DANESH TOOK WORLD BY STORM
FORMER Pop Idol favourite and West End star Darius Campbell Danesh has been found dead in his US apartment at the age of 41, his family announced.
The singer and actor was found in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 11 — although the cause of death remains unknown.
A statement 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 in the afternoon by the local medical examiner’s office.
“The local police department has confirmed that there were no signs of intent or suspicious circumstances.
“The cause of his sudden death is unknown at this stage while medical examinations continue.
“We ask that you kindly respect our wishes for privacy at this time whilst we come to terms with the tragic loss of our son and brother.”
The Scottish singer-songwriter and actor — known as Darius Danesh when he made his first bid for fame on the ITV show Popstars in 2001 — also appeared on the first Pop Idol, which Will Young won.
The show also brought us hit acts Hear’Say and Liberty X.
Slated
His infamous theatrical rendition of Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time on the show was slated by the judges.
However, despite the criticism, TV audiences felt differently.
Although losing out to Young and Gareth Gates in the show, Darius did well enough to be offered a deal from Simon Cowell, which he later turned down.
The Scot went on to forge 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.
He later found love with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, becoming a stepfather to her two sons.
The couple married in 2011 at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, but were divorced several years later.
Darius suffered a health scare in 2017 when he collapsed into a near-fatal coma after accidentally drinking dirty water from the River Thames while shooting an advert for a charity water filter.
“I drank the water for the video and raised the funds, but when I went to Glasgow to see my mum for her birthday, I collapsed,” he later said.
The singer explained it happened because the filter he used was a dummy version.
“It turned out I had a cerebral oedema where your brain swells bigger than your skull.”