Hope Street actor Finnian Garbutt has revealed that he’s entered hospice care after being diagnosed with untreatable skin cancer.
The 28-year-old told The Independent earlier in March that life is “very uncomfortable” as his cancer continues to progress rapidly in his body. “Everything I can do in my life has drastically changed in the past few weeks. I don’t drive anymore, and it’s sort of every day, the pain is getting worse,” he said.
Garbutt – who played police constable Ryan Power on BBC One’s Hope Street – was diagnosed with stage 3 skin cancer in 2021 and despite receiving treatment over several years, he was told 18 months ago that it had become incurable.
Sharing his latest update with fans on Instagram, Garbutt said that Northern Ireland Hospice was providing him with care – and that he planned to stop sharing his GoFundMe page, which has so far raised nearly £85,000 for his family.
“A day in bed supplied by @nihospice,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories on Tuesday (24 March).
He went on to thank those who had supported him and his family, adding: “I’ll no longer be sharing my GoFundMe. page but it is still active on my Bio. Love you all folks.”
Garbutt – who stars in upcoming feature film Housejackers later this year – shared his prognosis on Instagram earlier this month, writing: “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.
“Since being diagnosed four years ago I have achieved so many of my life goals – 30 episodes in a TV show, being the lead in a movie (that should be out soon), buying my own house, marrying my best friend and becoming a father to the most incredible baby girl who never fails to make me smile.”
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Speaking to The Independent a week later, Garbutt said that he learnt that his cancer had spread to his liver and lungs just two weeks before his daughter Saoirse was born in 2024.
“It has been really tough. Anytime I get emotional about it, I just sort of think of that, because I wouldn’t want to see anybody go through this,” said the actor, who shares baby Saoirse with wife Louise.
Opening up about starting a GoFundMe for his family, he explained that with just a few years in the acting industry, he is “not rich” and hopes to leave behind some money for his wife and daughter.
“I’ve just always wanted to be the person that looks after my family 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,” he said.
“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?’”
You can donate to the Garbutt family’s GoFundMe here. The NHS has further information on melanoma skin cancer, including the symptoms to look out for.
