Michelle Dockery's fiancé John Dineen dead at 34

CORK, Ireland, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Michelle Dockery's fiancé, John Dineen, died at age 34 on Sunday.

The Downton Abbey actress was promoting the ITV series in the U.S. when she flew to Cork, Ireland, to be by Dineen's side at Marymount Hospice. The 34-year-old PR executive, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer this year, died Sunday morning.

"The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received but would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private," Dockery's spokesperson said in a statement. The family will hold a requiem funeral mass for Dineen on Wednesday.

Dockery and Dineen had been together since September 2013, with the actress confirming, "I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland," in September 2014. The couple met through Dockery's co-star, Allen Leech.

Dineen's death came just two days before Dockery's 34th birthday, Dec. 15. The actress is best known for playing Lady Mary Crawley on Downton Abbey, which will come to a final close with the Season 6 Christmas special Dec. 25.