Comedian Tim Minchin announces on stage in Sydney that his mother Ros has died after a three-year battle with blood cancer
Australian entertainer Tim Minchin has announced that his mother Ros has passed away after a three-year battle with blood cancer.
“My mother passed away yesterday,” Tim told a stunned audience at his show in Sydney on Friday evening.
The British-born comedian, 48, had shared several stories about his mother and performed a variety of songs he wrote about her during the show.
During one of his stories, Tim revealed that his mother Ros was diagnosed with terminal blood cancer in 2020.
He received a standing ovation at the end of the show before making the devastating announcement.
Devastating: Australian entertainer Tim Minchin has announced that his mother Ros has passed away after a three-year battle with blood cancer
“My mother passed away yesterday,” Tim told a stunned audience at his show in Sydney on Friday evening
He said he decided to go ahead with the show despite the family tragedy, ahead of an emotional performance at White Wine in the Sun.
Tim’s voice faltered for a moment as he sang the lyrics: “I will see my father, my brother and sisters, my grandmother and my mother… they will drink white wine in the sun.”
He then ended the show by asking the audience to help him sing the final song of the night, Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
Many onlookers praised Tim for sharing such a candid confession.
‘Tonight I see Tim Minchin for the fifth time. Absolutely incredible show hands down his best! Very emotional end to the evening,” someone wrote on X.
‘Thank you for (another) great show and for being able to do the show after the week you and your family have been through. The last song was a nice way to end the show,” said another.
“It was one of the most incredible performances ever,” a third agreed.
Another said: ‘Thank you for tonight’s show and the very emotional ending. My condolences and much love to you and your family.’
Tim took to social media on Monday with a simple tribute and a photo of his mother with the caption: ‘This is how it goes.’
Tim took to social media on Monday with a simple tribute and a photo of his mother with the caption: ‘This is how it goes.’
Tim is an Australian comedian, actor, writer, musician, poet, composer and songwriter.
He is the composer and lyricist of the Olivier Award-winning, Tony Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated show Matilda the Musical.
The star was born to Australian parents – Ros and David – in Northampton, UK, and grew up in Perth with his older brother, Dan, and two younger sisters, Katie and Nel.
Tim told me earlier The guard about the close bond he had with his family during his childhood.
Parents: The star was born to Australian parents – Ros and David (pictured) – in Northampton, UK, and grew up in Perth alongside his older brother, Dan, and two younger sisters, Katie and Nel
Family: Tim and his wife Sarah, whom he married in 2001 and shares a daughter and son, returned to Australia from Los Angeles in December 2017
He explained, “We were taught that we were a family and that we owed each other our devotion, without ever using words like love.
“Even when I was in college, about 18 years old, my mom said, ‘You’re not going out this weekend, you’re spending time with us.’ There was no choice. I don’t really know why no one rose up, even though it was an ongoing battle.’
Tim and his wife Sarah, whom he married in 2001 and share a daughter and son, returned to Australia from Los Angeles in December 2017.