The tattoo artist succumbed to seminoma cancer, which had spread to his lungs and liver.
Ryan Hadley, a beloved star of Ink Master, left us at the age of 46 after battling seminoma cancer.
Ryan’s family shared the heartbreaking news on June 20 through an Instagram post. He became well-known due to his appearance on season 6 of the Paramount Network’s reality competition series Ink Master.
“Ryan left this world last night surrounded by loved ones,” the announcement began. “Though his life was tragically cut short, he left a lasting legacy in both the art and tattoo communities. He cherished his many fans, friends, clients, and, above all, his children.”
“He’ll be missed and always remembered. A legend forever. #rip #f—cancer,” the message concluded.
The accompanying photo showed Ryan grinning widely as he worked on a customer’s tattoo. The words “Forever a Legend RIP” were overlaid on the picture.
Ryan Hadley announced in December 2023 that he had been diagnosed with seminoma cancer, a type of malignant germ cell tumor commonly found in the testicles, according to the National Library of Medicine.
He explained that his seminoma cancer originated from testicular cancer and was spreading rapidly, creating tumors wherever it traveled. At that point, Ryan began undergoing approximately 122 hours of chemotherapy, alternating between a week of treatment and two weeks of rest.
With his diagnosis, Ryan also shared a GoFundMe page to help support his family while he took time off work to focus on his treatment.
In a sobering update in April, Ryan informed his Instagram followers that the chemotherapy had not been successful. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs, making it untreatable.
“I may be around for another week or maybe another 3 months,” Ryan wrote. “Either way, it tears me apart leaving my children behind. Death doesn’t scare me, but abandoning my kids does, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll keep everyone updated as much as I can before I sign off forever.”
Ryan Hadley’s family expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support they received and announced they were accepting donations to cover end-of-life expenses.
