Darius Campbell, a former Pop Idol finalist and theatrical star, was discovered dead in his US apartment room at the age of 41, according to his family.
The singer and actor was discovered dead on August 11 in Rochester, Minnesota, while the cause of death is uncertain.
It is with great regret that they inform the demise of Darius Campbell Danesh, stated in a statement. Darius was discovered unconscious in bed in his Rochester, Minnesota, apartment room on August 11 and was pronounced dead in the afternoon by the county medical examiner’s office.
The local police department verified there were no indications of malicious intent or strange conditions. At this point, the reason for his unexpected death is unclear while medical exams continue.
They respectfully request that everyone accept their requests for privacy at this time as they cope with the devastating death of their son and brother.
The Scottish singer-songwriter and actor, who went by the stage name Darius Danesh when he initially participated on ITV’s Pop Stars in 2001, also appeared on the original Pop Idol, which was won by Will Young.
He went on to have a great theatre profession, performing in two runs of Chicago as Billy Flynn, as well as Guys And Dolls, Gone With The Wind, and other West End productions.
He resided in the United States and fell in love with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, whose films include the science-fiction smash Species.
The pair married in San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, in 2011, but split a few years later.
He said Hello! magazine in 2010 about an automobile accident in which he shattered his neck.
The musician was a passenger in a Porsche that crashed into a wall at 70 mph after slipping on oil while on vacation in Spain.
Following his third-place finish in Pop Idol in 2010, he went on to win the inaugural series of ITV’s Popstar To Operastar competition, defeating Bernie Nolan of the Nolan Sisters in a tight final.
He earned his first major opera part a few months after winning the ITV program, which included Welsh vocalist Katherine Jenkins and Mexican-born tenor Rolando Villazon as judges, when he was cast in a new production of Carmen at London’s O2 Arena.
He played the toreador Escamillo in the production, which was a one-time event that celebrated the venue’s inaugural opera performance.
In 2011, when asked about resuming his role as Chicago’s conniving lawyer Flynn, he revealed he was inspired by his former mentor and Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell.
He’s the ultimate businessman and a beautiful person, and there’s a lot of Simon Cowell in Billy Flynn in terms of the way he does things, and Camphell recognizes that in terms of the role, Campbell said of the musical set in prohibition-era Chicago.
He gave Cowell credit for convincing him to take on the job in Chicago in the first place.
He is extremely thankful for the experiences he has had and all the chances it’s given up, and to be able to call Simon Cowell a buddy and have supper with him, he added.
