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Home and Away star Johnny Ruffo has died at the age of 35 after a long battle with brain cancer.
The Australian actor’s passing was announced via Instagram Thursday (Nov. 9), in a statement that said he passed away “peacefully” while “surrounded by his partner Tahnee [Sims] and family.”
“It is with a heavy heart that today we had to farewell our beloved Johnny,” the statement read. “He was a very talented, charming and sometimes cheeky boy. Johnny was very determined and had a strong will.”
Ruffo’s Home and Away co-star Lynne McGranger penned a touching message remembering the late actor on social media.
“He fought like a warrior and was brave and cheeky to the end,” she wrote. “Talented, funny, loyal and naughty – we love you my friend. Fly high free from pain.”
Ruffo’s partner, Tahnee, commented on the post, “and my did he love you Lynney!”
Ruffo, who was also a beloved singer — opening for One Direction, New Kids on the Block, and the Backstreet Boys — began acting after becoming a finalist on the Australian edition of The X Factor in 2011. He later competed and won Australia’s Season 12 of Dancing with the Stars.
But Ruffo is best known for playing Chris Harrington in Home and Away from 2013 to 2016. He later appeared in the limited series House of Bond in 2017 and Neighbours: A New Chapter in 2020.
Ruffo had been public about his battle with brain cancer prior to his passing. He published a book titled No Finish Line chronicling his rise to fame and battle with cancer after he received the shocking diagnosis in 2017.
According to his memoir’s synopsis, Ruffo was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2017. He had been suffering from headaches and issues with his speech when he rushed to the hospital, where doctors scheduled him for an immediate surgery. They removed a 7-centimeter-long tumor from his brain.
In an interview ahead of his memoir’s release, Ruffo said, “I felt like I was just kicking goals and I just couldn’t miss and then all of a sudden this the roof came crashing down.”
He went on to say that receiving his cancer diagnosis in 2017 brought his entire career “to a grinding halt” just when “everything was going in the right direction.”
He continued, “I understand that the cancer is terminal, but you know, I’m going to do everything I can and I am currently doing everything I can to kick its ass.”
