Ben Pruchnie/Centrepoint/Getty Images for Centrepoint“Downton Abbey” star Michelle Dockery and her fiancé, John Dineen, attend the Winter Whites Gala on Nov. 26, 2013, in London, England.
“Downton Abbey” star Michelle Dockery’s fiancé, John Dineen, has died at age 34 after battling an illness, Britain’s ITV reports.
The Irish public relations executive was battling a rare form of cancer diagnosed earlier this year, according to the Irish Independent. He died Sunday morning at Cork’s Marymount University Hospital & Hospice surrounded by Dockery and his family.
Dockery, who plays Lady Mary Crawley on the British period drama, cut short a “Downton Abbey” U.S. publicity tour to travel to Dineen’s bedside. She will spend her 34th birthday Tuesday preparing for his funeral.
“The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received but would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private,” the Golden Globe-winning actress’ rep told ITV in a statement.
The British beauty and her late fiancé met in 2013 through Dockery’s co-star Allen Leech, who plays her brother-in-law on the ITV series, and got engaged earlier this year.
Nick Briggs/Carnival FilmDockery stars as Lady Mary Crawley on the British period drama.
Dockery remained mostly mum about their relationship, but told reporters last year, “I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland. We were introduced by Allen Leech. That’s all you need to know!”
The family will hold a funeral mass for Dineen Wednesday.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.