Tina Malone, best known for her role in *Shameless*, has shared a poignant tribute to her late husband, Paul Chase, on what would have been his 42nd birthday. The actress, 61, lost Paul in March after he took his own life following a battle with PTSD.
In an emotional post on social media platform X, Malone wrote: "Today my husband Paul is 42. He left our home eleven weeks ago today and never came back. The pain and sorrow we feel is overwhelming. Flame is bringing you a ribeye, olives and a Peroni today, now at peace my hero, my world x."
The tribute was met with an outpouring of support from her followers, offering condolences and well-wishes. One follower responded: "Sending love, thoughts and prayers to you all during this sad time." Another wrote: "Happy Heavenly Birthday to your wonderful husband who should still be here to celebrate with you."
Paul Chase, a former member of the 22nd Regiment of the Cheshires, had been diagnosed with PTSD three years ago. His military service included deployments in Northern Ireland, Belize, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Falklands. Despite his bravery and dedication, Chase struggled with the psychological impacts of his service, which ultimately led to his tragic death.
Malone, who also starred in *Brookside* as Mo McGee, revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail that she had not spoken publicly about the circumstances of Paul's death until now. "Paul did commit suicide. I believe in transparency," she said, adding, "I’ll never get over it. I miss him so badly and I love him so much. One thing I know… he’s in a better place than here.”
To honor Paul's memory and help others facing similar struggles, Malone announced the creation of a foundation named Paul's Flame. The charity, launching on his birthday, aims to support those suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues. "This is a man who served his country. The only way I can get through is by fighting for change, addressing the issues facing veterans and soldiers, trying to help others," Malone stated.
She hopes the foundation will provide much-needed resources and support to veterans, encouraging them to seek help without fear of stigma. "When he got drunk he’d ramble about the army and I’d tell him, ‘You have depression, you have emotional issues because of what you’ve seen’. But he’d sweep it away. He’d say, ‘How will I get a job if I have that?’ He admitted it in the end but by then things had gone too far," Malone shared.
