Line of Duty actor Brian McCardie has died after suffering a tear to a major artery in his heart, his devastated family have revealed.
The actor, best known for playing underworld boss John Thomas ‘Tommy’ Hunter in the popular BBC crime drama, died suddenly at his home in April, aged 59.
In a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, her sister Sarah revealed that she had an aortic dissection, a rare condition in which a weakened wall of the aorta tears.
She wrote: “Hello everyone, The McCardie family would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming support upon the sudden passing of Brian James McCardie, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend.
‘Brian died due to an aortic dissection, which caused him brief pain and sudden death.’
Brian McCardie died after suffering a tear to a major artery in his heart, his heartbroken family have revealed.
Her sister Sarah posted on
Updating fans on Brian’s final farewell, he added: “There will be a funeral mass on Thursday 23 May at 11.30am at St Mary’s Church, 70 Bannatyne Street, Lanark.
‘We will then move at 1.30pm to Holytown Crematorium, Memorial Way, Holytown, Motherwell, where we will celebrate Brian’s life before he takes his final bow.
‘Links will be available for both the mass and the cremation service for those who cannot attend in person.
‘We will feel your support from afar. With love and thanks, the McCardie family, Eddie, Moira, Martin, Ed, Liz and Sarah. Xxx.’
The British Heart Foundation says aortic dissection occurs when the weakened wall of the aorta tears, causing blood to leak between the layers that make up the walls of the arteries, with symptoms including sudden and severe chest pain, pain in the jaw and face, and difficulty breathing.
Glasgow-born Brian’s 35-year acting career saw him star alongside Sean Bean in the 2021 BBC prison drama ‘Time’ and the film ‘Rob Roy’, as well as the BBC TV series ‘Crime’. ‘Trainspotting’ creator Irvine Welsh.
His film appearances included the Irvine crime thriller ‘Filth’ and ‘Low Winter Sun’ with Mark Strong.
News of Brain’s passing was announced on X, formerly Twitter, by Sarah, who said he had gone “too soon.”
Brian’s sister thanked fans for their overwhelming support and revealed how the actor passed away suddenly, following up with details of his funeral.
Line of Duty star Brian McCardie in his role in the BBC police drama as John Thomas ‘Tommy’ Hunter.
The post read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Brian James McCardie, beloved son, brother, uncle and dear friend to many.”
‘Brian passed away suddenly at home on Sunday, April 28. “Brian, a wonderful and passionate actor on stage and screen, loved his work and touched many lives, and he was gone too soon.”
Sarah continued: ‘We love him and will miss him dearly; Please remember Brian in your thoughts.
Sarah later told BBC Scotland the family were “devastated” by his death.
The publication provoked dozens of tributes from fans, friends and fellow actors.
Lisa Sneddon, 42, said: ‘I said to my neighbor last week: ‘I haven’t seen Brian for a while’ so I was absolutely devastated when I read online that he had died.
“He was a brilliant guy and always took the time to talk to people if he was stopped on the street – my little one has had lots of photos taken with him.”
“Everyone here is quite surprised because, although we don’t exactly know him personally, we felt like we knew him because we saw him often.
‘My thoughts are with his family and friends.’
McCardie appeared alongside Sandra Bullock in the action thriller sequel Speed 2: Cruise Control (above)
Sean Bean (left) and Brian McCardie (right) in the hit BBC prison TV drama ‘Time’
United Agents, which had represented the actor, said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic news of the sudden death of Brian McCardie.
“He was a very talented actor who we were lucky enough to portray, and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Brian had a lucrative 365-year acting career and appeared in episodes of The Bill, Holby City and Sky Atlantic series Domina, as well as rude detective Dougie Gillman in the film adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s dark comic police drama Filth. alongside James McAvoy.
The accomplished actor took on a series of roles spanning his native Scotland, the rest of the UK and even Hollywood, appearing in the action sequel Speed 2 and in Rob Roy alongside Liam Neeson.
However, when asked The Herald Which of his roles he would be best remembered for, he joked: “Probably Crimewatch.”
Brian McCardie in Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder is Easy’
McCardie appeared in a BBC adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder Is Easy as Detective Bull.
He told the newspaper that he voluntarily stepped away from Hollywood after working on five films in four years, adding that he found Tinseltown “Machiavellian.”
McCardie added: “I think my representatives at the time were trying to pigeonhole me. You know, having six-pack abs and being well-built with a chiseled jaw. Be kind of a prototypical young actor.
“And I had no interest in playing an idealized version of people.”
Brian grew up in North Lanarkshire, moving from Motherwell to Carluke, south east of Glasgow, and developed an interest in acting at a young age.
It was during high school that he developed his passion for theater and acting, starring in a production of ‘Godspell’ with a local theater group.
