A Channel Seven special is set to air on Tuesday night to honour Johnny Ruffo’s life following his death last week.
The actor and singer died peacefully with his family and beloved partner Tahnee Sims by his side on Friday morning at a Sydney hospital, after a long battle with brain cancer.
7News Spotlight will run an hour-long program on Tuesday night at 7.30pm, titled Remembering Johnny Ruffo.
In a statement, Angus Ross, Chief Content Officer of Entertainment Programming at Seven, honoured Ruffo’s service to the network.
“Johnny Ruffo’s passing deeply saddens Seven,” he stated.
A Channel Seven special is set to air on Tuesday night to honour Johnny Ruffo’s life following his death last week. 7News Spotlight will run an hour-long program on Tuesday night at 7.30pm, titled Remembering Johnny Ruffo
The gifted and endearing actor made a lot of people happy both on and off television. She was born to entertain.
“Everyone who had the honour of knowing him will miss his contagious energy and huge heart,” Ross continued. We extend our sincere sympathies to Johnny’s partner, his family, and his friends.
This comes after Ruffo’s family announced on his personal Instagram on Monday that the Home and Away actor’s memorial ceremony would take place in Perth on November 25.
The statement said, “More details will follow. A memorial service to celebrate John’s incredible life will be held on November 25 in Perth, WA.”
Ruffo died on Friday morning at a Sydney hospital, and the heartbreaking news was announced on his Instagram page.
‘It is with a heavy heart that today we had to farewell our beloved Johnny,’ a statement read.
‘Surrounded by his partner Tahnee and family, Johnny went peacefully with the support of some incredible Nurses & Doctors.
The actor died peacefully with his family and beloved partner Tahnee Sims by his side on Friday morning at a Sydney hospital, after a long battle with brain cancer
He was a pleasant, gifted, and occasionally mischievous youngster. Johnny had a strong will and was highly determined. He fought valiantly and determinedly through to the very end. A lovely spirit with so much more to offer.
“Johnny, you have our undying love and we will always be grateful for the joy you brought into our lives.” Feel at ease.
After Ruffo visited the hospital in 2017 due to excruciating migraines, he was initially diagnosed with brain cancer.
He had a 7 cm brain tumor surgically removed from his frontal lobe in August of that year after being sent for chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
After receiving his first diagnosis in 2017, Ruffo experienced months of remission before disclosing that the illness had resurfaced in November 2020.
He disclosed in August 2022 that his brain cancer was terminal and expressed concern about Tahnee, his partner, handling his loss.
In December 2022, Ruffo announced he was looking forward to a holiday and spending Christmas with his family as he commemorated another year of receiving chemotherapy.
The actor sat in a chair and put on a brave face, grinning and gave the thumbs up.
He jokingly posted, “Back in my favorite chair,” along with the hashtags #f**kcancer and #ihatethischair.
Ruffo began a second round of chemotherapy in March of this year. He shared a picture of himself receiving the treatment in a hospital with his partner Tahnee by his side.
In a tragic appearance on The Project last year, Johnny talked about his worries about Tahnee’s ability to move on after his death.
“You can only imagine how tough it’s been on her,” he said to Carrie Bickmore, the host at the time.
I hate to say it, but I often imagine how difficult it would be for her if something were to happen to me.
I don’t want to think about it, for that reason. I simply feel a little upset about it because I know that something will happen eventually, whether it’s in a month, ten years, or twenty years.
Bickmore was informed by Ruffo that he had already exceeded his expected life span.
“I’m still fighting, but eventually it will get to me.” still going strong. “After researching my diagnosis and tumor, I found that the typical life expectancy was three years,” he stated.
Ruffo, who was born in the Perth suburb of Balcatta, got his start in show business in 2011 when he made it through the audition process for the third season of The X Factor Australia.
After being mentored by Guy Sebastian, Ruffo was the last contestant eliminated in the competition, which was ultimately won by Reece Mastin.
A music career followed, with Ruffo releasing several hit singles including On Top and Take It Home.But he is perhaps best known for starring as fan favourite Chris Harrington on Home and Away between 2013 and 2016.He also appeared on that show’s soap rival Neighbours in 2020.
Ruffo spoke about his concerns about how Tahnee would cope after his death in a heartbreaking interview on The Project last year
‘What plays in my head a lot is, I hate to say this, how hard it may be for her if something does happen to me,’ he said at the time.
