Michael Patrick, also known as Michael Campbell, has died at NI Hospice after living with motor neurone disease. His wife Naomi said the family is heartbroken, while Belfast’s Lyric Theatre and the MAC have paid tribute to the actor and writer’s work and resilience.
Michael Patrick dies after illness and hospice care
Michael Patrick died on Tuesday at NI Hospice, aged 35, after a battle with motor neurone disease. He had been diagnosed in February 2023, and his death has prompted an outpouring of grief from family, theatre colleagues and cultural institutions in Belfast.
Naomi, his wife, said he was “an inspiration to everyone” who met him and described him as “a titan of a ginger haired man. ” She added that he “lived a life as full as any human can live, ” and said the family was “broken-hearted. ”
The funeral notice described him as the beloved husband of Naomi and the devoted son of Pauline and the late Michael, as well as a brother, uncle and much-loved family member.
Tributes from Belfast’s theatre community
The Lyric Theatre in Belfast, where Michael Patrick performed leading roles including Richard III, said it was devastated by the news. Jimmy Fay, executive producer at the Lyric Theatre, said: “These islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star. ”
Fay added that Michael Patrick showed “great strength and dignity” after his diagnosis and remained “resilient and focused, creating dynamic work throughout his struggles. ” The theatre said his talent left a lasting mark on audiences, colleagues and the wider company.
The MAC theatre also paid tribute, saying people who encountered his work would “carry a piece of him with them. ” It described him as “an incredible actor, writer, creator and friend, ” and said he lit up stages through storytelling that explored death, grief and his own illness with bravery and a fierce comic side.
A standout turn in Richard III
Michael Patrick’s adaptation and performance in The Tragedy of Richard III brought major recognition. In January 2025, he received the Judges’ Award at The Stage Awards after a standing ovation at the Royal Opera House in London, a moment that underlined the reach of his work beyond Belfast.
That production was described by the Lyric Theatre as a legendary one, and his portrayal of Richard III was singled out as one of the great performances on its stage. His name was closely tied to that role, but his body of work also extended to writing and creating theatre shaped by lived experience.
In the wider Northern Ireland theatre scene, Michael Patrick was also recognised with the Overcoming Adversity Award at the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards in 2025. Those honours reflected both the strength of his work and the impact of his illness on how audiences understood it.
What happens next for Michael Patrick’s legacy
The immediate focus now is on the family’s loss and the theatre community’s response to Michael Patrick’s death. The tributes already placed by his wife, the Lyric Theatre and the MAC suggest his influence will remain central in Belfast’s stage world for some time.
As friends, colleagues and supporters continue to remember Michael Patrick, the most immediate task is preserving the record of a career that combined performance, writing and courage in the face of MND. For many who worked with him, the story now is not only about his death, but about the work and spirit he leaves behind.
