BBC Death in Paradise star Adrian Schiller dies ‘suddenly’ aged 60 as tributes pour in for actor
Actor Adrian Schiller has died “suddenly,” according to his agent. The Death in Paradise star has also featured in Netflix drama The Last Kingdom, ITV’s Victoria and several other programmes.
Tributes have poured in for the 60-year-old after the announcement was made on Thursday, April 4.
Scott Marshall Partners, who represented Schiller, said in a statement: “He has died far too soon, and we, his family and close friends are devastated by the loss.
“His death was sudden and unexpected and no further details around its cause are yet available.”
According to OK Magazine, the statement concluded: “A prodigiously talented actor, he had just returned from Sydney, where he had been appearing in The Lehman Trilogy and was looking forward to continuing the international tour in San Francisco.”
Schiller appeared in two episodes of the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise as Pasha Verdinikov.
His character was a pianist who was brutally killed in an apparent burglary, and DI Neville Parker (played by Ralf Little) investigated the murder.
He soon deduced the scene had been staged and suspected Verdinikov’s family.
Earlier this year, Schiller also starred as Drake Underwood in Father Brown, according to PA news agency.
Additionally, he featured as rich ealdorman Aethelhelm in the historical Netflix historical show The Last Kingdom and Cornelius Penge in the ITV drama Victoria.
The actor has also appeared in A Touch of Frost, Doctor Who, Being Human, Silent Witness, My Family and more.
The National Theatre also issued a statement on the actor’s death. Director Rufus Norris penned: “We are deeply saddened and shocked to have lost our company member and friend, Adrian Schiller.
“Adrian was a wonderful actor, and the National Theatre had the pleasure of working with him throughout the breadth of his career.
“His recent performance as Henry Lehman in the Australian premiere of The Lehman Trilogy was superb and his presence within the company will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”
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Others were also quick to pay tribute online, with several expressing their sadness on X, formerly Twitter.
One wrote: “I worked with Adrian Schiller and kept in touch with him here. He was a brilliant actor and a brilliant person – kind, funny and socially concerned. I’m heartbroken that he’s gone.”
“This is so terrible… He was my favourite actor and a very wonderful man. Sending love to you and your family, and a special hug to little Gabriel,” another added.
“Awful news to hear about Adrian, my thoughts are with you, family and friends,” a third penned.
Someone else commented: “What a shock this news about Adrian Schiller is. A wonderful actor and from the few interactions we had on here he seemed like a lovely man.”
“Awful news that Adrian Schiller has died aged only 60. He played Uncle in The Doctor’s Wife for Doctor Who along with appearances in a couple of Who-related podcast series. #rip #DoctorWho,” (sic) another wrote.