Beloved EastEnders star tragically found d.e.a.d at bottom of a cliff after controversial show exit
The beloved EastEnders actor was found dead at the bottom of Beachy Head in Essex at just 20 years of age following an abrupt and controversial exit from the BBC soap.
He has left behind devastated family and fans(Image: Peter Brooker/REX/Shutterstock)
A beloved EastEnders star was found dead at the bottom of a cliff in Essex at just 20 after a controversial exit from the popular BBC series, leaving behind devastated family, friends, and fans.
Dubbed ‘Britain’s James Dean’ by fans, David Scarboro appeared in the pilot EastEnders episode back in February 1985 where he portrayed the role of Mark Fowler, the son of Pauline and Arthur Fowler.
His stint on the soap was rocky, and the actor from Sidcup was reportedly axed from the BBC show merely two months later in April 1985, before making fleeting comebacks to the character in 1986 and 1987.
Devastatingly, David’s life was tragically cut short when his body was discovered at the base of Beachy Head in East Sussex in April 1988, at just 20 years of age.
David took on the original role of Mark Fowler, well before Todd Carty stepped into the character’s shoes for over ten years from 1990. David was an integral part of the series’ founding cast, and fans still remember his brief stint on the show even all these years later.
His abrupt exit from EastEnders was quickly succeeded by personal tribulations, ultimately ending with David’s tragic death.
The beloved EastEnders heartthrob tragically passed away at just 20 years of age(Image: IMDb)
Early life and fame
Born on February 3, 1968, in Sidcup, David was a gifted young actor who demonstrated potential right from his youth. He launched his acting career in 1984 with the BBC drama Good Neighbours, and was often seen in guest appearances on well-known shows like Grange Hill.
Yet it was his portrayal of Mark Fowler, the eldest child of the Fowler household in EastEnders, that thrust him into the limelight at just 17.
His rapid rise to stardom proved challenging for the EastEnders heartthrob to handle, and media scrutiny contributed to his tumultuous personal circumstances.
EastEnders controversy
Shortly after joining EastEnders, David reportedly became uneasy with his character’s trajectory and story arc. The writers had allegedly written a plot where Mark would turn racist, with a crucial scene demanding David deliver racial abuse at fellow character Kelvin Carpenter, portrayed by Paul J Medford.
David Scarboro played Mark Fowler on EastEnders(Image: Getty Images)
David vehemently opposed this depiction, ultimately declining to film the sequence, which allegedly resulted in his sudden exit from the BBC soap in April 1985.
His character was hastily written out, with Mark Fowler abandoning his family one night without notice – the Fowler household simply awoke one morning to find he’d vanished into the night. Despite making sporadic appearances on the show until 1987, David never returned permanently. His last appearance on the renowned soap was on Christmas Day 1987.
His co-star Paul Medford shared: “David couldn’t understand why [his character was made a racist], or how he was going to cope with it.
“I didn’t have any of the lines to say. I just had to receive the racist attacks and abuse, and David said he wouldn’t say them – under no circumstances – which I found was one of the warmest things someone had ever done for me.
“He’s actually put his job on the line because he didn’t want to become a racist.”
The actor was found dead at the bottom of Beachy Head(Image: BBC Studios)
Personal battles and tragic death
Away from the alleged controversy surrounding him and the makers of the series, David battled with personal demons, including relentless and invasive attention. At the time, rumours were rife that David had been sacked from the soap, allegedly due to persistent lateness and an “uncooperative” attitude on set.
However, he refuted these allegations and found himself embroiled in a legal dispute over false reports concerning his personal life, exacerbating his stress and already delicate mental health. David’s father remembered him “literally crying” to his parents about the fabricated stories.
The actor was admitted to a psychiatric ward, but when images of the facility appeared in a well-known national newspaper, he fled due to the increased scrutiny and invasion of his privacy.
Tragically, on April 27, 1988, David’s body was discovered at the base of Beachy Head in East Sussex, his life having been cut short at just 20.
It was presumed he had taken his own life, however the coroner delivered an ‘open’ verdict at the inquest into his death, leaving several questions surrounding his demise unanswered.
He still remains alive in the hearts of his loved ones and fans(Image: Getty Images)
David’s passing had a profound effect on his family and fans.
In 1989, his brother Simon produced a poignant BBC documentary titled My Brother David, which delved into his sibling’s life and the challenges he faced, with his issues exacerbated by relentless tabloid harassment during his time in the public eye.
His parents relocated from the UK shortly after his death, devastated by the loss of their son.
Gone but not forgotten
David left an everlasting impact and fans of the star recall him with love and fondness even all these years later.
A Reddit thread from 2025 saw several people commenting their memories of the actor and remembering him lovingly, with the original poster writing: “David Scarboro is one of my favourite actors, he absolutely shined in this role, he left this earth eons before his time and I like to imagine what he’d be doing now.
“I reckon he’d be one of Britain’s big stars by now, both in films and series. He was our James Dean.”
Another fan of the star commented: “Magnificent actor. heartbreakingly gone too soon and you can only imagine what his portrayal of Mark would have been like over 20 years.”
While one spoke about the tragic end of his life: “Real tragedy what happened to him. RIP.”