The loss of a child is unimaginable, but for Australian actress Clare McCann, it set off a very public and controversial journey. After her 13-year-old son Atreyu died by suicide in May 2025, McCann launched a GoFundMe campaign to cryogenically preserve his body, seeking AU$300,000 within a week.

4 related posts

Born: Australia (exact date not publicly confirmed) ·
Breakout role: Cherry on Channel [V]’s ‘Blog Party’ ·
Son: Atreyu McCann (deceased 2025) ·
Fundraiser goal: $196,000 AUD for cryogenic preservation

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Clare McCann’s exact date of birth and age are not publicly confirmed
  • Her current marital status and husband’s identity are unknown
  • Whether the AU$300,000 cryopreservation goal was reached has not been reported
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Fundraising outcome remains unclear; public updates are awaited
  • Broader debate about cryonics, grief, and privacy in the digital age may intensify
  • McCann’s future as an actress and activist will likely be shaped by this event

Six key facts about Clare McCann, drawn from verified sources, paint a picture of her public profile and the recent tragedy.

Label Value
Full name Clare McCann
Profession Actress, director, singer, dancer, writer, designer, activist
Nationality Australian
Known TV role Cherry on Blog Party (Channel [V] / FOXTEL)
Son Atreyu McCann (born ~2012, died 2025)
Fundraiser cause Cryogenic preservation of son

What is Clare McCann famous for?

Breakout role as Cherry on ‘Blog Party’

  • McCann played the character Cherry on the Australian television series Blog Party, which aired on Channel [V] (FOXTEL) (IMDb (actor database))
  • The series was a reality-style show following teenagers as they competed for a spot on a blog team (LADbible (UK-based news site))

Her performance as Cherry became her most recognizable credit, giving her a foothold in the Australian entertainment industry.

Multi-talented career: actress, director, singer, writer, activist

McCann participated in the Sundance Collab, an extension of the Sundance Institute, highlighting her commitment to independent filmmaking (Sundance Collab (film education platform)).

The upshot

McCann’s career was modest but credible before the tragedy. The public now knows her primarily from the cryopreservation campaign, not her acting.

The implication: McCann’s public identity shifted almost overnight from an actress with a niche following to the face of a highly controversial cryonics appeal.

What is the name of Clare McCann’s son?

Atreyu McCann: his life and death

  • Atreyu McCann was the 13-year-old son of Clare McCann, who died by suicide on Friday, May 23, 2025 (Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet))
  • According to the GoFundMe campaign, Atreyu had suffered months of severe bullying at school, and McCann had contacted school authorities repeatedly with no action taken (LADbible (UK-based news site))

McCann described her son as a bright, creative child whose life was cut short by relentless harassment.

Cryopreservation fundraiser details

  • McCann launched a GoFundMe campaign on Sunday, May 25, 2025, seeking AU$300,000 (approximately US$195,000) to cryogenically preserve Atreyu’s body (NBC News (major US news network))
  • The fundraiser stated that there was only a seven-day window to preserve the body for potential future revival (LADbible (UK-based news site))
  • At the time of LADbible’s reporting, about AUD 10,000 had been raised (LADbible (UK-based news site))
Why this matters

The seven-day deadline and the public fundraising appeal turned a private family tragedy into a race against time, viewed by thousands online.

The trade-off: McCann’s decision to go public with the cryopreservation appeal opened her family’s grief to scrutiny, but it also gave her a chance to raise funds quickly.

How did Clare McCann get into acting?

Early career in Australia

  • McCann began her career as an actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer in Australia before landing her breakthrough role (IMDb (actor database))
  • She trained in multiple performing arts disciplines, which prepared her for the variety of roles she would later take on.

Role on Channel [V]’s Blog Party

  • She won the part of Cherry on the FOXTEL series Blog Party, a reality competition show that aired on Channel [V] (IMDb (actor database))
  • The show focused on teenagers vying for a position on a blog team, blending reality TV with teen drama (LADbible (UK-based news site))

The pattern: McCann’s path into entertainment was classic for an Australian performer — a blend of broad training and a lucky break on a youth-oriented TV show.

Who is Atreyu McCann?

Age and family

  • Atreyu McCann was the 13-year-old son of Clare McCann, born around 2012 (NBC News (major US news network))
  • He was the only child of McCann; his father’s identity has not been publicly revealed.

Cause of death

  • Atreyu died by suicide on May 23, 2025, after enduring months of severe bullying at school (NBC News (major US news network))
  • McCann stated that she had repeatedly contacted the school and education authorities, but no action was taken (NBC News (major US news network))

Cryonics campaign

  • After his death, McCann launched a fundraiser to cryogenically preserve Atreyu’s body, with a target of AU$300,000 (NBC News (major US news network))
  • The campaign framed cryopreservation as the only chance for future revival, and Australia’s sole cryogenics facility was prepared to assist (NBC News (major US news network))

The catch: The cryonics campaign is controversial because cryopreservation is not proven to be reversible, and the cost is high. Critics question whether the funds could be used for anti-bullying advocacy instead.

What actress lost her 13 year old son today?

Clare McCann’s public appeal

  • Clare McCann, the Australian actress best known for Blog Party, lost her 13-year-old son Atreyu to suicide in May 2025 (NBC News (major US news network))
  • She immediately launched a public appeal for cryopreservation funds, which went viral across social media and news outlets.

Media coverage of the tragedy

  • The story was covered by NBC News, Us Weekly, LADbible, and other outlets, bringing international attention to the case (Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet))
  • Reactions online were mixed, with some expressing sympathy and others questioning the ethics of the cryopreservation appeal.
What to watch

The focus on cryopreservation may overshadow the urgent issue of school bullying and mental health support for children in Australia.

Why this matters: The story is not just about one mother’s choice — it reflects wider societal questions about how we respond to bullying and the limits of grief-driven technology.

Timeline of events

Four key dates mark the trajectory of Clare McCann’s life and the tragedy that unfolded.

Date Event
Early 2000s Clare McCann begins career as actor, singer, dancer, choreographer in Australia
~2014 Lands role of Cherry on Channel [V]’s TV series ‘Blog Party’ (IMDb (actor database))
May 23, 2025 Son Atreyu McCann dies by suicide at age 13 (Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet))
May 25, 2025 Clare McCann launches GoFundMe seeking AU$300,000 to cryogenically preserve Atreyu’s body (NBC News (major US news network))

What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Clare McCann is an Australian actress known for Cherry on Blog Party
  • Her son Atreyu died by suicide at age 13 in May 2025
  • She launched a GoFundMe for cryopreservation, seeking AU$300,000
  • Atreyu’s death occurred on May 23, 2025
  • The fundraiser was launched on May 25, 2025

What’s unclear

  • Exact age/date of birth of Clare McCann
  • Current marital status and husband’s identity
  • Net worth amount
  • Whether the AU$300,000 goal was reached
  • Whether the cryopreservation was successfully performed
  • Details of the bullying allegations beyond the family’s account

Quotes and perspectives

“We only have one chance left to cryogenically preserve his body within the next 7 days.”

— Clare McCann, via GoFundMe (as quoted by LADbible (UK-based news site))

“This is a heartbreaking story, but cryonics is a scam and preys on grieving people.”

— Reddit user comment on r/popculture (as reported by Reddit (social news platform))

“I refused to let my son’s narrative conclude in silence.”

— Clare McCann, in the fundraising post (as quoted by Us Weekly (celebrity news outlet))

For Australian parents and educators, the Clare McCann story is a stark reminder of the gap between anti-bullying policies and their enforcement. The choice to pursue cryopreservation may be deeply personal, but the public reaction shows that when grief goes viral, it invites both support and scrutiny. The real question is whether the conversation will shift from cryonics to the systemic failures that allowed a 13-year-old to feel that suicide was his only option.

Related reading: Clare McCann · Atreyu McCann GoFundMe

Additional sources

reddit.com, facebook.com, imdb.com, instagram.com, instagram.com, gofundme.com, instagram.com, collab.sundance.org, gofundme.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Clare McCann still acting?

There is no public information indicating she has taken on new acting roles since the tragedy. Her focus appears to be on the cryopreservation campaign and anti-bullying advocacy.

How much money did Clare McCann raise for cryonics?

As of late May 2025, about AUD 10,000 had been raised, according to LADbible (UK-based news site). It is unclear whether the full AU$300,000 goal was met.

Did the cryopreservation of Atreyu McCann succeed?

No public confirmation has been made. The outcome of the cryopreservation process is not known.

What is Clare McCann’s net worth?

Her net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Estimates are not available from reliable sources.

Who is Clare McCann’s husband?

Clare McCann has not publicly identified a husband or partner. Her marital status is not confirmed.

What is ‘Blog Party’ about?

Blog Party was a reality TV series on Channel [V] (FOXTEL) that followed teenagers competing for a spot on a blog team. Clare McCann played the character Cherry.

Does Clare McCann have other children?

Public records indicate Atreyu was her only child.