A popular soap opera actor’s family experienced distress when he had to address false reports of his death. Maclean Burke, known for his role as Damien Halpin on the well-known Irish soap opera Fair City, was mistakenly reported as deceased.

Online stories began circulating, leading to an outpouring of condolences for the 47-year-old actor. However, the situation turned out to be a hoax after his worried family, notably his mother Alice, frantically tried to reach him.

Upon learning about the misinformation, some of his close friends were reportedly overcome with emotion to the point of tears while driving, necessitating them to pull over due to the distressing news.

Maclean shared his experience, stating, “A couple of nights ago, I first saw it. Initially, I didn’t pay much attention, but it continued to spread… then my mother received numerous calls from her acquaintances in tears. It was chaotic.”

He further explained, “We tend to forget that there is a group of individuals who only see the headline of the newspaper. While it may not affect them, older individuals who are not as informed might believe it to be true.”

Reflecting on the situation, Maclean humorously remarked, “Honestly, I have to find the humor in it. There is a darker aspect, I’m certain, but personally, I found it amusing that people were saying such kind things.”

He also shared excerpts of the false news on his social media platforms, adding a caption that humorously addressed the situation. This incident is not the first time Maclean has had to combat such rumors, as he previously debunked false claims of his death in December.

In 2024, Maclean was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition characterized by the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue, which he has been documenting his recovery journey online.

Unfortunately, Maclean is not the only soap opera star to have been mistakenly declared deceased. Recently, the family of renowned actor Bryan Murray had to clarify that he was alive, dispelling rumors surrounding the Christmas period.

Soap opera veteran Jim Bartley, known for his role as Bela Doyle, called into a radio show in January to condemn the proliferation of fake news online. Bartley expressed his sympathy towards those affected by such misinformation, emphasizing the negative impact it can have on individuals.