EastEnders actor David Scarboro fell to his death from the cliffs at Beachy Head when he was just 20 years old – after being axed from the BBC soap. Best known for playing teenage tearaway Mark Fowler from 1985 until 1987, David also appeared in Grange Hill as a member of Gluxo Remington’s gang.
Things went downhill for David when BBC writers told him his character would be involved in a racist storyline. As well as dealing with his sharp rise to fame, he refused to play a scene where his character had to deliver racial abuse to Kelvin Carpenter, played by Paul J. Medford. Afterwards, he was axed from the series and quietly written out, but made a brief return in the subsequent two years.
His co-star Paul Medford said: “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.”
Reports at the time were circulating that David had been fired from the soap, allegedly for turning up late for work and for being “uncooperative” while on set.
However, he denied these claims and started a libel case against several publications. His dad recalled him “literally crying” to his parents over the untrue stories.
The actor was admitted to a psychiatric unit, but when photographs of the venue circulated in the News of the World, he fled due to the extra attention put on him.
Sadly, in April 1988, David’s body was found at the bottom of Beachy Head. It was assumed he had taken his own life, but the coroner reached an open verdict at the inquest into his death.
The character of Mark Fowler was recast in 1990, this time played by Todd Carty, who was later axed from the soap after 30 years.
If you have been affected by this story, you can contact the Samaritans, call 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit https://www.samaritans.org/