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Michael Patrick<\/a> has died.<\/p>\n The Irish actor passed away on Tuesday at NI Hospice following ga three-year battle with motor neuron disease (MND), according to BBC News<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n His wife, Naomi, shared the news on social media<\/a>. She wrote, \u201cMick 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. He lived a life as full as any human can live. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man.\u201d<\/p>\n Born Michael Campbell, he is an actor and writer from Belfast. Patrick studied science at the University of Cambridge, and while there, he performed with the famous Cambridge Footlights Comedy Troupe. After university, he trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and was also a member of the National Youth Theatre in the UK.<\/p>\n Also, while at Cambridge, he met his writing partner, Ois\u00edn Kearney, who was studying politics. \u00a0The duo ran the university\u2019s Irish Society, and with Kearney as director and Patrick as the actor, they made several productions, including Frank McGuinness\u2019 Someone to Watch Over Me<\/em>, per The Irish Times<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Patrick made his on-screen acting debut in 2016 in an episode of Game of Thrones<\/em>, and also appeared in Bravery Under Fire, The Keeper, Bernard Dunne\u2019s Mythical Heroes, Death and Nightingales, Soft Border Patrol, Krypton, My Left Nut, Blasts from the Past, Blue Lights, <\/em>and This Town<\/em>.<\/p>\n In 2023, Patrick was diagnosed with MND, which causes muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years, according to the NHS<\/a>. There is no cure, and it\u2019s usually life-shortening, but treatment can help manage the symptoms. Patrick\u2019s diagnosis did not slow him down. He performed the leading role in Shakespeare\u2019s Richard III <\/em>in 2024 at Lyric Theatre Belfast, which won him the judges\u2019 prize at the Stage Awards. The performance earned him much praise, and when he accepted the Judges\u2019 award, he received a standing ovation from the crowd. That\u2019s not all. Last year, Patrick performed the solo show My Right Foot<\/em>, which chronicles MND. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThese islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star,\u201d Lyric Theatre Belfast executive producer Jimmy Fay said in a tribute to Patrick. \u201cMick showed great strength and dignity in light of his diagnosis MND. He remained resilient and focused, creating dynamic work throughout his struggles. We at the Lyric pay tribute to his remarkable talent and send our deepest condolences to his wife Naomi, his mother and sisters, and all his friends, family, and colleagues at this sad time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n