Actor Lee Whitlock has passed away, his former agent confirmed.
The 54-year-old, from Hammersmith in London, is believed to have died on Friday (February 17).
Lee’s management released a statement praising the Grange Hill star.
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It read: “Saddened by the death of our client Lee Whitlock.
“Lee was a great character and a great actor who has left a legacy of brave and groundbreaking work achieved at a particularly young age.
“Lee was hugely entertaining, funny & positive to work with, condolences to family & friends. RIP.”
He began his career as a child actor, starring in the massively popular 80s sitcom Shine on Harvey Moon and then in police drama The Gentle Touch.
Lee also made headlines in the 1987 film Two Of Us, a BBC drama that challenged Margaret Thatcher’s attempts to ban gay sex education in schools.
It was seen as an important film for championing the LGBTQ community during a fairly conservative period in history.
Lee also made an appearance in the Hollywood blockbuster Sweeney Todd, alongside Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
Tributes poured on Twitter with fans calling him “brilliant” and the news “very sad” and that he is “gone far too young”.
Another fan wrote: “'Very sad news indeed. He certainly made an impression on me and his work on The Two Of Us was groundbreaking and hugely important to the LGBTQ+ community.
A second added: "Just wanted to say how gutted I was to hear that the brilliant actor Lee Whitlock died yesterday. He was a lovely person, modest, funny, and kind, wonderfully cheeky, forever boyish, and will be sorely missed by all that knew him."
Other notable roles include Grange Hill, A Touch of Frost, Casualty, and The Bill.
Lee's cause of death is currently unknown.
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