The Scottish actor was best known for playing mafia boss John Thomas ‘Tommy’ Hunter in the BBC cop drama before his sudden death in April 2024
Line of Duty actor Brian McCardie left behind an estate valued at £70,000 following his unexpected death at the age of 59. The Scottish performer died suddenly from an aortic dissection – a rupture in the wall of the body’s main artery – at his residence in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute in April 2024.
Brian earned recognition for his portrayal of crime boss John Thomas ‘Tommy’ Hunter in the BBC police thriller Line of Duty, and appeared in productions including Outlander and the BBC prison series Time alongside Sean Bean. The Glasgow-born actor’s estate, totalling £69,243, was bequeathed to his relatives, with over 10 per cent – amounting to £6,943 – set aside to fund a well-attended funeral service.
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Among the 100 mourners paying their respects at St Mary’s Church in Lanark, South Lanarkshire, in May 2024 were fellow actors Jason Flemyng, Tom Curran and David McKay.
Brian’s sister Sarah broke the heartbreaking news of his passing on X, describing his death as coming ‘much too soon’.
The bulk of McCardie’s assets – now with his family serving as executors – was primarily held in bank accounts across England and Wales, whilst £709 was distributed between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Sarah wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Brian James McCardie, beloved son, brother, uncle and dear friend to so many. Brian passed away suddenly on Sunday 28th April. A wonderful and passionate actor on stage and screen, Brian loved his work and touched many lives, and is gone too soon. We love him and will miss him greatly; please remember Brian in your thoughts.”
Sarah’s heartfelt message sparked an outpouring of tributes from admirers, mates and colleagues in the acting world.
Line of Duty mastermind Jed Mercurio and executive producer Simon Heath expressed they felt ‘honoured’ to have collaborated with him.
They said: “Brian was an incredibly talented actor, and the lasting impact he had as Tommy Hunter is testament to the power of his performance. Off screen, Brian couldn’t have been more different from the character he played – he was warm, funny and charming. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.”
United Agents, who looked after the actor’s interests, commented: ‘We are shocked and so deeply saddened by the tragic news of Brian McCardie’s sudden death.
“He was an actor of such great talent who we were lucky to represent, and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Brian was raised in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, relocating from Motherwell to Carluke in the south-east of Glasgow, where his passion for performance blossomed.
His CV included appearances in The Bill, Holby City and Sky Atlantic’s Domina, whilst he took on the role of detective Dougie Gillman in the big-screen version of Irvine Welsh’s blackly comic cop thriller Filth, sharing scenes with James McAvoy.
Though Brian only graced Line of Duty across two series between 2012 and 2014, his chilling portrayal remained a talking point throughout subsequent seasons.
He also made his mark in the 1995 period drama Rob Roy alongside Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange and Brian Co He also appeared in numerous television productions, including the Agatha Christie adaptation Murder is Easy and the acclaimed mini-series Titanic.
According to the Health Services Investigations Body, aortic dissections claim more lives annually in the UK than road traffic accidents, with approximately 4,000 cases recorded each year. A memorial fundraiser established in his honour for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland subsequently raised £2,800 in donations.
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