Finnian Garbutt, the rising TV actor who spent his final months warning the public about the dangers of skin cancer, has died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. The 28-year-old’s family announced the heartbreaking news on Friday via Instagram, thanking supporters whose donations to a crowdfunding page helped bring “peace of mind” in his last days.
From Diagnosis to Tragedy: A Five-Year Battle
Garbutt was first diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma five years ago after spotting a suspicious mole on his scalp. Despite surgery in 2022 to remove cancerous tissue, he received a devastating stage IV diagnosis in August 2024 — just two weeks before his daughter Saoirse was born. He had shared the joy of fatherhood with his wife, Louise Agnew, amidst the grim news.
Raising Awareness Until the End
Throughout his illness, Garbutt used his platform to urge the public to take skin cancer seriously. “I am trying to get people talking about it so that they know the ways in which you can prevent yourself from getting it,” he said after his initial diagnosis. Despite never sunbathing or using tanning beds, he developed aggressive melanoma that “went unnoticed” until it was nearly too late.
Career Highlights and Final Days
- Starred as PC Ryan Power in BBC Northern Ireland’s Hope Street since 2023
- Appeared in Casualty in 2020
- Lead role in upcoming film Housejackers
- Married his best friend, Louise and became a devoted father
- Snagged his dream home despite battling terminal illness
By February 2024, scans showed the cancer had spread rapidly, and Finnian openly admitted he was “entering the last stages” of his life. He moved into hospice care before returning home to spend his final moments with loved ones. Until the end, he welcomed friends for “a pint, coffee or general bit of craic.”
Family Grieves While Honouring His Legacy
His family said, “Knowing that you’re no longer in pain gives us all comfort, despite our own immense pain at losing you.” They praised him as “the greatest husband, father, son, brother and friend we could ever ask for.” Funeral arrangements will be announced soon, with a request for privacy as they mourn this tragic loss.
