The actor was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2023 (Picture: michaelpatrick314/Instagram)

Award-winning Belfast actor Michael Campbell has died at the age of 35.

The celebrated performer, who secured one of Britain’s most coveted awards for his ‘legendary’ wheelchair-bound interpretation of Richard III, had been battling motor neurone disease (MND).

An online death notice for the actor, who is also known as Michael Patrick, said he died on Tuesday at NI Hospice ‘surrounded by his loving family and friends’.

The star, who has worked on stage, TV, film and radio productions, received the terminal diagnosis in February 2023.

Sharing the news on social media, his wife Naomi said: ‘He lived a life as full as any human can live.

‘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.’


Michael Campbell, who is also known as Michael Patrick, died on Tuesday ‘surrounded by his loving family and friends’ (Picture: michaelpatrick314/Instagram)

She added: ‘Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man.’

In his final social media post from February, Campbell provided his followers with an update, revealing his neurologist had estimated he had approximately one year remaining.

He also said how he had chosen to decline a tracheostomy, which is a surgical breathing aid inserted into the throat .

This decision came as he said that he preferred to spend his remaining time outside the hospital walls.

The award-winning actor’s recent theatre work includes his autobiographical play My Right Foot and The Tragedy Of Richard II.

The latter performance earned him the Judges’ Award at The Stage Awards, Britain’s celebration of theatrical excellence, hosted at the Royal Opera House in London.

Speaking to BBC News NI afterwards, he explained how he and co-writer Oisín Kearney reimagined the Shakespearean classic through his illness.


The 35-year-old won an award for his portrayal of Richard III (Pictur: Michaelpatrick314/Instagram)

He told the broadcaster: ‘In Shakespeare’s version Richard III is deformed from birth. They found his skeleton in a car park and it looked like he had scoliosis.’

‘We changed it so that at the start of the play Richard gets news that he’s got a terminal illness, something like MND that’s going to get worse.’

On television, he has also appeared in This Town, Blue Lights, Krypton and Game of Thrones.

The Lyric Theatre Belfast’s executive producer Jimmy Fay honoured Campbell by writing: ‘These islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star.

‘Mick 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.’

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