Michael Campbell was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in February 2023 and died at NI Hospice. He won a prestigious Stage Award for his performance in Richard III.
Actor Michael Campbell has passed away aged 35. The celebrated performer, who secured one of Britain’s most coveted drama awards for a “legendary” wheelchair-bound interpretation of Richard III, had been battling motor neurone disease (MND) prior to his death.
The star, also known as Michael Patrick, received the devastating terminal diagnosis in February 2023 and passed away on Tuesday at NI Hospice. His wife Naomi shared the heartbreaking news on social media saying: “He lived a life as full as any human can live,” she said.
Naomi added: “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. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man.”
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In his final social media post from February, Campbell provided followers with a candid update, revealing his neurologist had estimated he had approximately one year remaining. He had chosen to decline a tracheostomy – a surgical breathing aid inserted into the throat – preferring to spend his remaining time outside the hospital walls.
The Lyric Theatre Belfast, where he delivered his award-winning lead role in the Shakespeare classic, expressed profound sadness at his death. The Lyric’s executive producer Jimmy Fay honoured Campbell, said: “These islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star.”
He added: “Mick showed great strength and dignity in light of his diagnosis MND,” adding: “He remained resilient and focused, creating dynamic work throughout his struggles,” reports the Express.
“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.”
Campbell’s powerful work on his adaptation of The Tragedy of Richard III earned him recognition at a distinguished awards ceremony in January 2025. The audience rose to their feet in applause as he received 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 had reimagined the Shakespearean classic through the lens of his own illness. He told the broadcaster: “In Shakespeare’s version Richard III is deformed from birth,” and: “They found his skeleton in a car park and it looked like he had scoliosis.”
He added: “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.”
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