Tyler Christopher, widely recognized for his Emmy-winning portrayal on General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 50. His former General Hospital co-star, Maurice Benard, confirmed the sad news through an Instagram post.
In his heartfelt message, Benard shared, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Tyler Christopher, who departed this world today after a cardiac event in his San Diego residence.”
Continuing to honor Christopher’s memory, Benard added, “Tyler was a remarkable talent who consistently dazzled the audience with his performances and took immense pleasure in bringing happiness to his dedicated fans through his artistry. He was a kind-hearted soul and a cherished friend to all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Benard also acknowledged Christopher’s advocacy for improved mental health and substance use treatment, noting that the actor openly shared his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol. Benard expressed profound grief over the loss of their dear friend and extended his thoughts and prayers to Christopher’s children and father.
Tyler Christopher (Credits: Entertainment Tonight)
General Hospital’s Executive Producer, Frank Valentini, expressed his sorrow over the loss, emphasizing Christopher’s kindness, incredible acting abilities, and the special place he held in the hearts of General Hospital’s family and Nikolas Cassadine’s fans.
Tyler Christopher, celebrated for his portrayal of Nikolas Cassadine on the iconic medical drama from 1996 to 2016, also earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Stefan DiMera on Days of Our Lives from 2018 to 2019.
In 2008, Christopher married former ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo, and their marriage reportedly ended in 2021. They shared two children, Greysun James Christopher and Boheme Christopher. He was previously married to Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004.
In a revealing interview with Bloomberg earlier this year, Christopher discussed his journey to regain control of his life. Placed under his sister Susan Asmo Baker’s guardianship since 2019 during a challenging period of alcohol withdrawal, Christopher fell and sustained a head injury, leading to life-saving surgery while hospitalized. His sister filed for guardianship during this critical time.
Christopher had also alleged in a prior court filing that Asmo Baker had misappropriated up to $40,000 in finances meant for his guardianship to settle her own credit card debts and purchase a laptop for her son, among other expenses. Asmo Baker denied these allegations.
In May, Christopher faced a public intoxication arrest at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, and he was subsequently released on a $250 bail. This incident was not his first brush with public intoxication, as he had previously been arrested for a similar offense in 2019 when he fell asleep in the back of an Uber. He pleaded guilty, and a judge rejected law enforcement’s request for his enrollment in an alcohol treatment program.
