Actor Tyler Christopher, renowned for his award-winning portrayal on the iconic soap opera 'General Hospital,' died at the age of 50. The news was confirmed by his former General Hospital co-star, Maurice Benard, who took to Instagram to share the announcement.
"It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher," wrote Benard. "Tyler passed away this morning following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment."
Christopher was also known for his dedication to advocating for better mental health and substance use treatment. He openly discussed his battles with bipolar depression and alcohol.
"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," Benard continued. "Tyler was a sweet soul and a wonderful friend to all of those who knew him."
General Hospital Executive Producer Frank Valentini expressed his profound grief, stating, “I am heartbroken over the news of Tyler Christopher’s passing. He was kind, an incredible actor, and dear friend, who was beloved by our GH family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine."
Christopher, known for his role as Nikolas Cassadine on General Hospital from 1996 to 2016, also made an impact on the soap opera world with a Daytime Emmy-nominated performance as Stefan DiMera on 'Days of Our Lives' from 2018 to 2019.
In 2008, he married former ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo, but the marriage reportedly ended in divorce in 2021. The couple shared two children, Greysun James Christopher and Boheme Christopher. Prior to this, he was married to 'Desperate Housewives' alum Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004.
Tyler Christopher's life took a dramatic turn when, in 2019, he was placed under the guardianship of his sister, Susan Asmo Baker. This came after a harrowing episode of alcohol withdrawal that led to a fall, a head injury, and life-saving surgery due to internal bleeding. During his hospitalization, his sister filed for guardianship, sparking a legal battle filled with allegations.
In a previous court filing, Christopher claimed that Asmo Baker misappropriated up to $40,000 of the finances intended for his guardianship to pay off her credit cards and purchase her son a laptop, among other expenses. Asmo Baker denied these allegations.
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