Darius Danesh helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity before his untimely death at the age of 41, after suffering a family tragedy.
The Pop Idol star was found dead in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota on Thursday (August 11). His cause of death is currently unknown.
Family meant everything to the Glasgow-born singer. He was left devastated when his father, Dr Booth Danesh, was diagnosed with terminal cancer before his mother, Avril Campbell Danesh, was later told she also had the disease.
In 2003, Dr Danesh was given just three months to live. In 2015, Darius' GP mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Luckily, both went on to make miraculous recoveries, with Darius becoming inspired by his parents to fundraise for charity.
He told the Daily Record: "Mum's illness was very serious – she had a lump in her neck too. It wasn’t good and at one point, we thought we might lose her but she came back.
"My parents are the most amazing, inspiring people. Both my parents have been very lucky to have faced death and survived.
Darius became a supporter of charities including Cancer Research UK following the ordeal, with the organisation paying tribute to him on Twitter.
Cancer Research UK in Scotland said: "Darius Campbell Danesh had supported Cancer Research UK on a number of occasions, including in 2017 when he sang at our Christmas carol concert at Glasgow Cathedral.
"We are deeply saddened to hear of his death and our thoughts are with his family and friends."
Darius was also an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, a charity which helps disadvantaged young people.
His work with the trust stretches back to his Pop Idol days when a gig in 2002 helped raise £300,000 for the charity.
Darius also attended a charity event for The Prince’s Trust Scotland in 2015 during which items and events were auctioned, including a dinner with Tilda Swinton.
The auction raised £1.6 million.
After hearing of his death, The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow tweeted: “Everyone at Glasgow's Hospice is devastated at the sad news of Darius Campbell Danesh's sudden death.
"Darius has been a friend to the hospice and a huge support over past years. Our sympathies are with his family."
The star was also a founding ambassador of the charity Fresh20 Water. On their website, he said: "Fresh water should be a right for every human being on the planet.
"Without it, there can be no healthcare, no form of society, no democracy, no effective business and no true freedom. It’s all connected!"
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