Mark Farmer Dead: 'Grange Hill' And 'Minder' Star Dies, Aged 53

He was best known as Gary in the BBC children's drama.

Former 'Grange Hill' actor Mark Farmer has died at the age of 53.

The actor, best known for his role as Gary Hargreaves in the BBC children's drama, reportedly passed away following a short battle with cancer.

Open Image Modal
Mark Farmer played Gary in 'Grange Hill'
BBC

His death was announced on a 'Grange Hill' fan account on Twitter, with a message that read: "It is with great sadness we report that Mark Farmer aka Gary Hargreaves died earlier today. RIP."

Mark appeared in the first three series of 'Grange Hill' from 1978, and later went on to appear alongside Dennis Waterman in 'Minder'.

He played Arthur Daley's protégé Justin James in the series, from 1984 until 1989. 

Mark was also known for his roles in 1983 BBC coming-of-age drama 'Johnny Jarvis', and in the Channel 4 sitcom 'Relative Strangers', where he played the son of Matthew Kelly's character, Fitz.

He later crossed over into the music world, forming a band with his former school friend Billy Hardwicke.

Littlehouse went on to release an EP, gigging on the London circuit from 1998 to 2000, when the group disbanded. 

Tap the picture below to launch the slideshow...

RIP: The Celebrities We've Lost In 2016
JANUARY(01 of53)
Open Image Modal
David Bowie, Music Legend (b: 1947) (credit:Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images)
JANUARY(02 of53)
Open Image Modal
Terry Wogan, Broadcasting Legend (b. 1938) (credit:Nicky J Sims via Getty Images)
JANUARY(03 of53)
Open Image Modal
Alan Rickman, Actor (b. 1946) (credit:Dominique Charriau via Getty Images)
JANUARY(04 of53)
Open Image Modal
Colin Vearncombe (aka Black), Singer (b. 1962) (credit:Roberto Ricciuti via Getty Images)
JANUARY(05 of53)
Open Image Modal
René Angelil, Music Producer and Celine Dion's husband (b. 1942) (credit:Andreas Rentz via Getty Images)
JANUARY(06 of53)
Open Image Modal
Abe Vigoda, Actor (b. 1921) (credit:Dennis Van Tine/ABACA USA)
JANUARY(07 of53)
Open Image Modal
Frank Finlay, Actor (b. 1926) (credit:PA/PA Archive)
JANUARY(08 of53)
Open Image Modal
Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart, DJ and TV Presenter (b. 1941) (credit:William Conran/PA Wire)
JANUARY(09 of53)
Open Image Modal
Dan Haggerty, Actor (b. 1941) (credit:Imeh Akpanudosen via Getty Images)
JANUARY(10 of53)
Open Image Modal
Glenn Frey, Musician (b. 1948) (credit:Craig Barritt via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(11 of53)
Open Image Modal
Frank Kelly, Actor (b. 1938) (credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire)
FEBRUARY(12 of53)
Open Image Modal
Harper Lee, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' novelist (b. 1926) (credit:Rob Carr/AP)
FEBRUARY(13 of53)
Open Image Modal
Vanity (aka. Denise Matthews), Singer (b. 1959) (credit:Ron Wolfson/Everett/REX Shutterstock)
FEBRUARY(14 of53)
Open Image Modal
Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola, 'Mob Wives' reality star (b. 1960) (credit:Jason LaVeris via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(15 of53)
Open Image Modal
Louise Rennison, Author and Comedian (b. 1951) (credit:David Levenson via Getty Images)
FEBRUARY(16 of53)
Open Image Modal
Maurice White, Earth, Wind and Fire founder and musician (b. 1941) (credit:John Phillips/EMPICS Entertainment)
FEBRUARY(17 of53)
Open Image Modal
George Kennedy, Actor (b. 1925) (credit:Ron Galella via Getty Images)
MARCH(18 of53)
Open Image Modal
Paul Daniels, Magician (b. 1938) (credit:Suzanne Hubbard/PA Wire)
MARCH(19 of53)
Open Image Modal
Ronnie Corbett, Actor and Comedian (b. 1930) (credit:Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images)
MARCH(20 of53)
Open Image Modal
Sir George Martin, Beatles Producer (b. 1926) (credit:Jae. C. Hong/AP)
MARCH(21 of53)
Open Image Modal
Tony Warren, 'Coronation Street' creator (b. 1936) (credit:Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images)
MARCH(22 of53)
Open Image Modal
Denise Robertson, 'This Morning' Agony Aunt (b. 1932) (credit:Chris Jackson via Getty Images)
MARCH(23 of53)
Open Image Modal
Garry Shandling, Comedian and Actor (b. 1949) (credit:Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images)
MARCH(24 of53)
Open Image Modal
Patty Duke, Actress (b. 1946) (credit:Bobby Bank via Getty Images)
MARCH(25 of53)
Open Image Modal
Keith Emerson, Musician (b. 1944) (credit:Paul A. Hebert/AP)
MARCH(26 of53)
Open Image Modal
Frank Sinatra Jr, Singer (b. 1944) (credit:Bill Kostroun/AP)
APRIL(27 of53)
Open Image Modal
Prince, Music Legend (b. 1958) (credit:AP)
APRIL(28 of53)
Open Image Modal
Victoria Wood, Actress and Comedian (b. 1953) (credit:Steve Meddle/REX/Shutterstock)
APRIL(29 of53)
Open Image Modal
David Gest, Producer and 'CBB' Star (b. 1953) (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
APRIL(30 of53)
Open Image Modal
Doris Roberts, Actress (b. 1925) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
MAY(31 of53)
Open Image Modal
Carla Lane, TV Writer (b. 1928) (credit:Photoshot via Getty Images)
JUNE(32 of53)
Open Image Modal
Anton Yelchin, Actor (b. 1989) (credit:Arthur Mola/AP)
JUNE(33 of53)
Open Image Modal
Muhammad Ali, Boxing Legend (b. 1942) (credit:AP/AP)
JULY(34 of53)
Open Image Modal
Caroline Aherne, Actress and Comedian (b. 1963) (credit:rune hellestad via Getty Images)
AUGUST(35 of53)
Open Image Modal
Gene Wilder, Actor (b. 1933) (credit:STEVEN SENNE/AP)
SEPTEMBER(36 of53)
Open Image Modal
Alexis Arquette, Actor and Trans Activist (b. 1969) (credit:Donna Ward/ABACA USA)
OCTOBER(37 of53)
Open Image Modal
Jean Alexander, 'Coronation Street' Actress (b. 1926) (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
OCTOBER(38 of53)
Open Image Modal
Pete Burns, Dead or Alive singer (b. 1959) (credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire)
OCTOBER(39 of53)
Open Image Modal
Bobby Vee, Singer (b. 1943) (credit:Jeff Baenen/AP)
NOVEMBER(40 of53)
Open Image Modal
Robert Vaughn, Actor (b. 1932) (credit:Chris Young/PA Archive)
NOVEMBER(41 of53)
Open Image Modal
Keo Woolford, 'Hawaii Five-0' star (b. 1967) (credit:Tibrina Hobson via Getty Images)
NOVEMBER(42 of53)
Open Image Modal
Leonard Cohen, Singer and Poet (b. 1934) (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
NOVEMBER(43 of53)
Open Image Modal
Florence Henderson, 'Brady Bunch' actress (b. 1934) (credit:Richard Shotwell/AP)
DECEMBER(44 of53)
Open Image Modal
Andrew Sachs, 'Fawlty Towers' star (b. 1930) (credit:PA)
DECEMBER(45 of53)
Open Image Modal
Peter Vaughan, Actor (b. 1923) (credit:PA/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(46 of53)
Open Image Modal
Greg Lake, Musician (b. 1947) (credit:Jim Steinfeldt via Getty Images)
DECEMBER(47 of53)
Open Image Modal
Ian McCaskill, BBC Weatherman (b. 1938) (credit:Michael Stephens/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(48 of53)
Open Image Modal
Zsa Zsa Gabor, Actress (b. 1917) (credit:AP)
DECEMBER(49 of53)
Open Image Modal
Rick Parfitt, Status Quo guitarist (b. 1948) (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
DECEMBER(50 of53)
Open Image Modal
George Michael, Singer (b. 1963) (credit:Francois Mori/AP)
DECEMBER(51 of53)
Open Image Modal
Liz Smith, Actress (b. 1921) (credit:Doug Peters/Doug Peters)
DECEMBER(52 of53)
Open Image Modal
Carrie Fisher, actress (b. 1956) (credit:Paul Hackett / Reuters)
DECEMBER(53 of53)
Open Image Modal
Debbie Reynolds, actress and singer (b. 1932) (credit:FilmMagic)