Game of Thrones actor and playwright Michael Patrick died at age 35 after a three-year battle with motor neurone disease.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about his diagnosis and the disease that claimed him:
How Did Michael Patrick Die?
Michael Patrick’s wife, Naomi Sheehan, confirmed via Instagram in April 2026, that her husband — whom she affectionately called “Mick” — died on April 7 following 10 days in a Belfast, Northern Ireland, hospice care center. Patrick had been battling motor neurone disease, a rare, incurable neurodegenerative condition — the most common form of which is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Per the Mayo Clinic, MND impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and gradually weakens the muscles controlling speech, swallowing and limb movement.
“[Mick] was admitted [to hospice] 10 days ago and was cared for by the incredible team there. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Words can’t describe how broken-hearted we are,” Sheehan wrote.
What Roles Was Michael Patrick Known For?
Michael Patrick was an actor and playwright based in Belfast who worked across both stage and screen. He memorably portrayed a Wildling in a Game of Thrones season 6 episode and had guest roles in British TV shows My Left Nut and Blue Lights. Patrick also landed a recurring part in Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight‘s 2024 music-themed drama This Town.
As a playwright, Patrick wrote My Left Nut with Oisín Kearney and integrated his illness into a stage adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Richard III, using his wheelchair in scenes where the king travels on horseback. He also wrote the play My Right Foot, which examined how he coped with being diagnosed with MND.
When Was Michael Patrick Diagnosed With MND?
Michael Patrick first experienced symptoms while performing in a play at the Dublin Fringe festival in late 2022, though he didn’t initially realize what was happening. A relative advised him to get checked out due to his family’s history with MND, and by the time he saw doctors, he could no longer “lift [his] right foot” and “couldn’t point [his] toes to the ceiling.” He was officially diagnosed in February 2023.
Patrick told the “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026: “I had to dance in it and I kept falling over, tripping on my shoes. I kept blaming my shoes, kept saying, ‘Why have they got me dancing in these big chunky shoes? It’s not fair.’ But it didn’t get better.”
Patrick’s father also died from MND. Speaking to RTE in August 2025, Patrick recalled: “My dad was diagnosed in February and he died that October. There wasn’t much time with him. I’m thinking, ‘Am I gonna [die] in October?’ Thankfully, I haven’t.”
Inside Michael Patrick’s Battle With MND
In September 2023 — just two days after marrying Naomi Sheehan — Michael Patrick was accepted into a clinical drug trial. He noticed what he described as “the first reversal of symptoms” within weeks, regaining movement he had lost since his symptoms first appeared. Patrick shared his experience on the “Brain and Life” podcast.
“I can now wiggle my right foot [and] toes for the first time in about two years. It’s small,” he said. “And my breathing’s still going unless I get a tracheotomy, and my arm’s still getting weaker, but fact is there is some reversal there, which is really exciting.”
In February 2026, Patrick revealed via Instagram that his neurologist told him he “likely [had] about one year left.” He announced he would not go ahead with a tracheostomy after learning it could be six to 12 months before he could return home due to staffing shortages.
“Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn’t the staff,” he wrote. “I don’t want to risk a significant amount of that time being in a hospital bed.”
His friends and family had raised more than £110,000 (nearly $150,000) through a GoFundMe to help pay for specialized care.
“Everyone’s been amazing,” he said. “I have a lot of support. Family and friends are really amazing and I can’t thank them enough.”
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
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