Actor Tyler Christopher, known for his roles on General Hospital and Days Of Our Lives, has died at the age of 50.
His General Hospital co-star Maurice Benard announced the news on Instagram on Tuesday, writing: “Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment.”
“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 a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him.”
Christopher spent 20 years playing Nikolas Cassadine on General Hospital – a role which won him an Emmy in 2016.
He also picked up an Emmy nomination for his performance as Stefan DiMera in long-running soap Days Of Our Lives, a role he played from 2001 to 2019.
In Bernard’s tribute, he noted Christopher was “an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who openly spoke about 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,” he said.
Christopher was born in 1972. He was married to Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004.
In 2008 he married former ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo. The couple had two children together and separated in 2019.
Christopher’s representative Chi Muoi Lo confirmed the actor’s death in a statement to CNN, saying he was “devastated”.
“He was a very gifted actor, and more importantly, an amazing friend,” he said.
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There has been an outpouring of tributes in the wake of Christopher’s death.
The Young And The Restless actor Doug Davidson described him as a “beautiful person and an amazing actor”.
His General Hospital co-star Sarah Joy Brown called him a “joy” to work with, adding: “His smile and sense of humour lit up the stage. I enjoyed every minute of our time together.”
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital, said he was “heartbroken”.
“He was kind, an incredible actor and a dear friend, who was beloved by our #GH family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
