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Hope Street actor Finnian Garbutt dies aged 28
Hope Street actor Finnian Garbutt has died at the age of 28, five years after first being diagnosed with skin cancer.
His family announced the news on Instagram on Friday 17 April, writing that he died “after a sudden decline in his condition”.
They wrote: “He passed peacefully at home, as he wished, surrounded by his family. We want to thank everyone for their support, their kind words, and for being with us during this really difficult time.
“And thank you also to everyone who donated to our gofundme page. The peace of mind you all gave Finn during his last days made his passing so much easier to bear.”
Hailing from County Down, Northern Ireland, the young actor spent the final years of his life balancing his budding acting career with living with cancer, and celebrating milestones including getting married and becoming a father.
The statement added: “We will always love and miss you, Finn. You were the greatest husband, father, son, brother, and friend we could ever ask for, and knowing that you’re no longer in pain gives us all comfort, despite our own immense pain at losing you.
“We will soon be announcing details of his funeral. In the meantime, we ask that our family’s privacy be respected at this really difficult time. Thank you so much, and with all the love in the world, Louise, Luke & the family xxx.”
Garbutt’s credits include BBC drama Hope Street, filmed close to where he grew up. The star landed his role as PC Ryan Power in April 2023 and went on to star in 30 episodes of the popular crime drama.
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Just months before his death, he attended the premiere of his big screen debut, the upcoming indie film Heartjackers, which Garbutt described to The Independent in March as a chaotic, fun and “also kind of dark” comedy-drama.
While celebrating his career achievements, Garbutt also shared the realities of living with cancer in a bid to raise awareness and encourage people – especially young men – to seek advice if they spot symptoms.
“I was always ashamed of going to a doctor or whatever, you know, and I think a lot of young people feel that way,” he told The Independent. “So I wanted people to know that you should just go and speak to somebody if you feel like something’s wrong.
“Most people associate [skin cancer] with older people, but it can affect anybody. A lot of people have this preconception of, ‘Oh, it’s just skin cancer, you just cut it off and you’re fine.’ But melanoma, it’s deadly and it’s going to be the reason that I die.”
It was in August 2024, two weeks before the birth of his daughter, Saoirse, that Garbutt was told his cancer was incurable.
In March this year, he shared another update on social media, explaining: “Unfortunately, the scans have shown that the cancer has progressed rapidly in my body and I am now entering the last stages of my life.”
It was at this point that Garbutt’s loved ones launched a GoFundMe to help raise money for his wife, Louise, and baby daughter, who turns two later this year.
“I’ve just always wanted to be the person that looks after my family,” he said, “and the last thing I want is my wife having to move house with a one-year-old and being financially stressed and not knowing when to get back to work and not knowing how long to take off. I just find that part really hard.
“I do not want anyone to donate if they cannot. If they cannot afford to, please, please, please, please don’t [donate], but share it and it’ll just help my baby have some form of life that isn’t just, ‘Where’s my daddy?’” Within days, donations surpassed the £50k mark.
In what would be one of his final updates, Garbutt told fans in late March that he had entered hospice care and thanked his “incredible friends and followers who have supported me and my family over the last month or so”.
“You are all incredible people and I am so blessed that you have helped me in so many ways,” he wrote on social media. “My family will benefit so much, which is such a tremendous weight off my shoulders.”
Garbutt is survived by his wife, Louise, and daughter, Saoirse.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
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