Home and Away actress Lynne McGranger has shared a touching tribute to her former co-star Johnny Ruffo, marking two years since his tragic passing from brain cancer at just 35 years old.
A Talented Life Cut Short
Johnny Ruffo first found fame in 2011 when he appeared on the Australian version of The X Factor, showcasing the vocal talent that would launch his entertainment career. His success on the show led to him joining the cast of popular Australian soap Home and Away in 2013, where he played character Chris Harrington until 2016.
Chris Harrington arrived in Summer Bay searching for his brother Spencer and quickly became a familiar face, sticking around to help his sibling through various challenges. One of his most memorable storylines involved accidentally poisoning Alf Stewart and Leah Patterson-Baker after misidentifying mushrooms and cooking them in a risotto.
Brave Cancer Battle
The beloved star's health struggles began in 2017 when he visited hospital suffering from painful migraines. Doctors diagnosed him with brain cancer, and that same summer he underwent emergency surgery to remove a 7cm tumour from his frontal lobe.
Ruffo then endured both chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, initially going into remission months after his diagnosis. However, in November 2020 he revealed the devastating news that the disease had returned. By August 2022, he confirmed his brain cancer diagnosis was terminal.
Johnny Ruffo passed away in November 2023 at the age of 35. A statement shared on his Instagram account at the time read: 'It is with a heavy heart that today we had to farewell our beloved Johnny. Surrounded by his partner Tahnee and family, Johnny went peacefully with the support of some incredible Nurses & Doctors.'
The tribute continued: 'He was a very talented, charming and sometimes cheeky boy. Johnny was very determined and had a strong will. He battled all the way to the end and fought as hard as he could. Such a beautiful soul with so much more to give.'
Heartfelt Tribute From Co-Star
Lynne McGranger, who played Irene Roberts on Home and Away for over 30 years, worked closely with Ruffo when his character Chris began renting a room from Irene. The two developed a strong bond both on and off screen.
Two years after Johnny's death, McGranger took to Instagram to share an emotional post featuring a photograph of the pair hugging on a sofa and smiling. Alongside the image, she wrote with a broken heart emoji: 'Two years ago. Gone too soon my friend.'
The post prompted an outpouring of emotion from McGranger's followers, many of whom shared their own memories and reflections on Ruffo's passing. One user commented: 'What a sad day hard to believe its been 2 years since he passed gone but never forgotten.'
Another follower, Connor Muller, wrote: 'Sending you massive hugs Lynne…a sad day.' Dave Eastgate added a personal recollection: 'I was the warm up guy on his very first audition for X Factor. He was an enigma. What a life?! What a career?! A literal shooting star…'
McGranger has since left Home and Away, with her character Irene departing Summer Bay to travel the world after more than three decades on the show. Her touching tribute serves as a poignant reminder of the impact Johnny Ruffo had on those who knew him, both as a colleague and as a friend.
