Grange Hill and Sweeney Todd actor Lee Whitlock dies aged 54: Friends pay tribute to ‘funny, positive and hugely entertaining’ actor

• The British star began his career a child actor in the early 1980s before establishing himself as a cast-member on school drama Grange Hill
• He took supporting roles in a series of hit films throughout his career, among them director David Leland’s iconic 1987 dramady, Wish You Were Here
• He also starred alongside established Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Former Grange Hill and Sweeney Todd actor Lee Whitlock has died aged 54, his acting agency confirmed on Monday

The British star began his career a child actor in the early 1980s before establishing himself as a cast-member on long-running school drama Grange Hill, where he played Bevis Loveday. 

Announcing his death in a social media post, agency Urban Collective wrote: ‘Saddened by the death of our client Lee Whitlock. 

‘Lee was a great character & a great actor who has left a legacy of brave & groundbreaking work achieved at a particularly young age.

‘Lee was hugely entertaining, funny & positive to work with, condolences to family & friends. RIP.’ 

Sad news: Former Grange Hill and Sweeney Todd actor Lee Whitlock has died aged 54, his acting agency confirmed on Monday (pictured as Bevis Loveday in Grange Hill)

Announcement: Acting agency Urban Collective confirmed the news in a Twitter post 

Old times: The British star began his career a child actor in the early 1980s with a starring role in ITV sitcom Shine On Harvey Moon (pictured) 

The actor is understood to have passed away on Friday. A cause of death is yet to be announced.  

Whitlock took supporting roles in a series of hit films throughout his career, among them director David Leland’s iconic 1987 dramady, Wish You Were Here. 

He also starred alongside established Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, playing a police officer in Tim Burton’s 2007 musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. 

But he is perhaps best known for his TV work, with his first notable appearance coming in the hugely popular sitcom Shine On Harvey Moon. 

Set in the East End of London shortly after World War II, the show centered on demobbed RAF serviceman Harvey Moon, played by Kenneth Cranham, and his efforts to settle back into working class family life after serving his country overseas. 

Iconic: Set in London after World War II, the show centered on ex-serviceman Harvey Moon and his efforts to settle back into family life. Whitlock played his young son Stanley (pictured)

Breakout: Making his screen debut, Whitlock took the role of Stanley across five series’ between 1982 and 1985

Classic: A young Whitlock also starred alongside the late Jill Gascoigne in The Gentle Touch 

Character actor: Whitlock (left) featured in ITV drama Solider, Soldier – a hugely watched show at its peak in the 1990s

Making his screen debut, Whitlock took the role of Moon’s young son Stanley across five series’ between 1982 and 1985. 

The show returned in 1995, albeit briefly, with ITV reviving its characters – among them an adult Stanley – for a new series set in the 1950s.  

Another early role came in much-watched police procedural The Gentle Touch, with a young Whitlock starring alongside the late Jill Gascoine. 

He would go on to make a groundbreaking appearance in 1987 film Two Of Us, a BBC produced drama that challenged then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s attempt to ban gay sex education in secondary schools.

Here, Whitlock played happy-go-lucky Phil, a young man involved in a steady relationship with girlfriend Vera while developing complex sexual feelings for close friend Matthew. 

Groundbreaking: He would go on to star in 1987 film Two Of Us, a BBC produced drama that challenged then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s attempt to ban gay sex education

Challenging: Whitlock played happy-go-lucky Phil, a young man involved in a steady relationship with girlfriend Vera while developing sexual feelings for close friend Matthew

Legendary: The actor starred as Bevis Loveday in Grange Hill during its sixteenth series (pictured)

Cutting edge for its time, the film played an important role in championing the LGBTQ+ community in an era of less accepting attitudes towards homosexuality. 

Notable cameo roles included brief appearances in Casualty, EastEnders, Lovejoy, Boon, The Bill, London’s Burning and Solider, Solider.  

Paying tribute to the actor on Twitter, one fan wrote: ‘Very sad news indeed. He certainly made an impression on me and his work on The Two Of Us was ground breaking and hugely important to the LGBTQ+ community. 

‘A legacy to be proud of. Condolences to his family and sending love to all.’

A second fan added: ‘This is sad news. He was so talented.’

MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment.  

Still shining: Whitlock returned to Shine On Harvey Moon in 1995 after ITV briefly revived it (pictured) 

Talented: Fans paid tribute to the actor and his remarkable body of work on Monday afternoon

Tragic: Whitlock is pictured in an undated social media photo. The actor passed away on Friday

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