Hope Street Actor Finnian Garbutt Dies Aged 28

Finnian Garbutt, the actor known for his role as police constable Ryan Power in the BBC Northern Ireland drama Hope Street, has died at the age of 28.

His family announced his passing in a statement shared on social media, describing his death as peaceful and occurring at home following a sudden decline in his condition.

Garbutt was born in Bangor and had portrayed Ryan Power in the last three series of Hope Street, a police drama filmed in Donaghadee, County Down.

Four years prior to his death, Garbutt was diagnosed with skin cancer, a fact he spoke about publicly to raise awareness, particularly encouraging young men to seek medical advice for symptoms.

In his final months, he balanced his acting career with personal milestones, having married his partner Louise the previous year and welcoming their one-year-old daughter, Saoirse.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by his loved ones to support his wife and daughter surpassed its £50,000 goal, reflecting the widespread support he received during his illness.

His co-star Cameron Cuffe paid tribute, saying Garbutt had “brought joy to so many,” while Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning at BBC Northern Ireland, described him as a “key part of Hope Street’s appeal” who brought “so much to his character PC Ryan Power over the last three series.”

Long Story TV, the production company behind Hope Street, remembered him as a “much-loved member of the Hope Street family,” noting he “brought a great sense of fun to set every day” and was popular with audiences in the role.

The BBC, along with the show’s cast and crew, extended their thoughts to his wife, daughter, family, friends and colleagues following his death.

Garbutt’s legacy includes not only his performances on screen but also his advocacy for skin cancer awareness, using his platform to highlight the importance of early detection, especially among younger audiences.