Best known for his portrayal of Michael ‘Mouse’ Tolliver in the original TV adaptation of Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City books, actor Marcus D’Amico has died at the age of 55. His sister Melissa D’Amico announced that he died on December 16 at his home in Oxfordshire. The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia.
The 1993 Channel 4 miniseries of Tales of the City brought to the screen Maupin’s colourful depiction of LGBTQ+ characters living in San Francisco at 28 Barbary Lane, overseen by eccentric trans landlady Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis). ‘Mouse’ was a sweet and genial gay gardener, one of a group of friends helping naïve Mary Ann Singleton navigate her way in California’s most eclectic city. D’Amico’s role in the 1998 follow-up series was played by Paul Hopkins, while Murray Bartlett had the part in the 2019 Netflix revival.
Born on December 4, 1965, in Frankfurt, Germany, and raised in the UK, D’Amico’s West End debut was in 1977 in the title role of Oliver!, with further London stage credits including Julius Caesar at the Young Vic and The Boys Next Door at the Comedy Theatre. In 1992, he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for best actor for his role as Louis in Angels In America.
His movie appearances included Superman II (1980) and Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, while more recent roles included TNT‘s The Alienist: Angel of Darkness, in 2018.
His sister said in an Instagram post: “Not only have I lost my beautiful brother, but the world has lost an incredibly talented actor and director. Words cannot express how much I miss him.”
The Metro reported tributes pouring in and quoted journalist Patrick Strudwick as saying: “So sad to hear of the death of Marcus D’Amico at just 55. His tender, big-hearted performance of Mouse in the first series of Tales of the City is etched into my psyche forever. To watch him searching for love in that role – a gay Everyman – gave me hope. Rest peacefully, Marcus.”
