Michael Flatley, an Irish-American dancer, has been diagnosed with “aggressive” cancer, according to his team.
On January 11, the 64-year-old actor’s team took to Instagram to share a monochrome photo with a lengthy text detailing his health issues.
“Dear friends, we have some sad news to share with you: Michael Flatley has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. He’s had surgery and is being treated by an excellent medical team.”
Flatley’s team has made no further statements or discoveries regarding his illness but has asked his fans and followers to send him their best wishes and prayers.
Everything you need to know about Michael Flatley’s career and cancer diagnosis in the past
Michael Flatley was born on July 16, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Irish immigrants who came to America in 1947. Michael Flatley became interested in the region when he was 64, after taking Irish dancing classes in the city and later performing with the folk group The Chieftains.
He rose to prominence in 1994 after winning the Eurovision Song Contest with a seven-minute performance. It was later expanded to his stage play Riverdance, which featured traditional Irish music and dance. It first aired in 1996 at Dublin’s Point Theatre.
Flatley went on to produce plays like Feet of Flames, Lord of the Dance, and Celtic Tiger. Lord of the Dance broke the record with 21 consecutive performances at London’s Wembley Arena.
Michael Flatley announced his retirement from dancing in March 2017 due to an injury sustained during a St. Patrick’s Day performance in Las Vegas. Lord of the Dance celebrated its 25th anniversary in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine crisis by traveling and collecting funds for humanitarian efforts.
Michael Flatley has been diagnosed with cancer several times. It was discovered that the dancer had malignant melanoma after a spectator discovered it on MTV in 2003. Flatley explained his cancer treatment to the Irish Independent:
“It was discovered entirely by chance. I’d never even considered it… It could be a frightening place to be.”
Michael has already raised funds for cancer research and charitable causes. He has worked with the Breakthrough Foundation, where he served as an ambassador for a project to build a county in Ireland representing cancer survivors.
After retiring, Flatley has gone on to write, direct, and produce films. His most recent film was the 2018 spy thriller Blackbird, in which he played Victor Blackley. Flatley’s private life is centered on her marriage to ballerina Niamh O’Brien. Michael St. James Flatley, his 15-year-old son, is also his father.
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