Dean Gaffney has revealed losing his beloved mum Marian has completely changed the way he views the universe, admitting he hopes there’s “something out there” looking after her.
The former EastEnders star, 48, opened up exclusively to the Daily Star about life after death, saying the devastating loss of his mother has left him searching for comfort in the unknown.
Speaking about whether he believes in aliens or UFOs, Dean admitted his answer isn’t really about extraterrestrials at all. “Do you know what? I’d probably say something a bit different,” he said in collaboration with casino.org. “I lost my mum a few years ago and there’s no pain like it, there really isn’t. It’s the worst feeling in the world.”
Dean’s mum, Marian, died aged 69 in 2023 after the actor discovered her at home when he arrived to pick her up for their regular Sunday roast together.
Announcing the heartbreaking news at the time, Dean wrote on Instagram: “I am simply broken to share that my beautiful, selfless mother Marian has sadly passed away.
“I was, am and always will be a mummy’s boy so this news has completely floored me.”
He later revealed the traumatic moment he found her, writing: “Nothing prepared me for going to pick my mum up for a routine Sunday roast and finding her passed away. What I saw shall remain private, but it will haunt me forever.”
The actor said he had spoken to his mum every single day and described the thought of never seeing or speaking to her again as the greatest pain he had ever experienced.
Now, Dean admits her death has left him hoping there’s more to life than anyone can truly explain.
“I’d like to believe there’s something out there,” he told the Daily Star. “I’d like to believe there’s an afterlife and that she’s looking down on me every day.”
Reflecting on the mysteries of life, he added: “It’s one of those questions we’ll never truly know the answer to until it happens to us.
“Nobody can give you that answer… there’s no one alive who can.”
Rather than claiming to know what happens after death, Dean says people can only hold on to whatever faith or beliefs help them through grief.
“So all you can do is believe in whatever faith or belief you hold,” he explained.
And in a touching message that sums up his hopes, Dean added: “If there are UFOs or something out there in the universe, then please look after my mum.”
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