Australian actor, Johnny Ruffo dies after battle with brain cancer

Australian actor and former X Factor contestant Johnny Ruffo has passed away at the age of 35 after a battle with brain cancer.

Ruffo, known for his role on the soap opera Home and Away, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017, leading to surgery to remove a tumor.

Unfortunately, the cancer returned three years later, and in August 2022, Ruffo revealed that his diagnosis was terminal.

The news of Ruffo’s death was shared via a statement on his Instagram account on Friday. The statement expressed the heaviness of bidding farewell to the beloved actor, who passed away peacefully in the company of his partner Tahnee and family.

The post acknowledged Ruffo’s talent, charm, determination, and strong will, highlighting his courageous battle against cancer.

Born in Perth in 1988, Ruffo gained public attention as a contestant on The X Factor in 2011, finishing in third place.

Following the show, he signed with Sony Music Australia and collaborated with his mentor Guy Sebastian. Johnny Ruffo later participated in the celebrity dance show Dancing With The Stars.

In 2013, he joined the cast of Home and Away, earning a Logie Awards nomination for Most Popular New Talent in 2014.

Ruffo’s health journey became public in 2017 when he revealed his initial brain cancer diagnosis. After surgery and a period of remission, he faced a recurrence in November 2020.

Despite the challenges, Ruffo maintained a positive outlook, even releasing a memoir titled No Finish Line in August 2022.

Tributes poured in for the late actor, with Angus Ross of the Seven Network, the broadcaster of Home and Away and Dancing with the Stars, praising Ruffo as a “talented and charismatic performer” who brought joy to many lives.

Guy Sebastian remembered Ruffo as a “funny” and “kind soul,” expressing gratitude for the positive impact he had on others.