Beloved ex-Neighbours star Darius Perkins dies after cancer battle

Darius Perkins (left) and fellow Neighbours star Stefan Dennis pictured in 2013. Photo / Supplied

Former Neighbours star Darius Perkins has died after a fight with cancer.

His family confirmed the 54-year-old died on Wednesday.

Mr Perkins appeared as the original Scott Robinson in Neighbours in 1985 and starred in more than 50 episodes before Jason Donovan took over the part.

Mr Perkins went on to play Gary Samuels in Home And Away and also appeared in The Sullivans, Prisoner, A Country Practice and The Flying Doctors.

In 2013, he returned to Neighbours to play Marty Kranic - a shady associate of villain Paul Robinson (played by Stefan Dennis), who is the brother of his original Neighbours character - in a month-long guest role.

Vale Darius Perkins who has died from cancer age 54. #Neighbours #Prisoner #AllTheRiversRun #TheFlyingDoctors #TheSullivans #ACountryPractice #HomeAndAway 😥📺 pic.twitter.com/MGc2oOI9I3

— Scott Whitley (@ScottWhitley11) January 6, 2019

Mr Perkins won the 1984 Logie award for Best Juvenile Performance for his role in the series All The Rivers Run.

Mr Perkins was remembered on Saturday by former Neighbours co-star and close friend David Clencie as a great mate with a beautiful soul.

"We had this incredible bond. We were mates to the very end," Mr Clencie told The Herald Sun.

"He was completely selfless. We had a wonderful time when we last saw each other, spending five hours talking in a local restaurant.

"I am so sad, really devastated to lose my mate."

A fan site dedicated to Jason Donovan tweeted: "Such sad news that #dariusperkins the original #ScottRobinson has died after battling cancer #RIP #Neighbours thoughts with all that knew him."

Another fan wrote: "Genuinely sad to hear about the death of Darius Perkins. I actually preferred his version of Scott Robinson in Neighbours to Jason Donovan's. Condolences to all who knew him."