'Shameless' star Anne Marie Duff mourns brother's death, ex-husband James McAvoy offers support

Shameless actress Anne Marie Duff has spoken about her sorrow following the loss of her brother.

The 55-year-old star shared that Eddie had succumbed to early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, with her former partner James McAvoy offering his sympathy and support.

The Bad Sisters actress mentioned that her brother, who was in his mid-50s, passed away earlier this year after struggling with the degenerative illness for 15 years.

To honor Eddie, Anne-Marie is now collecting donations for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Through Instagram, she shared a touching childhood picture of herself with her brother.

Anne-Marie then announced her plan to walk 26 miles through central London next month to generate support for the Alzheimer’s organisation.

In the caption of her post, the actress expressed: “This is for my dear brother Eddie, who left us earlier this year.

“He received a diagnosis of very early-onset dementia in his forties.

“For those who knew him, he was the centerpiece of every celebration, witty, generous, and fiercely loyal.”

The bereaved actress continued: “He gave me whatever cool factor I possess – encouraging me to swap my pop tunes for Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Joy Division, The Beatles… I'll miss his mischievous smile and all those joyful chuckles. Especially the dancing.”

Anne-Marie said: “Your support through the JustGiving page would be immensely appreciated. Not just for Eddie, but for everyone dear to you living with dementia.”

In a touching gesture, her ex-husband James, 47, reshared her moving announcement.

As of this morning, Anne-Marie’s JustGiving page, established just five days ago, has already garnered nearly £6,000.

This outpouring includes donations from both fans and her celebrity admirers.

James Corden, famed for Gavin and Stacey, 47, pledged £1,000, while her Nowhere Boy colleague David Morrissey, 62, contributed £200.

Meanwhile, EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite, 55, expressed her condolences on Anne-Marie’s Instagram by writing: “Sending lots of love to AMD and her family.”

The display of support from her former husband James will undoubtedly offer significant comfort to Anne-Marie.

The pair tied the knot in 2006, two years after their initial meeting during the taping of Shameless on Channel 4.

Their family then welcomed their son, Brandan, 16, a name chosen in honor of Anne-Marie’s father.

Fans were shocked when the prominent couple announced their separation in 2016.

At that time, they jointly stated: “We move into this new chapter with a continued bond of friendship, affection, and respect for one another, focusing on raising our son.”

Afterward, James remarried and is now happily settled with wife Lisa Liberati, 47, and they also have a son together.