- Soap opera Tyler Christopher has passed
- He was best known for 'General Hospital'
- THIS is what we know about his death so far
Fans will be shocked about this. Tyler Christopher, adored for his portrayal of "Nikolas Cassadine" on the legendary medical soap opera from 1996 to 2016, suffered a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment. He also had an Emmy-nominated stint as "Stefan DiMera" on 'Days of Our Lives' from 2018 to 2019.
"It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher," Benard wrote. "Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting."
Tyler was more than just an actor
Maurice Benard also highlighted Christopher's advocacy for mental health and substance use treatment. The actor openly discussed his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol. "We are beyond devastated by the loss of our dear friend and pray for his children and his father," Benard added.
'General Hospital' Executive Producer Frank Valentini expressed his heartbreak over the news. "He was kind, an incredible actor, and dear friend, who was beloved by our GH family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine," he said.
Christopher was married to former ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo from 2008 to 2021, and they share two children. He was previously married to Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004. In a candid interview with 'Bloomberg', Christopher spoke about regaining control of his life after being placed under the guardianship of his sister, Susan Asmo Baker, following a bout of alcohol withdrawal.
Christopher alleged that Asmo Baker misused up to $40,000 of finances intended for his guardianship, a claim she denied. The actor was first placed under his sister's guardianship during a bout of alcohol withdrawal, which led to a fall, a head injury, and life-saving surgery.
Tyler had his struggles
In May, Christopher was arrested for public intoxication at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, his second such arrest since 2019. That year, he reportedly underwent craniotomy surgery after he fell in his bathroom at his home and injured his head.
That's when his sister, according to an interview Christopher participated in with 'Bloomberg Law' in July, petitioned to be his legal guardian during his recovery. The guardianship ended in 2021.
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His beats live on!
A life well lived
Despite his troubles, he had a lot to fight for and was helping others overcome their issues as well. "Tyler was an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol,” Bernard wrote in his Instagram post Tuesday.
Maurice's wife, Paula Smith, told Fox News Digital, "Maurice and I are devastated. And believed in him always."
Tyler Christopher's tragic death leaves a void in the world of daytime television and a legacy of talent and advocacy for mental health. He will be missed.
