Brian McCardie dead: Line of Duty actor "Tommy Hunter" dies 'suddenly' aged 59

Line of Duty star Brian McCardie, who is known for his role as mafia boss John Thomas “Thommy” Hunter in the police drama, has died aged 59. His death was confirmed by his sister Sarah, who said that the actor passed away at home ‘suddenly’.

She posted on Facebook: “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 at home on Sunday 28th April.

“A wonderful and passionate actor on stage and screen, Brian loved his work and touched many lives, and is gone much too soon. We love him and will miss him greatly; please remember Brian in your thoughts. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the days ahead. As a family, we would ask for privacy at this time.”

McCardie, well known for his portrayal as Sir Marcus MacRannoch in an episode of Outlander, recently joined the cast of its prequel, Blood of My Blood, where he played Clan Grant's chief. The Starz network revealed that McCardie was currently filming in Scotland with performers such as Sara Vickers, Harriet Slater, Jamie Roy, and Peter Mullan for the next series, which looks into the lives of Jamie Fraser's parents in Outlander.

McCardie's acting career spanned 35 years and included several performances in both television and film. Notably, he received attention for his performance in Line of Duty and co-starred with Sean Bean in the BBC prison drama Time. His significant cinematic roles include Rob Roy, Filth, and Low Winter Sun. McCardie's passion in theatre began when he was a student in Carluke, where he performed in plays such as Godspell. He has lately acted in Jimmy McGovern's Time and Sky Atlantic's Domina, showing his versatility as an actor. He also presented his self-written one-man play, Connolly, at the Lyric Theatre Belfast, showcasing his commitment to both acting and storytelling. Despite the cancellation of the 2020 Edinburgh Festival, McCardie's portrayal of Connolly remained popular with audiences.

McCardie's family moved from Motherwell to Carluke when he was in school, and that's where his love of theatre took off. He pursued stage activities, acting in a production of the musical Godspell with students from nearby schools.

He most recently portrayed Jackson Jones in Jimmy McGovern's BBC One drama, Time. He also starred in the television series Domina on Sky Atlantic, where he played the part of Cicero, a Roman statesman, in the historical context of Rome.

Tributes have since poured in for the actor, who has been described as “brilliant” and “fantastic”. Author and producer Paul Larkin posted on X: “Shocked and devastated to learn of the passing of Brian McCardie. Brian was a brilliant friend and we had many discussions about mental health issues where he was a fantastic help to me. As well as that; he was a phenomenal actor. Sleep tight Brother.”

United Agents also paid a tribute, saying: “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.”

Director Alan Bowman Clarke posted: “I'm saddened to hear about the death of legendary actor #brianmccardie. I spoke to him a few times about projects & always found him genuine, passionate, generous & funny. I wrote a part for him in a future project. My thoughts go out to his family, friends & colleagues.”