Rove McManus has paid tribute to his late wife, Belinda Emmett, two decades after she passed away at just 32, following a battle with breast cancer.
Rove and Belinda met in 1999 and tied the knot in 2001, but just 21 months later, Belinda passed away.
Now Rove has shared a tribute for the former Home and Away star, sharing a clip of Belinda talking about what the comedian wore on their first date, alongside the caption: “20 years ago today a light went out”.
In the video, Belinda said: “This was the first time we’d actually been out, and we met at a function, so Rove was all dressed in his night suit, and I thought, ‘He’s a bit of a style master’.”
Belinda had high hopes for his fashion sense, but when he picked her up for their first date, he was wearing a T-shirt and jeans – with the shirt tucked in “so damn high”.
Her immediate thought was: “Oh no.”
Despite his fashion sense, Belinda knew she really liked him and thought she could work around it. “He’s got potential,” she recalled saying to herself.
Tributes from other stars also flooded the comments, marking the 20th anniversary of her death.
“A beautiful memory of beautiful Belinda. Sending lots of love,” said Channel 10’s Angela Bishop.
“Beautiful, beautiful Belle. In my thoughts all day today. So nice to hear that voice of hers and see that smile,” added Kate Ritchie.
“What a light she was,” wrote Peter Helliar.
Rove has previously opened up about how difficult it was juggling his grief and being questioned about her death in a 2023 podcast interview with Jessica Rowe.
“At the time, it was difficult because you’re trying to juggle what you’re dealing with in life with what you’re dealing with at work,” he said.
“And again, having to do promotion, which is part of the job, as people want to know what you’re doing.
“But then people want to know what’s happening at home. It’s none of your business what’s happening at home.”
Rove eventually remarried in 2009 with Tasma Walton and they share 13-year-old daughter named Ruby.
Images: Instagram
