Game of Thrones Actor Michael Patrick Dies at 35 After Battle with Motor Neurone Disease
Michael Patrick, an actor who made a memorable appearance in a Season 6 episode of the hit series Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 35. His wife, Naomi Sheehan, confirmed the tragic news in a heartfelt Instagram post, revealing that Patrick passed away peacefully while in hospice care in Northern Ireland.
A Life Cut Short by a Rare Disease
Patrick had been battling Motor Neurone Disease (MND) for over three years, having been diagnosed on February 1, 2023. According to the Ontario Brain Institute, MND is a progressive condition that slowly degrades the body's motor neurons, leading to increasing weakness and deterioration in swallowing, speech, and breathing. As of 2019, more than 1,100 people in Ontario were living with this incurable disease.
Sheehan described her husband as "an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him" and praised his joyful spirit and infectious laughter. "He lived a life as full as any human can live," she wrote, calling him a "titan of a ginger haired man." She also expressed deep gratitude to the medical team at the Northern Ireland Hospice and to fans for their support throughout his illness.
A Versatile Career on Stage and Screen
Beyond his role as a "wilding rioter" in Game of Thrones, Patrick had a diverse acting career. He performed in several Shakespeare productions at the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company in London and recently portrayed a dying man in My Right Foot and the title role in Shakespeare's Richard III in 2024. His IMDb page lists credits on shows like Blue Lights, This Town, and the BBC series My Left Nut, which he co-wrote based on his own teenage experiences.
In his final social media post in February, Patrick marked the third anniversary of his MND diagnosis and discussed his decision to forgo a tracheostomy to prolong his life, stating he didn't want to risk spending significant time in a hospital bed. "Anyway – still lots to live for and lots planned," he wrote optimistically, thanking donors to his GoFundMe campaign and vowing to keep fighting.
Tributes from Friends and Colleagues
Friends and fellow actors have paid tribute to Patrick's character and talent. Saturday Night Live UK star George Fouracres called him "one of the greatest human beings I ever shared my time with here on this planet," highlighting his humor, wisdom, and kindness. On his GoFundMe page, Patrick's friends described him as someone who could "still hold a room, tell stories, sing songs, keep the craic going, and be the friend we all love."
Sheehan concluded her post with a poignant quote from Brendan Behan that Patrick loved: "The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you." She urged others to "Eat. Drink. Love." in his memory, a fitting tribute to a man who faced his illness with courage and grace.
