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Bryan Murray, best known for his role in Brookside, has been placed into "full-time care" following his Alzheimer's diagnosis. Bryan's wife, Una Crawford O'Brien, disclosed the news at the Alzheimer's Tea Day 2026 last month regarding her husband's deteriorating condition. She said: "Over the past year, Bryan's needs became far greater, and he has now moved into full time care. Up until now, I didn't have time to think. My day was completely focused on Bryan and his needs. Now I have time to miss him. Alzheimer's Tea Day is on Thursday, May 7 and myself and Bryan would really love you to join us. You can take part in whatever way you want. You can host a huge Tea Party in your garden or simply put the kettle on and share a cuppa with friends. What matters most is that you are there. Please sign up today. It really is so important."

In an interview with The Irish Times, Una revealed she has "lost" her friend and companion. She said: "Bryan isn't happy and he used to be such a happy person. I think it's because he just doesn't know about anything really." She also acknowledged the support she has received from The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

The 76-year-old former actor portrayed Trevor Jordache in 1993, playing the husband of Mandy Jordache, brother of Brenna Jordache, and father of Beth and Rachel Jordache. He was equally well recognised for his portrayal of Bob Charles in the RTE soap opera, Fair City.

Bryan continued to feature in the Irish soap until last year, when he stepped down after two decades of portraying Bob Charles. The Dublin-born actor was initially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019, though he kept his diagnosis private for several years.

In 2022, he publicly shared his story to raise awareness, speaking on RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland at the time, Fair City's Executive Producer, Brigie de Courcy, said: "We are all very sad about this. Bryan has been an absolutely wonderful part of the team for the last 20 years, an integral part of the story and an absolute consummate professional.

"He is the very sort of person, when you have a young actor coming in you say to them, 'go down and watch Bryan and watch what he does, how he occupies the space and how he occupies the screen'."

Bryan met Una while appearing on Fair City, with the real-life couple playing lovers on screen, their characters having an affair before eventually marrying. Speaking to The Ray D'Arcy Show, Una said: "I don't mind looking after him - sometimes it can be frustrating, sometimes it can be annoying, sometimes it's funny.

"I think it is the sadness when you realise that your life has changed because of being a carer. When we got together, he made me laugh so much, I fell off a chair! He brought laughter back into my life."

Bryan featured in just 24 episodes of Brookside, yet his character became one of the show's most notorious, as a violent and abusive murderer. Throughout his career, he also made appearances in a host of popular British television programmes, including Casualty, Holby City, The Bill, Silent Witness, and The Tudors.