A Northern Irish actor on the rise has shared that he is nearing the end of his life after battling skin cancer for four years, a disease that has now reached his liver and lungs.
Finnian Garbutt, 28, widely recognized for portraying Police Constable Ryan Power on the BBC drama “Hope Street,” announced the heartbreaking update to his followers on social media on March 1, 2026. Recent tests revealed that his melanoma had advanced swiftly throughout his body.
Garbutt said in his post that he decided to make the news public rather than tell people one by one. “I hope now it’s in the open then I can enjoy the time with my amazing family and friends,” he shared.
The Bangor-born actor first noticed a lump behind his ear in late 2020, assuming it was just an ingrown hair. Once lockdown restrictions eased and his barber pointed out how much it had grown, he sought medical care. In December 2021, at only 25, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 malignant melanoma. The cancer later moved to his neck, leading to an intensive 12-hour operation in February 2022 to remove 75 lymph nodes from his face and neck.
In August 2024, just two weeks before the birth of his daughter Saoirse, doctors informed him that the cancer had become terminal after spreading to his liver and lungs. Still, Garbutt continued pursuing both personal and professional goals—appearing in 30 episodes of “Hope Street” between 2023 and 2025 and marrying his partner Louise Agnew in September 2025.
Throughout his illness, Garbutt accomplished significant personal achievements: 30 episodes of “Hope Street,” landing the lead in an upcoming film, becoming a homeowner, marrying his best friend, and welcoming a daughter who, in his words, “never fails to make me smile.”
The five-season series films in Donaghadee, County Down, depicting life in the fictional seaside town of Port Devine. Garbutt also played Raymond in the film “Housejackers,” which debuted at the 2025 Belfast Film Festival. A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, he previously portrayed Benvolio in “Romeo and Juliet” at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre and appeared in the BBC medical drama “Casualty.”
Over the last month, Garbutt reported worsening pain in his back and hip, which led his oncology team to admit him for evaluations. The scans confirmed his fears—the cancer had spread aggressively.
After he went public with the update, Garbutt’s family set up a GoFundMe campaign to support his wife and daughter after he passes. At the time of writing, the fundraiser had surpassed £36,000.
Garbutt stressed that he was not looking for pity. He said all he wants is for his wife and child to have the life they deserve—something he had hoped to provide himself. Any contributions, he noted, would help Louise and Saoirse adjust after his death and ensure they can remain safe and secure at home.
Throughout his cancer journey, Garbutt has collaborated with Action Cancer and advocated for the charity’s Peer Mentoring Programme, encouraging men to check their
