Finnian Garbutt says he is entering the ‘last stages’ of life after yearslong cancer battle

finnian garbutt, 28, announced he is entering the "last stages" of his yearslong fight with melanoma after recent scans showed rapid progression, and he appealed for help to support his wife and 1½-year-old daughter.

Finnian Garbutt shares scans showed rapid progression

In a post he placed online, the actor said that over the previous month he had been experiencing "quite a bit of pain" in his back and hip and that his cancer team had admitted him for observations and scans. He wrote, "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. " The post followed an earlier, more private announcement made days before.

Hope Street role and diagnosis timeline

Best known for playing police constable Ryan Power on the crime drama Hope Street, he has appeared in 30 episodes of the series. finnian garbutt said he was first diagnosed with cancer four years ago and that the melanoma was declared terminal in 2024 after it spread to his liver and lungs.

Family, achievements and an appeal

Garbutt, who is from Bangor in County Down, asked fans to support his wife, Louise Agnew, and their daughter, Saoirse Garbutt. He said he was not posting for sympathy and asked people not to donate if they could not afford it, adding that his priority was making sure his wife and little girl "have the life they deserve. " He described personal milestones reached since his diagnosis: buying a house, marrying Louise, becoming a father, and landing a lead role in a movie called Housejackers.

He reflected on those years with concrete notes of accomplishment: 30 episodes on Hope Street, a lead part in the upcoming film "Housejackers, " and his role as a husband and father who wanted to provide for his family. He thanked those who had reached out with support over the years and invited friends and fans to meet up for a pint, coffee or "general bit of craic" where possible.

Garbutt’s message has focused on practical care for his family in the coming weeks as he moves into this stage of illness; he followed an initial post with a separate appeal asking for financial help for his soon-to-be widow and their child.

His upcoming movie, "Housejackers, " which he said "should be out soon, " remains on his brief list of projects, and the actor emphasized wanting to spend time with family and friends now that the situation is public. Recovery operations or medical next steps were not detailed in his post.

The immediate confirmed milestone on his public calendar is the release of the film he filmed while living with the disease; beyond that, he has asked supporters to focus on his wife Louise Agnew and daughter Saoirse as he enters the final phase of his fight.