TV & Radio

Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope actor Danika McGuigan dies aged 33

The daughter of boxer Barry McGuigan had been ill with cancer

Actor Danika McGuigan, who played Danielle in the RTÉ series Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, has died at the age of 33, after a short illness. Video: RTÉ

Wed Jul 24 2019 - 15:19

Actor Danika McGuigan has died at the age of 33, after a short illness.

McGuigan, who is the daughter of boxer Barry McGuigan, had been ill with cancer.

McGuigan played Danielle in the RTÉ series Can't Cope, Won't Cope, and recently completed filming Wildfire, a film about two sisters who grew up on the Northern Irish border. She also starred alongside Rooney Mara in Jim Sheridan's adaptation of Sebastian Barry's novel The Secret Scripture.

In a statement, her family said “It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister, Danika ‘Nika’ McGuigan.

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“After a brief but brave battle against cancer, Nika passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday 23rd July, surrounded by her loving family.

“As a family we are devastated and ask for complete privacy during this difficult period to allow us to grieve for our Nika.”

McGuigan’s brother Shane McGuigan said, in a tribute to her on social media, that his sister had previously been ill with cancer as a child.

“It breaks my heart to write this. My beautiful sister Danika lost her battle with cancer in the early hours of Tuesday morning, at the young age of 33.

“She overcame it once with a 2 year fight when she was 11 to 13. Myself, my brothers & parents were privileged to have another 20 years since the first battle with our amazing Nika.

“Unfortunately Nika couldn’t beat it again but she fought so bravely until the end. I have memories that I’ll cherish for a lifetime & you will live on forever in spirit.”

Actor Amy Huberman, who also appeared in Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, paid tribute to McGuigan on Twitter: “Deeply shocked and saddened at the devastating news about the talented, fantastic, shining Nika McGuigan.”

Writer and creator of Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, Stefanie Preissner also paid tribute to McGuigain on social media: “Shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Nika McGuigan – the brilliant, lovely, Danielle in Can’t Cope Won’t Cope wouldn’t have been the same without her.”

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