Actor Francis ‘Frankie’ Mossman, star of acclaimed LGBT+ series The Horizon, dies aged 33
Screenshot: Youtube / Frankie Mossman
New Zealand-born actor Francis ‘Frankie’ Mossman has tragically passed away in Sydney, Australia, at just 33 years old.
No cause of death has been officially announced, but outlets like The New Zealand Herald have noted that Mossman is suspected to have died by suicide on 14 August.
In his final Instagram post, Mossman shared a photo of himself as a child, alongside the caption: “Who would have known this boy would endure so much pain.”
Frankie Mossman was arguably best-known for his recurring role as Stevie Hughes in the acclaimed LGBT+ web-series The Horizon, made in partnership with the AIDS Council of New South Wales.
Acknowledging the additional stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mossman’s brothers Laurence and Jeremy launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of repatriation and the late actor’s funeral. The fund has since received a total of $15,586 in donations.
“We are overwhelmed and grateful for the donations that have poured in over the last 24 hours,” they wrote in a recent update. “It is a testament to the impact Francis has on his family and friends, and the generous spirit of people near and far.”
Tributes poured in online for Francis ‘Frankie’ Mossman
Queer Screen Australia was one of the first pages to break the news online, posting a heartfelt tribute to the late actor to its Facebook page.
“Moving from Auckland to Sydney in 2012, Frankie was a well-known member of our LGBTIQ+ community,” the post read. “Frankie was a great friend of Queer Screen… and was always an enthusiastic audience member at our festivals. Our sincere condolences to all his friends and family. May he rest in peace.”
Despite The Horizon‘s tiny budget for its first season, the show went viral. Millions of views later, the show earned praise for its sensitive depiction of issues like HIV, sex work and family abandonment.
Francis ‘Frankie’ Mossman came on board in the show’s third season as criminal lawyer Stevie, sensitively portraying his recreational drug use. He also starred in shows such as Spartacus and New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, earning him a loyal fanbase.
Despite reaching the goal, Laurence and Jeremy announced in the update that they would be leaving the GoFundMe page up “so people can still read the messages and continue to comment”.
They further thanked the donors, writing: “These donations will certainly help in bringing Francis back home and giving him the best possible farewell. The services and memorials will be made known as soon as possible. We will keep you updated on all platforms.”
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk).
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
