Tyler Christopher (1972-2023): Remembering Days of Our Lives Leading Man. On the anniversary of his passing, Tyler Christopher’s #GH and #Days castmates share their memories of the beloved Emmy winner:
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Maurice Benard (Sonny, General Hospital)
“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. 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.”
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Jonathan Jackson (ex-Lucky, General Hospital)
“My family and I are deeply saddened to learn of Tyler’s passing. He was a beautiful soul with so much compassion, love, humor and strength. I have so many memories both working together and journeying through different seasons of life together. I consider Tyler a brother as well as a friend. It never mattered how much time would pass between us talking, we were immediately present and back where we left off. He loved deeply and had a great passion for life. Through all the trials, Tyler continued to fight back against the darkness and be a voice for mental health, compassion and goodness in the world. I’m truly at a loss for words. Our love and prayers are with his family and children. He will always be with us.”
Photo : Jill Johnson/JPI
Alicia Leigh Willis (ex-Courtney, General Hospital)
“The world is not as bright without you in it. It’s hard to believe you are really gone. You were loved by so many. My heart goes out to Tyler’s family. Rest in peace, my friend.”
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Kate Mansi (ex-Abigail, Days of Our Lives)
“Just heard the news about Tyler. He was a force. Someone just sent me a story from when we first aired together, and I was quoted as saying ‘Tyler and I really hit the ground running. He was electric.’ I remember feeling exactly that. I’m proud of him for the way he spoke up about mental difference and was vocal about his struggles finding peace and balance in hopes of helping others. Sending my love to his family and kids.”
Photo : ABC screenshot
Adam Huss (Nikolas, General Hospital)
“This is so tragic and heartbreakingly sad,” wrote the actor who replaced Christopher’s General Hospital replacement. “My heart goes out to his entire family and friends who loved him. Brilliant actor who inspired me — and continues to — in many, many ways.”
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Stephen Martines (ex-Nikolas, General Hospital)
“Tyler Christopher and I were always cordial, and although our versions of Nikolas may have been different,” said the actor who became Nikolas No. 2, “we loved the character the same. This is such a sad loss for General Hospital and the fans. My heart goes out to everyone. Love, light and prayers.”
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Nicolas Bechtel (ex-Spencer, General Hospital)
“Our chemistry was unmatched. Working with you for so many years was a pleasure and a blessing. You were so talented, quick-witted and never too serious. Some may argue that we were the greatest father/son duo on daytime TV, and I agree. My heart is with Greysun, Bo and all of the people who loved you. Rest in eternal peace.”
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Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Spencer, General Hospital)
“Tyler, we never had the opportunity to work with one another,” wrote Bechtel’s successor, “but in the process of working on General Hospital, I’ve watched tons of tape on you. You were one hell of an actor, and it pains me to know that you’re gone. Thank you for the meaningful contributions you made to our medium. Rest easy.”
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Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda, General Hospital)
“Ugh. Another loss. Waaayyy too young. RIP, Tyler.”
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Brandon Barash (Stefan, Days of Our Lives)
“Rest in strength and peace, friend,” wrote Barash, who played Johnny on General Hospital before stepping into Christopher’s role on Days of Our Lives.
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Steve Burton (ex-Jason, General Hospital)
“This hits hard. Really hard. Sometimes I use the word ’brother’ loosely. But when I called Tyler my brother, I meant it… there’s a group of us… that have done and still would do anything for each other. That’s a brother. We lost one. A beautiful and talented soul at that. It hurts. Thank you for the memories, brother Ty. Love you. See you in heaven.”
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Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan, General Hospital)
“RIP, Tyler. It’s awful this keeps happening.”
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Rebecca Budig (ex-Hayden, General Hospital)
“Gut-punched. Sweet Tyler. I only worked with him briefly, but his kindness left its mark. We had many talks about his kids, whom he loved so dearly. Praying for them and his family. May he rest in peace.”
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Martha Madison (ex-Belle, Days of Our Lives)
“I’m so sad to hear this news. He was such a phenomenal actor. Sending prayers up for his family and loved ones.”
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Kelly Thiebaud (ex-Britt, General Hospital)
“I was lucky enough to get partnered up with some wonderful leading men on General Hospital, Tyler was one of them. 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. I remember feeling anxiously excited to get to work with such a legend on the show. Before getting on General Hospital, I would sometimes watch the show, and my favorite couple was Nikolas and Emily, so you can imagine how excited I was when we got paired up. Tyler was so talented and made you feel something when you watched him. My heart breaks for his family and the loss they are dealing with. You will always be remembered, Tyler. Rest in peace.”
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Sean Kanan (ex-A.J., General Hospital)
“Stunned to hear that Tyler Christopher passed away. I have no words. RIP, my friend.”
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Alyssa Milano
“It feels like the world is caving in. Tyler Christopher has passed away. He was a wonderful actor and so good in the Charmed episode ‘Pardon My Past.’ I remember him as being a sweet, sweet soul. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his friends and family.”
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Kin Shriner (Scotty, General Hospital)
“RIP, Tyler. So sad. He was a huge talent, and I had the pleasure of working with him a few months ago as well as the fun times.”
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Lisa LoCicero (Olivia, General Hospital)
“Our hearts just keep getting broken… He always made me laugh… Rest in peace, Tyler.”
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Jacob Young (ex-Lucky, General Hospital)
“No! I can’t believe this. Such a sweet man and a sweet soul gone way too soon! RIP, my kind-hearted brother.”
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Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, General Hospital)
Referencing a particularly touching scene between their characters, Grahn said, “This is exactly who he was. He was that guy. And I loved him.” In a separate post, she wrote, “Life can sometimes prove hardest for the sweetest and tenderest souls. I hope Greysun and Boheme can one day find these posts online to see how truly cherished their dad was.”
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Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, General Hospital)
“Oh man. Tyler Christopher… flight of angels.”
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Kathleen Gati (Liesl, General Hospital)
“I am once again devastated by yet another loss of a wonderful colleague and beautiful human being. Deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Tyler Christopher.”
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Michele Val Jean (Former General Hospital Headwriter)
“This freaking breaks my heart. You rest well now.”
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Gilles Marini (ex-Ted, Days of Our Lives)
“[I] will always remember our talks in the parking lot after work. Forever thankful. You’ll be missed, my man.”
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Sarah Brown (ex-Carly/Claudia, General Hospital)
“I’m gutted. Tyler was a joy to work with. His smile and sense of humor lit up the stage. I enjoyed every minute of our time together. You never know what someone else is silently coping with. RIP, old friend. My condolences to his family and many fans around the world.”
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Laura Wright (Carly, General Hospital)
“Thank you for the memories, Tyler. Rest easy, my friend.”
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William deVry (ex-Julian, General Hospital)
“These last 12 months at General Hospital have been incredibly painful for many. RIP, Tyler. Gone way too soon. Had plenty more to write.”
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Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital)
“Sending my love to his children and his family…. I am very saddened by this loss. Rest in peace, sweet Tyler. Kind, funny and so talented.”
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Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr/Kiki, General Hospital)
“This is awful, awful news. He was so sweet! RIP.”
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Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, Days of Our Lives)
“Tyler. I am heartbroken,” Instagrammed the General Hospital alum whose Katherine had an affair with his Nikolas. “I first met Tyler Christopher when he was in his 20s and joined General Hospital. He was always the sweetest guy… kind and thoughtful. And what an actor! Years later, I was so honored to share our Emmy night! And when he came to Days of Our Lives, I was so excited because he was so good, and I knew the show would love him. My heart aches for Tyler’s beautiful children, family and loved ones. I know he fought the good fight and hope that he can now rest in peace.”
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Roger Howarth (Austin, General Hospital)
“Years back, I showed Tyler a photo of a (then) puppy. He said, joyously, ‘Get that dog in the water, Roger!’ Seems to me, that in that moment, he was telling me that one reason we keep pets might be to remind us of our nature. And that… sometimes… the nature is joy.”
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Constance Towers (ex-Helena, General Hospital)
“Tyler Christopher played my grandson, Nikolas, on General Hospital for many years. My character, Helena Cassadine, is lethal, evil, without compassion for anyone… except her grandson. She only makes a mistake when a decision concerns Nikolas, her Achilles’ heel. The joy of having Tyler as that grandson made the role so easy to play. He was the nicest, sweetest, most caring young man. It was tragic to watch him battle with his demons but so gratifying to see him winning the battle. I loved him and will miss him. One of my lasting memories of Tyler occurred on the set one day as we were about to shoot a scene. A little voice said, ‘Dad?’ Surprised, we stopped and realized it was his 6-year-old son whom he had brought to work with him that day. Tyler stepped forward not knowing what to expect and in the most gentle of voices asked, ‘What is it, son?’ ‘I just had to say I love you, Dad.’ Tyler hugged him and no one objected. His patient and loving way touched all of us… even the toughest of executives.”
Photo : ABC
Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital)
Christopher’s on-screen mom quoted Don McLean’s “Vincent (Starry Starry Night)” in paying her respects to her late co-star. “Sweet Tyler… ‘This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.’”
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Natalia Livingston (ex-Emily, General Hospital)
“I want everyone to know how sweet and gentle Ty was. How gifted, how dedicated, how much he cared about his craft and those around him. I was honored to work with him for many years and admired his talent tremendously. He created such a safe space for us to work together. I felt confident when I worked with him. He made it easy. He was generous. He brought scenes to life with such grace and conviction. He gave his work everything he had. And, he was funny. So funny. I loved that about him. He made me laugh. He was one of the best chapters of my life, and I’ll always be grateful to him. I’m so happy we reconnected after over a decade apart. He was going to join my husband and I and our little ones for dinner at our home on a trip to Atlanta. That meant the world to me. He called me Naty… I called him Ty. The friendship was there. It was always there — through the ups and the downs. My heart goes out to his family and to his two precious children. Please, if you are struggling with alcohol abuse or a mental illness, don’t let this be your fate. I love you, Ty. I’ll never forget you. Thank you for the memories. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Photo : Jill Johnson/JPI
Kyle Lowder (ex-Rex, Days of Our Lives)
“Tyler was my former co-worker and my friend for over two decades. My deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and loved ones. He will be missed.”
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Greg Vaughan (Eric, Days of Our Lives)
“It’s been a couple of long weeks of work and one hell of an emotional roller coaster,” Instagrammed the Emmy winner, who played Lucky to Christopher’s Nikolas in the late 2000s. “I’ve been unable to express my loss and sadness. I’ve been fortunate to reunite during this time with many whom I’ve shared many great memories of our friend and co-star who was like a brother and will forever live in us always.”
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Ted King (ex-Alcazar, General Hospital)
“This hurts. Please rest in peace, Tyler. Your talents will not be forgotten!”
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Daniel Goddard (ex-Cane, Young & Restless)
“Rest in peace, Tyler.”
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Ron Carlivati (Headwriter, Days of Our Lives)
“A super talented actor and super sweet guy.”
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Stephen Nichols (Steve, Days of Our Lives)
“This is something I was hoping I would not have to write about, another young man taken. A sweet-natured man. An Ohio boy like me. A man who had his demons — another thing we had in common. A young man I called son for the early part of our time together. Not this one!” began the post by the General Hospital alum, who played Stefan. “Tyler and I met when I visited his dressing room on the day he was about to camera test for the role of Nikolas Cassadine, my ‘son/nephew’ on General Hospital. We went over the scene a few times. He was very green and eager, and he had a kind of grace and a connection to the heart of the material that was special. I felt connected to him immediately. I can’t say enough about the beauty of Tyler Christopher’s work. He was an actor who was all instinct and spontaneity. It seemed effortless for him. I knew I wanted to work with him. I knew he would make me better. Our journey on General Hospital spanned around seven years. In the beginning, he asked for advice, and I offered Michael Chekov’s book, To the Actor, which had inspired me when I was starting out. Tyler gave so much to every scene. We connected in a deep way and lifted each other up. I know he was proud of the work he did even though he continued to look to me for approval. I reassured him that he was ‘there’ and to keep doing what he was doing. I called him ‘Baby Brando.’ He always laughed about that, but I wasn’t joking. I can only imagine how much more could have been. I know that over the years Tyler had addiction issues. I understood and told him so. We talked about it and checked in over the years but never really got deep into the subject of recovery. I regret that. When I asked how he was doing, he would generally say ‘good… fine.’ Some 20 years later, after several nominations, Tyler stood on that stage, with his Emmy in hand, and held up the book I had given him. I was thrilled for him and so touched and honored that he had mentioned our early connection. I had heard about Tyler’s troubles during his time on General Hospital. I checked in with him and he assured me he was fine. In 2017, a few months before he started on Days of Our Lives, Tyler called and asked if he could meet me for lunch. He flew in from the Midwest. He told me he had been having a hard time and he was now sober and working to stay that way. He said needed to take care of his kids and he needed a job. I advocated for him, and it took a while, but he finally came over to Days. As usual, Tyler was doing remarkable work, but I could tell that he was unsettled. Again, when I asked how he was doing, he said he was good. Looking back, I now know he wasn’t. My own family was affected by addiction and alcoholism. I have been fortunate to have survived all these years. I don’t take it for granted, and this great loss of this sweet man reminds me of how important it is to reach out to others who are suffering with these demons. I know how desperately Tyler loved his children and wanted to be with them and provide for them. When we met, they were all he could talk about. I hope that his children and family members, friends, those who are feeling this great loss will, with the passage of time, find peace. My heart aches, but all I wish for now, sweet Tyler, is that you are finally at peace. We won’t soon forget you.”
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Frank Valentini (Executive Producer, General Hospital)
“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 General Hospital family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine. On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, our heartfelt sympathies go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
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Drew Cheetwood (ex-Milo, General Hospital)
“My cousin Tyler was something else. He was so kind and considerate. Generous beyond belief. Crazy funny. Unique, super smart and so talented. His greatest joy and proudest accomplishment were his children. He was 10 years older than me like my brother Derk (ex-Max), but he was like my second brother. Us three were as thick as thieves and the best of friends. We either lived with each other in California or we would move our families to be near one another. If one moved, we all moved sort of thing. We acted together, we traveled together. He and I loved Too Short and Common. Ninety-nine percent of the time that was what we played during our workouts. We worked out with one another, we partied, we laughed to no end and we made each other stronger. I remember visiting the General Hospital set before I was on the show. I was walking up to the studio doors, and Steve Burton (ex-Jason) and Tyler were just sitting on the stoop, sunning and chatting in between scenes. I remember thinking Ty just looked like a movie star. He was so cool to me. He looked out for me along with my brother Derk, especially when I first moved to L.A. He never stopped. The day we were moving back home to Michigan, he insisted he drive me to the U-Haul store because he knew we needed more boxes and supplies. We get there and he picks everything out, pays for it all and tells me it’s the ’least I can do, cuz.’ He hugged [my wife] Jenna, [daughter] Grace and I goodbye and proceeds to stuff enough cash in my hand to get us through our cross-country drive and then some. Demanded we take it. Told me to ‘get a protein shake on me.’ That was just his nature. He and Brienne wished us luck and said they’d be praying for us. We all cried that day like crazy. Because we were moving, sure, but on a deeper level, I think we all knew a shift was happening and nothing would ever be the same. I’m grateful to have those moments as sad as they were, though. It shows me what a powerful effect he had on me and so many of us. I will honor that effect and his memory going forward. I will miss him dearly. I pray for his kids and family. May God’s hand be ever present in their lives. I pray you are finally at peace, cousin.”
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Susan P. Baker
“Thank you, everyone, for all of your condolences. Very much appreciated!” Instagrammed Christopher’s sister along with a series of personal pictures. “The words are very difficult to put together, but my sister Lisa Baker-Johnson said it best. These photos are how I will remember Tyler: happy, enjoying life, loving his family — yes, even me. He loved the Buckeyes so much and wanted a simple life on the beach for his family. He had the most beautiful smile, could cook like no other and loved his kids more than anything in this world!”
Photo : Jill Johnson/JPI
Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin, General Hospital)
“I want to talk about Tyler Christopher, the person. If you’re a fan of his or even if you knew him personally, go on a walk with me. I first met Tyler when I was about 16. And as some of you may know, Nikolas and Robin had a very sweet friendship. But so did Kimberly and Tyler. We were a part of this acting class, which is where I met a lot of my really good friends, and we were also part of a friend group. Once when I was going through a breakup, it was a really hard time in my life. I was extremely lonely, and he apologized for not being there for me. And he said, ‘I hope you’ll forgive me.’ And it made me feel like I wasn’t crazy, that I was loved and that Tyler really was my friend. I mean, what 20-something-year-old TV star at the height of his career says the words, ‘I hope you’ll forgive me?’ But that’s the kind of friendship we had. Tyler was like a big brother to me. And things were never romantic between us, which was great. It made our friendship that much sweeter and simpler. The second thing I want to tell you is how Tyler always supported me when I wanted to make a transition into directing and how much that meant. It was like he could see it as clearly as I could. He would always say, ‘Yeah, go, go, go, go. Keep going, keep going. I know you’re gonna do it!’ He even went so far as to put me up in his house in Austin, Texas, while he was shooting a TV show. I was shadowing on an ABC Family show, and he totally took care of me while I was there. He would even make coffee in the morning before I went to work and leave me a little note, like, ‘See you at work.’ It was just thoughtful. The third thing I want to tell you is about how freaking funny this dude is. I remember Finola [Hughes, Anna] came up to me one day after working with him and she was like, ‘I didn’t know he was so funny. Tyler is so clever. He just says this stuff under his breath, and if you’re not listening very carefully, you’ll miss it.’ And I was like, ‘I know, I know! No one knows. He’s a freaking stand-up comedian in the body of a prince.’… He would tell these stories, and my stomach would hurt so bad. I would cry like those cartoons where the tears shoot out of the side of your eyes. So, I guess my point to all this is to tell you that even though Tyler had his own struggles, he found a way to be all of these things for me as a friend. He found a way to be empathetic, generous and had a way of just making me laugh like no one else could. We shared a love of hip-hop and robust sound systems in our cars. We shared a love of dogs and we shared a love of finding the emotional truth in our craft. And even though I’m super sad today, I’m so grateful that I got to know someone like that and grateful that I got to have a good friend for over 30 years. Rest in peace, man.”