Game of Thrones alum Michael Patrick died in April 2026 at the age of 35.
Patrick’s wife, Naomi Sheehan, announced on April 8, 2026, that the actor died after a three-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND), a rare illness that causes muscle weakness and impacts speech.
“Last night, Mick sadly passed away in the Northern Ireland Hospice,” Sheehan wrote via Instagram. “He was admitted 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.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about Patrick:
When Was Michael Patrick Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease?
Michael Patrick was diagnosed with MND in February 2023. He participated in a clinical trial treatment months later in September 2023.
“I can now wiggle my right foot [and] toes for the first time in about two years. It’s small,” he said on “Brain and Life” podcast in January 2026. “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.”
Patrick’s father had previously battled MND before his own death.
Michael Patrick Was Hospitalized 2 Months Before His Death
Michael Patrick revealed via Instagram in February 2026 that he was hospitalized amid his battle with MND.
“3 years of having MND. Still shite craic,” he wrote at the time. “Health update: Basically me and @nomsheehan were in hospital for over a week there, speaking to doctors and getting tests done etc. Talking about risks and implications of getting the trache put in. What day to day life would be like after the operation.”
After discussing his prognosis, Patrick revealed he was “not going ahead with the tracheostomy.” (A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure to create a hole in the windpipe that allows air to pass through and aid breathing.)
“I had confirmation it would be around 6-12 months before I could get home due to lack of staffing resources,” he explained. “Thanks so much to everyone who helped push this, from senior social workers, to politicians to the chief executive of the hospital. Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn’t the staff. Also, my 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). I don’t want to risk a significant amount of that time being in a hospital bed.”
Patrick also said that he was in “the final stages of life.”
Michael Patrick Was an Actor and Playwright
Michael Patrick portrayed Wildling Rioter on a season 6 episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones. His other acting credits include Bernard Dunne’s Mythical Heroes, Krypton, My Left Nut, Remote Anthology, The Spectacular, Blue Lights and This Town. As a playwright, he wrote My Left Nut with Oisín Kearney, inspired by the death of Patrick’s father.
Michael Patrick Was Married
Michael Patrick married Naomi Sheehan in September 2023.
“One year married to @nomsheehan 😍,” he wrote via Instagram in 2024, sharing wedding portraits on the couple’s anniversary.
Patrick died two years later, with Sheehan sharing the news via social media.
“It’s been said more than once that Mick was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him, not just in the past few years during his illness but in every day of his life,” Sheehan captioned an April 2026 tribute. “He lived a life as full as any human can live. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger-haired man. We are so grateful for every person who supported us through the last few years.”
At the time, Sheehan revealed Patrick’s favorite quote from Brendan Behan that felt “appropriate now.”
“The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you,” the quotation read, to which Sheehan advised followers not to “overthink it. Eat. Drink. Love.”
