Freddy Marks obit

Freddy Marks, star of Rainbow, dies aged 71 

The actor and musician was a familiar face on children's TV in the Eighties and Nineties 

He was not on the list.

TV star Freddy Marks has died aged 71.

The musician and TV presenter was best known for hosting the popular children’s TV show Rainbow alongside Jane Tucker and Rod Burton. The series ran from 1972 to 1992.

Mr Marks’s death was announced in a post on a Rainbow Facebook group.

It read: “It is with a heavy heart that we sad [sic] to say that ‘Freddy Marks’ from Rod, Jane and Freddy has sadly passed away yesterday (27 May).”

“Freddy was a very talented and funny guy who always bought a smile to everybody’s face. Our thoughts go out to his wife Jane Tucker, Rod Burton and all their friends and family at this difficult time. Freddy will be greatly missed.”

Ms Tucker told MailOnline her final words to him were: “I love you” before he lost a battle against cancer on the eve of their 5th wedding anniversary.

He died in Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Surrey on May 20 after being admitted just four days earlier, MailOnline reported. He was diagnosed with cancer in January and told that he had only months to live, according to reports.

Thames TV production company, which originally aired Rainbow, paid tribute to the star on Instagram.

They said: “The sad news has been announced today of the death of Freddy Marks from the classic children’s TV show Rainbow’s Rod, Jane and Freddy.”

Many took to social media to honour the star.

“A huge part of many people's childhoods. RIP Freddy Marks,” wrote one while another said: “Very sad to hear about the death of Freddy Marks.”

Mr Marks was born in 1949 in Birkenhead, Cheshire.

He rose to prominence when he replaced Roger Walker on Rainbow in 1979 and became a third member of the show alongside Jane Burton and Rod Tucker.

Following the success of Rainbow, the trio went on to star in their own spin-off series called The Rod, Jane, and Freddy Show, which ran on ITV from 1981 to 1991.

Mr Marks’s death comes five years after he married co-star Jane Tucker.

The couple began dating in 1985 and married in May 2016 at Claridge’s Hotel.

Actor

Sooty & Co. (1993)

Sooty & Co.

6.8

TV Series

Freddy

1993

1 episode

 

The Sooty Show (1968)

The Sooty Show

7.1

TV Series

Freddy (as Freddy)

1992

1 episode

 

Rod Burton, Freddy Marks, and Jane Tucker in Rod, Jane and Freddy (1981)

Rod, Jane and Freddy

8.2

TV Series

Freddy

Pimple

Chang ...

1981–1991

120 episodes

 

Stanley Bates, Geoffrey Hayes, and Roy Skelton in Rainbow (1972)

Rainbow

6.9

TV Series

Freddy

One of the Blamanges

Bungle's pickled onion ...

1980–1989

424 episodes

 

Lewis Collins, Gordon Jackson, and Martin Shaw in The Professionals (1977)

The Professionals

8.0

TV Series

Knowles

1978

2 episodes

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.1

TV Series

Kevin

Dave Turner

Tommy Carroll (as Frederick Marks)

1973–1977

3 episodes

 

John Thaw and Dennis Waterman in The Sweeney (1975)

The Sweeney

8.1

TV Series

Detective (as Frederick Marks)

1976

1 episode

 

The Swordsman (1975)

The Swordsman

4.7

Swordsman (as Frederick Marks)

1975

 

Churchill's People (1974)

Churchill's People

5.8

TV Series

Trooper Anthony Sedley (as Frederick Marks)

1975

1 episode

 

Penelope Wilton in The Song of Songs (1973)

The Song of Songs

9.0

TV Series

Baker's Boy (as Frederick Marks)

1973

1 episode

 

Music Department

A House That's Just Like Yours (2003)

A House That's Just Like Yours

TV Series

lyrics

2003

9 episodes

 

Stanley Bates, Geoffrey Hayes, and Roy Skelton in Rainbow (1972)

Rainbow

6.9

TV Series

songs

1980–1989

329 episodes

 

Writer

Rod Burton, Freddy Marks, and Jane Tucker in Rod, Jane and Freddy (1981)

Rod, Jane and Freddy

8.2

TV Series

writer

1981–1991

120 episodes

 

Stanley Bates, Geoffrey Hayes, and Roy Skelton in Rainbow (1972)

Rainbow

6.9

TV Series

writer

1985–1989

11 episodes