Image Credit: Courtesy of Michael Patrick/Instagam
Michael Patrick, a performer from Ireland who had a role in one episode of the series Game of Thrones, has passed away at the age of 35 following a three-year struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. His spouse, Naomi, shared the devastating announcement via a post on Instagram on April 8, 2026, disclosing that her husband had died the preceding night.
“Yesterday evening, Mick unfortunately departed this life at the Northern Ireland Hospice,” she penned. “He received an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis on February 1st, 2023. He was admitted 10 days prior and received care from the exceptional personnel there. He passed on peacefully, with loved ones and comrades at his side. Words cannot adequately communicate our immense grief.”
Describing Patrick as “an inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to have known him, not solely in recent years during his affliction but in each moment of his existence,” Naomi further mentioned that he “lived a life as abundantly as any person could.”
“Happiness, abundant spirit, contagious laughter. A red-haired man of immense stature,” she expressed. “We are eternally thankful for each individual who lent us support over these last several years. Mick was fond of this quote from Brendan Behan, and it resonates now: ‘The most vital things globally are to acquire sustenance, drink, and affection.’ So, don’t complicate matters. Eat. Drink. Love.”
Here, delve deeper into Patrick’s background, his performing career, the Game of Thrones figure he embodied, and the specifics of his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis.
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Which Game of Thrones Character Did Michael Patrick Play?
Patrick took on the character of Wildling Rioter in a season 6 installment.
Michael Patrick Was Both an Actor & a Writer
Evident from his Instagram profile, the late Belfast resident was a wordsmith and a performer, having penned and starred in short films like My Right Foot. He also co-authored the BBC series My Left Nut alongside Oisín Kearney, according to his IMDb page.
Michael Patrick’s Motor Neurone Disease Explained
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a collection of neurological conditions that progressively obliterate a person’s motor neurons, as stated by the Cleveland Clinic. Motor neurons are the nerve conduits that dictate muscular actions, impacting how we ambulate, articulate, and ingest, for example. Signals emanating from neurons in the cerebrum are termed upper motor neurons, which are relayed to the neurons in the spinal cord — the lower motor neurons. Should a patient’s muscles fail to register these signals from the lower motor neurons, muscular rigidity is apt to materialize.
As indicated earlier, Patrick’s wife reported that he was given the diagnosis of the ailment in 2023. Regrettably, there remains no definitive remedy for ALS.