Dominic Purcell has announced the tragic news of his father Joseph’s death at age 80.
The Prison Break actor, 54, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share the harrowing update, two weeks after sharing that his dad had been admitted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with unspecified health issues.
Sharing a photo of himself and wife Tish Cyrus, 56, posing with his late father, Dominic penned a lengthy caption honouring his father’s legacy as a ‘deeply respected’ patriarch.
‘My dad passed tonight’, he began, before praising the medical professionals who tended to Joseph during his stint in hospital.
‘For what’s it’s worth. As a father I believe the greatest gift he can receive from his child is the knowing he is deeply loved. Deeply respected,’ he continued.
Dominic Purcell announced news of his father Joseph’s death at age 80 on Tuesday. He shared this throwback photo of himself (centre) posing with wife Tish Cyrus (left) and father Joseph (right) alongside a heartbreaking caption
‘Surely a father’s only wish for his child is to grow, flourish and better him. That was his wish. It came true. I know very clearly I can not better him but I can try and be like him.’
Dominic also spoke fondly of Tish’s close relationship with her father-in-law, writing: ‘To my beautiful wife. It’s very easy to love you. It’s a simple thing.’
‘The connection and deep love you had for my dad, and he for you, (the both of you) was magnificent. ‘As he said, “What did I do to deserve these two beautiful angels?”,’ he wrote.
Dominic also spoke fondly of Tish’s close relationship with her father-in-law, writing: ‘To my beautiful wife. It’s very easy to love you. It’s a simple thing’
The Australian actor also thanked his wife (who is the mother of Miley Cyrus) for performing music to Joseph during his time in hospital, writing: ‘The songs were perfect. They brought him peace in his final hours. It was a beautiful gesture. Thank you.’
Continuing his gut-wrenching essay, Dominic then praised Joseph for showing ‘courage, dignity and stoicism’ in the face of ‘great pain’.
Dominic said he hopes Joseph’s strength, dignity and humility will be honoured by his father’s many grandchildren
The Australian actor also thanked his wife (who is the mother of Miley Cyrus) for performing music to Joseph during his time in hospital, writing: ‘The songs were perfect. They brought him peace in his final hours. It was a beautiful gesture. Thank you’
‘VIVAMUS, MORIENDUM EST. (Let us live, since we must die). Go with mum, dad.Your loving son Dom,’ he concluded.
Tish was quick to express her heartbreak in the comments, revealing the origin of the happy family snap Dominic had used in his post.
‘The day this picture was taken was one of the best days of my life. Dom and I got our marriage license and then walked down Sunset Blvd with Joe,’ wrote Tish, who wed Dominic last year.
‘He was so happy and full of life. It’s a day I’ll never forget. To know Joe was to love him. The kindest most gentle soul I will ever know. Being loved by him is something I’ll never take for granted.’
The sad news comes come after recent reports that the Cyrus family are feuding behind the scenes.
Late last month, Dominic had uploaded this black and white photo of himself standing outside the hospital as he visited his father
Tish tied the knot with Prison Break actor Dominic in August 2023 following her divorce from her husband of 28 years Billy Ray.
While some family members such as daughter Miley were present for the wedding, Tish’s kids Noah and Braison were absent from the nuptials – fueling speculation of a rift at the time.
According to a DailyMail.com insider, Noah’s absence at the wedding was not by choice, but the result of Tish failing to invite her.
His family struggles come after recent reports that the Cyrus family are feuding behind the scenes, after Tish’s daughter Noah (left) didn’t attend her and Dominic’s wedding
Us Weekly then published a report claiming Tish had ‘stolen’ Dominic from Noah, 24, who was said to be ‘seeing’ the actor when her mother began to pursue him.
‘Noah has always craved the attention because she did not get it growing up. Tish was always so Miley-sided because that is where the money was,’ the source claimed.
‘Miley and Tish are like sisters and Noah has always been envious of this because she’s never had a connection with Tish like Miley has.’
According to a DailyMail.com insider, Noah’s absence at the wedding was not by choice, but rather the result of Tish not inviting her
However, it has since been claimed that Miley Cyrus’ sister ‘never dated’ Dominic and she has been accused by family insiders of ‘fabricating’ the relationship to ‘paint herself as the victim’ in her ongoing feud with Tish.
It has since been claimed that Tish would like to re-establish a relationship with Noah.
‘Tish definitely still wants to have a relationship with Noah,’ a source told US Weekly. ‘She hopes they can move past this.’
