Beloved 'Middle' Actor Pat Finn Dies After Battle with Bladder Cancer

The Middle alum Pat Finn’s passing has been attributed to a specific illness.

“It is with deep sorrow and grief that the Finn family announces the death of cherished comedic actor, Pat Finn,” the actor’s representative shared in a statement to The New York Post the following day. “In 2022, Pat was diagnosed with bladder cancer, achieved remission, but the cancer unfortunately returned and spread. He demonstrated remarkable strength throughout his battle.”

Finn died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 23 at the age of 60.

Finn is survived by his wife, Donna, and their three children.

Beyond his role in The Middle, the actor was also recognized for his appearances in television shows such as Friends and Seinfeld.

“One of the reasons [I accepted the role on Seinfeld was] because it was my wife and my favorite program,” Finn recalled during a 2021 appearance on the “Seinfeld — This Podcast Is Making Me Thirsty” podcast. “We had our daughter Cassidy in ’95. She was born and Seinfeld was airing, so we always knew, ‘Oh, yeah, it was 8:00 or whatever.’ We just knew because Seinfeld was on at the time.”

Finn portrayed Joe Mayo in a 1998 episode of the sitcom.

“It’s one of those situations where, as an actor, your responsibility is to memorize your lines, go in and perform your part, and then leave,” he explained. “That’s kind of what I anticipated, and so when I finished my scene, I went over to this table in the center where they had magazines and newspapers. I simply stayed there so I could listen and learn from their rehearsal.”

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According to Finn, he also wished to remain close by in case he was needed for another take.

“The other [reason] was if they needed me, I wouldn’t be far away, so they wouldn’t think I was an aloof actor,” Finn said. “The cast would gradually approach, like, Jason [Alexander] sat down and asked, ‘Hey, what are you doing? Where [are] you from?’ Each one came over and we began talking. It was so pleasant because they weren’t obligated to, but to be welcomed into any group is a wonderful thing.”

Finn even informed leading man Jerry Seinfeld that the comedy series was his and Donna’s all-time favorite show.

“[I told him], ‘I’m so thrilled that I can be a part of it,’ and he was like, ‘Really? This is your favorite show?’” Finn remembered. “I was like, ‘There are other people in the country who feel the same way, it’s not a secret,’ and he kind of chuckled.”

In the years following Seinfeld ’s conclusion, Finn encountered fellow show star Julia Louis-Dreyfus on several occasions.

“She’ll rise and embrace me, which is so lovely,” he said. “I’ve been on airplanes and it’s astonishing how many people who have watched that episode will come up to you, like, wow, that’s incredible. I mean, honestly, I watched the episode with my kids and it’s a very well-written episode. It is humorous.”

Following Finn’s death, numerous of his Hollywood friends and former colleagues have expressed their condolences to his family.

“I don’t like to be the person who posts pictures with celebrities who have passed. But this person wasn’t just a celebrity to me. He was a friend,” comedian Jeff Dye wrote on X. “One of the finest individuals I knew with an exceptional sense of humor. I love you Pat Finn and I’ll see [you] again in the afterlife. We can sing together and shake our heads about all the negativity in the past.”