Game of Thrones actor and playwright Michael Patrick He died at the age of 35 after a three-year battle with motor neurone disease.
Keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know about her diagnosis and the disease that plagued her:
How Did Michael Patrick Die?
Michael Patrick’s wife, Naomi Sheehanconfirmed via Instagram in April 2026, that her husband – whom she called “Mick” – died on April 7 after 10 days in a hospice in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Patrick had been battling motor neurone disease, a rare, incurable form of neurodegeneration – the most common form of which is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, MND affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and gradually weakens the muscles that control speech, swallowing and limb movement.
“[Mick] he was accepted [to hospice] 10 days ago and it is maintained by an amazing team there. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends. “Words cannot describe how broken our hearts are,” Sheehan wrote.
Michael Patrick
Courtesy of Michael Patrick/InstagramWhat Roles Is Michael Patrick Known For?
Michael Patrick was a Belfast-based actor and playwright who worked on both stage and screen. He memorized the Wildling in a Game of Thrones episode 6 and had guest roles in British TV shows My Left Nut again Green Lights. Patrick also got a recurring part The Peaky Blinders the creator Steven Knight2024 musical themed drama This city.
As a playwright, Patrick wrote My Left Nut with Kearney and incorporated his illness into a stage adaptation of William Shakespeare Richard IIIusing his wheelchair in scenes where the king is on horseback. He also wrote a play My Right Footwhich explored how he coped with being diagnosed with MND.
When was Michael Patrick diagnosed with MND?
Michael Patrick started having symptoms while performing at the Dublin Fringe festival in late 2022, although he didn’t realize what was happening. A relative advised her to get tested because of her family history of MND, and when she saw a doctor, she could no longer “lift. [his] right foot” and “couldn’t point [his] toes on the roof.” He was officially discovered in February 2023.
Patrick told the “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026: “I had to dance in it and I kept falling, tripping over my shoes. I kept blaming my shoes, I kept saying, ‘Why did they make me dance in these big shoes? It’s not right.’ But it didn’t get better.”
Patrick’s father also died of MND. Speaking to RTE in August 2025, Patrick recalled: “My dad was diagnosed in February and died that October. There wasn’t much time with him. I thought, ‘Am I going to be [die] in October?’ Thank you, I never.”
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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 saw what he described as “the first reversal of symptoms” within a few weeks, regaining the mobility he had lost since his symptoms first appeared. Patrick shared his experience on the “Brain and Life” podcast.
“I can now move my right foot [and] toes for the first time in almost two years. It’s a little,” he said. “And my breathing is still going without having to get a tracheotomy, and my arm is still weak, but the truth is there’s some regression there, which is really exciting.”
In February 2026, Patrick revealed via Instagram that his neurologist told him “it’s possible [had] about one year left.” She announced she would not continue with the tracheostomy after learning it could be six to 12 months before she could return home due to staff shortages.
“Everyone has tried so hard, but there are no workers,” he wrote. “I don’t want to take a big risk at that time when I’m in a hospital bed.”
Her friends and family have raised more than £110,000 (about $150,000) through GoFundMe to help pay for the special care.
“Everyone was amazing,” he said. “I have a lot of support. Family and friends are really amazing and I can’t thank you enough.”
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
