In the final chapter of his life, Marcus Gilbert found unexpected happiness in a love story that traced back more than three decades to a shared film set. The Independent confirmed that Gilbert died at 67 after a three-year battle with throat cancer. But before his passing, he was blissfully happy.
A Love Story That Found Its Way Back
He reconnected with actress Lysette Anthony in 2023, 33 years after they first worked together on the 1990 film “A Ghost in Monte Carlo.”
The pair shared an on-screen kiss in the movie and later reunited off-screen, beginning what friends described as a serious, deeply meaningful relationship.
‘It’s a Serious Romance’: Inside Marcus Gilbert & Lysette Anthony’s Love Story
The Daily Mail reported that a friend of Anthony said at the time, “It’s a serious romance and has been going on for some time. They make an adorable couple. Lysette is head over heels with him.”
Anthony later reflected on their reunion, recalling their first meeting after decades apart.
“He walks in and he’s wearing a corduroy suit — crumpled, gorgeous. We sit and talk. Six hours later, we’re still talking.”
The Daily Mail quoted her speaking about Gilbert’s devotion to his late wife, adding, “He loved his wife so very much, so there was guilt. But he’s had a 28-year marriage with two remarkable children, which is the biggest mark of success.”
A Career That Made Him a 1990s Heartthrob
Gilbert rose to prominence as Rupert Campbell Black in the 1993 television adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s “Riders,” a role that cemented his status as a heartthrob of the era.
His career moved fluidly between film and television. He appeared in “Doctor Who,” portraying Ancelyn in the story “Battlefield,” and starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in “Rambo III.”
Gilbert also took on roles in “Murder, She Wrote” and “Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness.”
In the late 1980s, he famously auditioned for the role of James Bond, ultimately losing the part to Timothy Dalton.
Tributes Honor His Undeniable Charm & Generosity
As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from colleagues and fans who remembered Gilbert for more than his screen presence.
Actor Toby Hadoke wrote, “Dashing, charming, and a strong actor with a bit of a twinkle. Very sorry to learn of the death, too young, of Marcus Gilbert, with whom I had a lovely time in Liverpool about a decade ago.”
He later added, “He also told me how much he earned from being part of the second Gold Blend saga of commercials : eye-watering! Lovely chap: wore his attributes lightly.”
“Russell T Davies,” the “Doctor Who” showrunner, also reacted to the news, writing, “Oh, that’s sad news”.
Death, Health Struggles & Family
Gilbert’s daughter revealed in 2020 that her father had also been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; at the same time, his wife of 28 years, Homaa Khan-Gilbert, was battling pancreatic cancer. Homaa sadly passed away later that year.
After her death, Gilbert once said, “I wasn’t prepared to be involved with anyone after my wife. Homaa, which means bird of paradise in Urdu.”
He is survived by his children, Maxi and Aaliya. As tributes continue, Marcus Gilbert is being remembered not only for his screen legacy, but for the love he found again late in life and the humanity he carried both on and off camera.
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