Who is Finnian Garbutt? Hope Street actor, 28, shares heartbreaking health update that he's in 'last stages' after cancer spread. Meet his wife Louise, daughter Saoirse and his career.
Finnian Garbutt health update today – Hope Street star, 28, reveals scans show cancer progressed rapidly, he's entering final stages (Image: File)
Finnian Garbutt is a 28-year-old actor from Bangor, County Down, who plays Police Constable Ryan Power in the BBC One police drama Hope Street. On March 1, 2026, he shared a heartbreaking health update on social media revealing that his cancer has "progressed rapidly" and he is now "entering the last stages" of his life .
Finnian Garbutt grew up in Bangor, County Down, and attended Bangor Grammar School where he first fell in love with acting at age 14 after being brought to see plays at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast . He trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating in July 2019, and while studying received the Emma Style Award and FinTru Theatre Bursary . He is best known for playing PC Ryan Power in the BBC Northern Ireland police drama Hope Street, which films in Donaghadee, County Down, and has now completed 30 episodes across five seasons . Beyond Hope Street, Garbutt appeared in the long-running BBC medical drama Casualty and stars as the lead character Raymond in the upcoming film Housejackers, which premiered at the Belfast Film Festival last year . On stage, he played Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, and appeared in Youth Without God at The Coronet Theatre in London .
In a statement posted on Instagram on March 2, 2026, Garbutt revealed that his health has taken a devastating turn . He wrote that over the last month he had been experiencing significant pain in his back and hip, leading his cancer team to admit him for observations and scans . "Unfortunately the scans have shown that the cancer has progressed rapidly in my body and I am now entering the last stages of my life," he shared . He explained that he was making the news public because it was too difficult to tell people individually, and he hopes that with everything now in the open, he can focus on enjoying his remaining time with family and friends .
Garbutt was first diagnosed with Stage 3 malignant melanoma in December 2021 at the age of 25 . He first noticed a lump behind his right ear toward the end of 2020 but initially thought it was just an ingrown hair . When lockdown measures eased and he returned to his barber, his barber noticed the lump had grown "quite substantially," which prompted him to seek medical attention . Following assessments, doctors confirmed it was melanoma, and further tests showed it had spread into his neck . In February 2022, he underwent a grueling 12-hour surgery to remove the primary tumor and 75 lymph nodes from his face and neck, with skin from his left thigh used to patch his skull . By August 2024, just weeks before his daughter was born, the cancer had progressed to Stage IV .
Garbutt is married to his partner Louise Agnew, and the couple has a young daughter named Saoirse, who was born in August 2024 just two weeks after his Stage IV diagnosis . In his recent statement, he reflected on becoming "a father to the most incredible baby girl who never fails to make me smile" as one of the major life goals he has achieved since his diagnosis . He also mentioned buying his own house and marrying his best friend as other personal milestones he reached during his four-year cancer journey .
In his social media statement, Garbutt expressed gratitude to everyone who has reached out and supported him and his family over the years . In a touching and characteristically down-to-earth Northern Irish invitation, he added: "If anyone wants to meet up for a pint, coffee or general bit of craic, please reach out and we can try and make it work" . He signed off with "Love as always, Finnian" . Fellow Hope Street cast members have offered their support, with actor Ciaran McMenamin sharing memories of time spent together filming and writing: "That is how I will remember you kid" . A BBC spokesperson said: "Finnian has been such an important part of Hope Street's success. He is very much in our thoughts" .
Throughout his illness, Garbutt has used his platform to advocate for Action Cancer and encourage men to seek early medical attention . In November 2022, he shared his story to promote the charity's Peer Mentoring Programme, describing it as a "complete gamechanger" that helped him navigate his journey . He emphasized that early detection saves lives and urged people to check their skin regularly and not be afraid to seek help . He also encouraged men affected by cancer not to "bury your head in the sand" and to avail themselves of support services .
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
