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‘Game of Thrones’ Actor Dead at 35
09
Apr
Apr
Michael Patrick, an actor and writer best known for his work on hit television shows like Game of Thronesand the London stage, has died at the age of 35.
TMZ was one of the first outlets to report the news, which was officially announced by the Belfast-born artist’s wife, Naomi Sheehan, who wrote about Patrick’s passing on Instagram.
In an emotional post, Sheehan shared that Patrick passed away on Tuesday in the Northern Ireland Hospice after a three-year-long battle with motor neuron disease, a rare neurodegenerative condition that destroys the nerve cells that transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles and glands. As the condition progresses, it causes one’s muscles to weaken and stiffen, eventually leading to immobility and difficulty with speech, swallowing, and breathing.
What Was Michael Patrick’s Cause of Death?
Patrick appeared as a Wildling in the sixth season of Game of Thrones, where he had a memorable interaction with Liam Cunningham’s character, Davos Seaworth, which he shared on his Instagram:
Though born in Northern Ireland, Patrick did the bulk of his training in London. While he began his studies as a science major at University of Cambridge, the stage held a special place for him and he followed that with training at London’s Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Patrick performed with the Cambridge Footlights Comedy Troupe and was also a member of England’s National Youth Theatre.
What Roles Was Michael Patrick Best Known For?
His role on Game of Thrones was his first professional television credit, but he went on to land roles in shows and miniseries like The Spectacular, Blasts from the Past, Blue Lights, and This Town. In 2020, his autobiographical stage play My Left Nut, created with his writing partner Oisín Kearney, was adapted into a critically acclaimed comedy series by the BBC.
Patrick and Kearney recently completed a short film, So You’re Going to Die, based on Patrick’s terminal diagnosis (there is no cure), which is meant to serve as a proof of concept for a proposed series.
Patrick was also a well-known theater actor, with prominent roles in several Royal Shakespeare Company productions, including The Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure. In 2024, Patrick, who used a wheelchair, took on the lead in Richard III at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre.
What Did Michael Patrick Say About His Medical Diagnosis?
Patrick’s final Instagram post came on February 6, where he marked the three-year anniversary of his diagnosis and gave an update on a planned procedure. In the post, he noted that: “[M]y neurologist gave us the news that I likely have about 1 year left (obviously he can’t say for definite and we still have hope for the drug trial to buy some more time too). So I don’t want to risk a significant amount of that time being in a hospital bed.”
In November 2025, Patrick’s friends created a Gofundme with a goal of $100,000 in order to help pay for his medical costs. In what was clearly a show of support for the man and his work, that goal was quickly surpassed.
