The singer's family said on Tuesday that he was found unresponsive in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota on August 11 and pronounced dead by the local medical examiners' office.

"The cause of his sudden death is unknown at this stage while medical examinations continue," the family said.

Born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and Iranian father, Campbell Danesh appeared on reality show "Popstars" in 2001, making a splash with his intense interpretation of Britney Spears 'Baby One More Time."

He had more success later the same year on "Pop Idol," an early Simon Cowell reality-talent show hybrid that aimed to find a new singing star. He came third behind Gareth Gates and Will Young but topped UK charts in 2002 with the single "Colourblind," from his debut album "Dive In."

Campbell Danesh went on to major roles in musicals, including West End productions of "Chicago" and "Guys and Dolls," and starred as Rhett Butler in a musical stage adaptation of "Gone With the Wind." The big-budget show opened in London in April 2008 but closed two months later after poor reviews and ticket sales.

In 2010, he won another reality show, "Popstar to Operastar" and afterward performed in a production of "Carmen" at London's O2 Arena.

He also made a foray into Hollywood as a co-executive producer on the 2016 horror film "Imperium," starring Daniel Radcliffe.

Campbell Danesh married actress Natasha Henstridge in California in 2011, they divorced a few years later.

Australian Associated Press