A talented university student who acted with comedy star Jack Whitehall collapsed and died while celebrating the end of his university exams.
George Franks-Herbert, 18, was in a nightclub in the early hours when he became ill and could not be revived by paramedics on February 1.
Police have ruled out foul play and his heartbroken family, from Pontyclun, have been told he died from a “medical event”.
Tributes flooded in for George, an extra in TV’s Casualty who worked alongside Whitehall and American actress Eva Longoria in the BBC’s Decline and Fall.
George loved singing, dancing and acting but his family said his real love was science and he was studying biochemistry at Bristol University.
Read more: You can find more stories from across Rhondda Cynon Taf here.
His mother Diane, 57, said: “Acting and performing was his hobby - he went to stage school from being very young.
“His first stage role was when he was just five months old playing baby Jesus in a church nativity.”
George was in his second term at university after getting A-grades in his A levels at Cardinal Newman High School in Rhydfelin, Pontypridd.
His family said he had a practical exam on January 31 and went out celebrating with friends and became ill at the Gravity nightclub in Clifton, Bristol.
Diane and husband Peter, 60, were woken by police at 3am to be told their son, the youngest of four children, had died.
Mr Franks-Herbert said: “We are waiting for the post mortem results but we’ve been told it was a medical event.
“He was modest, kind, warm, caring and shy - we’ve had so many messages saying he was a lovely and thoughtful young man.
“He came home for Christmas and spent the whole time studying for his exams. He was doing very well at university.
“George was the baby of the family, that’s why we are going to miss him so much.”
The couple have three other children, Alice, 29, Clare, 26, and Edward, 23.
The football-loving teenager - a devoted Leicester City fan like his father - was close to his family and rang home every day with his mum telling him what to have for his evening meal.
His parents travelled to Bristol regularly to take him out for a meal in Bristol as a break from his studies.
His father said: “He came home every few weeks and we would go and see him.
“We have been spending time looking at old photographs and remembering happy times together.”
Retired bio-scientist Mr Franks-Herbert said the family was waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.
George was a member of the Stagecoach school in Bridgend, for 14 years but his family said he had no plans to make a career of acting.
A statement from the school said: “George started at Stagecoach as a four-year-old and in July 2021 received his 14-year award. Truly a remarkable student & young man.
“A million memories of him at Stagecoach are swirling around our heads.
“George was clever, funny, genuine, good natured and determined - we are truly grateful to have known, taught and loved him.
“He turned 18 last June and left Stagecoach last summer to go into the world to further his education.
“He had such a bright future ahead as he had started his degree in Biochemistry at Bristol University."
George’s university friends are being offered support to help them come to terms with the tragedy.
Professor Sarah Purdy, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience at Bristol University, said: “We are all very sorry to hear about the death of first year Biochemistry student George Franks-Herbert.
“George was a popular student who had made lots of friends and he was enjoying his time in Bristol. Academically, he was doing really well, thriving in his studies and getting first class marks.
“I know this news will affect many of our students and staff deeply.
“We are in the process of reaching out to George’s friends and those who studied with him to offer our help and support, and we encourage anyone who is affected by this tragic news to contact our wellbeing services for support.”
To get the latest email updates from WalesOnline click here
