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Rob Delaney pays tribute to son three years after his death

FILE - In this March 21, 2017 file photo, Rob Delaney poses for photographers upon arrival at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in London. Delaney has announced the death of his infant son from cancer, memorializing the boy as “smart, funny, and mischievous” in a Facebook post. Henry Delaney was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, according to his father. After surgery to remove the tumor and treatment early last year, the cancer returned in the fall, and Henry died in January. (AP Photos/Tim Ireland, File)
Rob Delaney at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in London. (AP Photos/Tim Ireland, File)

Catastrophe star Rob Delaney has paid tribute to his late son Henry shortly to commemorate what would have been his sixth birthday.

Sharing a picture of Henry as a baby on his Instagram, Delaney wrote in the caption: "This little boy would’ve turned 6 the other day.”

“He died of cancer a little bit before his third birthday.”

'If you asked me how I carry on without him I would tell you I don’t know.”

Delaney, 44 and wife Leah lost their son in January 2018, aged two, after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Watch: Rob Delaney says his son’s death taught him to love his other children 'better'

Read: Rob Delaney recalls son's death in heartbreaking essay to fellow parents of sick children

Henry was diagnosed in 2016 after suffering persistent weight loss and vomiting shortly after his first birthday.

The infant spent 15 months in hospital undergoing surgery to remove the tumour alongside further treatment.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18:  Rob Delaney attends the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity's annual 'Trust In Fashion' fundraiser at The Grosvenor House Hotel on March 18, 2019 in London, England.  (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett//Getty Images)
Rob Delaney attends the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity's annual 'Trust In Fashion' fundraiser, 2019 (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett//Getty Images)

His family were told that his cancer had returned in the autumn of 2017 before he passed away in January 2018.

Later that year, in December, Delaney revealed that his wife had given birth to their ‘magical’ fourth son seven months after Henry’s passing.

Read more: Sharon Horgan reveals alternate ending to Catastrophe

The American actor has previously admitted on BBC Radio 4 that he is no longer afraid of dying and that it is his “staggering privilege to get to hold them [his sons], smell them and stare at them.”

Creator Rob Delaney participates in the
Creator Rob Delaney participates in the "Catastrophe" panel at the The Amazon 2016 Winter TCA in 2016. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

He said: “Henry wasn't our only son and his death didn't make me love our other sons any less.”

“Because when I hold them, I know what they really are, they're temporary gatherings of stardust just like Henry.”

“I don't know if Henry's death made me love his brothers more, but it certainly made me love them better.”

Watch: Rob Delaney discusses his grief