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EastEnders star's tragic death at 20 after refusing to take part in 'racist' storyline
Mark Fowler actor David Scarboro was one of the original cast of EastEnders when the show began... but his own life ended in tragedy, dying at just 20 years old after leaving the soap.
The scriptwriters had planned a storyline where Mark would become racist, and a key scene required David to hurl racial slurs at fellow character Kelvin Carpenter, played by Paul J. Medford. David strongly objected to this portrayal, and ended up refusing to shoot the scene, which reportedly led to his abrupt departure from the show in April 1985. As EastEnders gears up to celebrate its 40th anniversary in February 2025, David’s contribution as one of the original cast members remains a stark reminder in the show’s legacy - not just of his acting talent, but the extreme toll that fame and the media spotlight can take on young stars.
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