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How did Lee Whitlock die? ‘Grange Hill’ and 'Sweeney Todd’ star dies at 54, fans pay tribute to his ‘legacy of groundbreaking work’

‘Lee Whitlock was hugely entertaining, funny & positive to work with, condolences to family & friends. RIP,’ his agency, Urban Collective, wrote

British actor Lee Whitlock has died at the of 54, as confirmed by his acting agency on Monday, February 20. Several fans and family members have sent condolences to the family on social media.

Whitlock started his career in the early 1980s and got a role in 'Grange Hill'. In the long-running school drama, he essayed the character of Bevis Loveday. His 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." Whitlock passed away on Friday, February 17. The cause of his death is not known. 

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Apart from 'Grange Hill', he also worked in a supporting role in David Leland's iconic 1987 film 'Wish You Were Here'. He played the role of a police officer in the 2007 musical 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'. He was widely known for his roles in television in shows like, 'Split Ends', 'EastEnders', 'Harry Enfield's Television Programme', 'Lovejoy', 'Soldier Soldier', 'Boon', 'Grange Hill', 'A Touch of Frost', 'The Detectives', 'Silent Witness', 'McCallum', 'Casualty', 'London's Burning', and 'The Bill'.

'He was modest, funny, and kind'

Sharing a video of Whitlock, one acquaintance stated, "Sad to hear about the death of Lee Whitlock. He was a good guy and will be missed. We had a lot of mutual friends so over the years we would hang out and watch Arsenal games together. I also worked with him on the Dexter Fletcher film Wild Bill." Sharing a photo of Whitlock from a film, one said, "RIP actor #LeeWhitlock, 54. Remember him so well in Harvey Moon & seen here in 1987's The Two of Us as Phil (with Jason Rush's Matthew.) Produced for young adults by BBC Schools, in part to highlight Thatcher's ridiculous clause 28."

'Gone far too soon'

Actor Andrew Lancel remembered Whitlock and tweeted, "I was always a fan of Lee Whitlock since Shine on Harvey Moon. Through his film and tv career, I loved his work as did millions. It was a joy to work with him twice and to know him as a funny, gentle, lovely man. And a fantastic actor. Gone far too soon." Tilly Vosburgh has said, "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."