George Rossi
(Picture: Shutterstock )The Bill star George Rossi has died at the age of 60.
The Scottish actor, who played DC Duncan Lennox on the ITV drama series, died on Wednesday, according to a statement released by his niece Louise.
“Unfortunately George Rossi who played DC Duncan Lennox passed away the morning of Wednesday 5th January 2022,” she wrote on Twitter.
She added: “This is my uncle. He was acting still up until recently. Unfortunately he passed away yesterday morning.”
He is survived by his wife Catrin and two children, Matilda and Santino.
Rossi, who was the son of a French father and Italian mother, appeared in almost 200 episodes of police drama The Bill between the years of 1993 and 2003.
During his career, he starred in a number of productions including Holby City, The Singing Detective and Whitechapel.
Co-stars and friends paid a string of heartfelt tributes to the actor.
Ben Peyton, who played PC Ben Hayward on the show, tweeted: “Sad to hear that a pal from #TheBill has died. George Rossi was such a gent, very funny and a brilliant actor.
“I remember when I’d just started and we had to talk together in the background of a scene before I walked out of shot and he carried the scene on.”
Casting director Claire Toeman said she’s been left “devastated” by the passing of her close friend.
She said: “"Rest in peace George Rossi you were the dearest of friends you will be sorely missed."
George made his acting debut in Bill Forsyth’s Scottish comedy Comfort and Joy in 1984, which saw him star alongside his brother Peter.
In the 1990s, he starred alongside Hollywood heavyweights including Liam Neeson in The Big Man and Sandra Bullock In Love and War.
