But unlike many he was also the Gladiator Trojan in the hit series that - for me at least - sums up 1990s Saturday nights.
Today, after living in the US for 14 years working as an actor, script writer and director in LA, Mark deals in ceramics from his Wiltshire home. Here he talks about his unusual blend of careers.
Tell us about Arbatel Antiques...
I have been buying and collecting 18th century English porcelain since 2005. Taking this passion further by going into business seemed the logical next step so I set up Arbatel Antiques in 2011 (Arbatel is one of the arch-angels, known as the revealing angel).
Dealing in ceramics is a huge departure from your earlier career where you played Trojan on ITV's Gladiators for five years. What was the show actually like?
Gladiators was an amazing experience. It was exciting, demanding and a wonderful way to challenge myself physically. We filmed in front of 10,000 screaming fans every week and in those days I think it was Gladiators and Blind Date that were staple Saturday night viewing. After five years on the show I got a call from Disney and was offered my first TV series in the US called Action Man. I filmed in Florida and LA, and loved it so much I decided to move there.
So is the acting all behind you now?
Actually, no, I'm still a working actor. I've been on a few TV series since I've been back, done some London theatre and just played the role of Lancelot in a movie called Dragons Of Camelot which will be released at the end of this summer. I have a script in pre-production back in LA and another film that begins shooting in August.
Mark will be exhibiting at the 'Antiques for Everyone' fair at the NEC from April 9-12.
