General Hospital stars pay tribute as Tyler Christopher dies aged 50
Several General Hospital stars have paid tribute after actor Tyler Christopher passed away at the age of 50 on October 31.
Christopher played Nikolas Cassadine between 1996 and 1999, and then returned for a longer stint on the US soap between 2003 and 2016.
His co-star Maurice Bernard confirmed the news on Instagram and praised his friend for his talent as an actor and for his openness about his mental health struggles.
"It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher. Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment," he wrote.
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"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.
"Tyler 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."
Further tributes came from co-stars Kelly Thiebaud and Steve Burton. "I learned so much about working on a Soap during that time together. He was a great scene partner and was always kind to me," Thiebaud wrote, while Burton shared: "Sometimes I use the word 'brother' loosely. But when I called Tyler my brother, I meant it."
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The show's executive producer Frank Valentini shared his own tribute on social media, writing on X (formerly known as Twitter): "I am heartbroken over the news of Tyler Christopher’s passing. He was kind, an incredible actor and a dear friend, who was beloved by our #GH family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine.
"On behalf of everyone at @GeneralHospital, our heartfelt sympathies go out to his loved ones during this difficult time."
In addition to General Hospital, Christopher also appeared on the long-running soap Days of Our Lives and the teen drama The Lying Game.
He also had stint in single episodes of The Twilight Zone revival, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and JAG.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, organisations who can offer support include the NHS, Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393. Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov.
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