Actor Finnian Garbutt Passes Away
Finnian Garbutt, the actor known for his role in the BBC police drama Hope Street, has died peacefully at home at the age of 28.
Born in Bangor, Garbutt appeared in all five seasons of the BBC Northern Ireland police drama, which is filmed in Donaghadee, County Down.
Public Battle with Skin Cancer
Garbutt was diagnosed with skin cancer four years ago and had been open about his diagnosis and treatment journey.
In March, he revealed he was entering the final stages of his illness after scans showed rapid progression of the cancer in his body. He described experiencing significant pain in his back and hip and had recently been admitted for observations and further scans.
"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.
I'm putting this out there as it is really difficult to tell people individually and I hope now it's in the open then I can enjoy the time with my amazing family and friends."
Earlier in 2023, Garbutt disclosed that a mole found by his barber during a haircut after lockdown restrictions was diagnosed as malignant melanoma.
Family Statement and Personal Life
His family shared a statement on social media expressing their grief and love for him.
"We will always love and miss you Finn."
"We're absolutely heartbroken to announce that Finnian passed away after a sudden decline in his condition.
You were the greatest husband, father, son, brother and friend we could ask for."
Garbutt married his partner Louise last year, and the couple had a one-year-old daughter.
The family also thanked everyone for their support and kind words during this difficult time.
Career Highlights
Garbutt graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in July 2019. Prior to his role in Hope Street, he played Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.
He also appeared in the BBC television hospital series Casualty and featured as Raymond in the film Housejackers, which premiered at the Belfast Film Festival last year.
