Michael Patrick, the Irish actor who appeared in an episode of Game of Thrones, has died. He was 35 years old.
Patrick passed away in hospice care in Ireland, his wife Naomi Sheehan announced on Instagram on Wednesday.
He was battling motor neuron disease (MND), according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Motor neuron disease is a neurological disease that destroys motor neurons, which control skeletal muscle activities such as walking, breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
Sheehan said Patrick was diagnosed with the disorder in February 2023.
“He was admitted to hospital 10 days ago and was cared for by a wonderful team. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends,” she said.
Patrick’s wife said his family was “heartbroken” by his death.
“Mick has been told many times that he was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of interacting with him, not just during the last few years of his illness, but every day of his life,” Sheehan continued.
“He lived as full a life as humanly possible. Joyful, full of spirit, contagious laughter. He was a giant of a man with ginger hair,” Sheehan added, thanking “everyone who supported us all these years.”
At the end of her post, Sheehan shared Patrick’s favorite quote from Irish poet Brendan Behan.
“So don’t think too much about it,” she added in her own words. “Eat, drink, love.”
Patrick shared his last Instagram post on February 6, revealing that his neurologist told him he had about a year to live.
“I don’t want to risk spending a significant portion of that time in a hospital bed,” he wrote, adding that he still “has a lot to live for and plans.”
According to his IMDb, Patrick appeared on Season 6 of “Game of Thrones” in 2016, playing a wildling mobster in an episode titled “The Broken Man.”
In addition to appearing in several Shakespeare productions, Patrick also appeared on the television shows Blue Lights, This Town, A Blast from the Past, and The Spectacular.
The late actor also co-wrote the 2020 BBC series My Left Nut, which was based on his experiences as a teenager when he thought he had testicular cancer.
According to IMDb, his last role was in the 2025 German TV movie “Mordlichtern-Tod auf den Färöer Inseln.”
