The second season of the popular Regency romance drama Bridgerton is already all anyone can talk about after it landed on Netflix last Friday.
The Netflix original is based on the best-selling romance series by Julia Quinn, which takes place between 1813 and 1827. The first season followed the courtship between Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, while season two follows Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma.
The first episode of the new season, 'Capital R Rake' ended with a dedication to the late Marc Pilcher, leaving some fans wondering who he was.
Pilcher was an award-winning make-up artist and hairstylist, who worked on the first season of Bridgerton. His other works included Downton Abbey, Young Victoria, and multiple Star Wars films.
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He died aged 53 on 3 October 2021 after testing positive for Covid-19. His death came just weeks after winning an Emmy for Outstanding Hairstyling for the first season of Bridgerton.
He had previously been nominated for a Best Makeup and Hairstyling Academy Award for his work on Mary, Queen of Scots. He also received several Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards for Downton Abbey.
Publicists Curtis Brown confirmed his passing in a statement to Variety. They paid tribute to his work, writing that: "Glamorous and extravagant, he brought his flair and style to every design. Never limited in his thought process for his creations, he pushed boundaries and created work never realised before."
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Talking about his passing, Bridgerton producer and acclaimed screenwriter Shonda Rhimes said: "The passing of Marc Pilcher is beyond words. I will forever be in awe of the incredible hairstyling and make-up work that he brought to Bridgerton. My heart goes out to his loved ones as we lost him way too soon."
Actress Nicola Coughlan, who plays Bridgerton's Penelope Featherington, posted a statement on Instagram following the stylist's untimely passing:
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"So heartbroken by the loss of Marc Pilcher, the brilliant and visionary Hair and Makeup designer for Bridgerton Season One.
"Marc was so passionate about his work and so tremendously talented. Not even a month ago he won his first Emmy award. It's a tragedy that he's been taken so young when he had so much yet to do."