Home and Away's late Johnny Ruffo's cancer fight - tough surgery to bucket list
Johnny Ruffo has died aged 35, six years after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The Australian actor and singer, best known for playing Chris Harrington in Home and Away, passed away 'peacefully' surrounded by his loved ones, including partner Tahnee, and the support of doctors and nurses.
A portrait of Johnny smiling was shared on his Instagram on Thursday to confirm his death and honour his legacy with the following caption: "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."
Johnny had been ill with cancer for several years, having first announced in 2017 that he had undergone emergency surgery to remove a tumour from his brain after being hospitalised for a migraine. At the time, he asked his devout fans to "keep him in their thoughts" and to stay "positive" that he would regain good health. He confirmed he had brain cancer a week later, and that he would be beginning intensive treatment as soon as possible.
Johnny announced he had brain cancer in 2017 (@tahneesims/Instagram)
Johnny underwent intensive treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, for the aggressive form of brain cancer (Instagram)In May 2019, Johnny shared the encouraging news that he had gone into remission and was now "free of cancer." The disease returned, however, in November 2020. He channelled his anguish over the illness into music, writing, 'Let's Get Lost', in 2021, as a way of expressing his desire to escape the "whole rigmarole of medication and chemotherapy, the stress of all of that."
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Last December, he shared a positive update of having completed 'another year of chemotherapy' and announced that he was looking forward to enjoying the Christmas holidays in Perth with his family.
Johnny had been in a relationship with Tahnee Sims, having first met the 29-year-old at a dance studio in 2015, before his passing. The Sydney native, who frequently attended hospital appointments with the X Factor finalist, was also the first person who urged him to seek medical attention for his severe headaches and changes to his speech.
Tahnee Sims and Johnny Ruffo had been dating since 2015
Johnny and girlfriend Tahnee regularly took trips together after his cancer diagnosis"Without her I may not be here," he said. "She was the one who made me get in the car [to go to hospital] when it [the headaches] first happened. And she's encouraging me to do things. She keeps me active, getting me to go for runs and swims."
Johnny regularly posted photos of his adventures with Tahnee over the past few years, having been determined to make the most of life since being diagnosed with the devastating illness. The loved-up couple had taken several vacations on the Oceania continent, including a trip to the sandy Rottnest Island in Perth, the stunning mountains of Queenstown, New Zealand and the fun-filled Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast.
Johnny even released an autobiography, No Finish Line, in which he opened up about his rise to fame on The X Factor in 2011, his soap stardom on Home and Away, and his experience of ongoing brain cancer.
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