reflecting on his career in an interview with Digital Spy in 2017.

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“I came back with a willingness to learn from my mistakes and to simply share my voice and love of music,” he added. “I have deep respect for anyone who puts themselves in the position of being judged or being possibly put in the position of public criticism.”

At age 29, he assumed the lead role of Escamillo, Carmen’s lover. Also in 2010, he starred in The History of the Big Bands tour.

In 2011, he married Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, but they divorced a few years later.