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It wasn’t that way back that Tyler Christopher, who died this week at age 50, was onstage accepting the Lead Actor award on the Daytime Emmys.
It was 2016 and after taking part in Nikolas Cassadine for 20 years on the cleaning soap opera Common Hospital, he gained the award. The actor, beloved by the cleaning soap neighborhood, humbly stated he wasn’t going to make his acceptance speech about himself however “in regards to the individuals who obtained me right here at first.” He thanked daytime titans Stephen Nichols (Stefan Cassadine), his mentor, Tony Geary (Luke Spencer) and Genie Frances (Laura Spencer), amongst others, for accepting him on the present when he joined with no earlier performing credit and guiding him to award-worthy performances.
Whereas Christopher was nominated for an additional Daytime Emmy three years later, after leaving GH for Days of Our Lives the place he performed Stefan DiMera, the 2016 Emmy win was the head of his profession. By the top of 2019, he had been let go from each GH and Days as his alcoholism coupled with bipolar dysfunction had derailed his life.
His 2022 “State of Thoughts” interview along with his GH co-star Maurice Benard — who announced Christopher’s demise on Oct. 31, attributing it to a cardiac occasion in his San Diego condo — laid naked his struggles in a strong interview.
Christopher stated his alcohol habit began at age 9. Throughout his early years on GH, he was a functioning addict — although one plagued with self-doubt, as distorted self-image is usually skilled by people with bipolar, berating himself for his performances regardless of receiving a complete of 5 Emmy nominations by the years. All of it imploded within the late 2010s. His habit led to him being axed from GH (in 2016) and Days (2019). Additionally in 2019, his second marriage, to ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo, with whom he shared two kids, ended. He was arrested for public intoxication. He flatlined 3 times, twice from alcohol poisoning and as soon as from withdrawal. Whereas going by withdrawal, he skilled delirium tremens, resulting in fall throughout which he hit his head on a tub edge and sustained a traumatic mind damage. He underwent a craniotomy, with medical doctors drilling into his scull in 4 locations to empty the blood. It saved his life, however he wakened with no reminiscence. He could not stroll, eat or use the toilet. He was positioned in a medical guardianship below his sister’s care, or face being a ward of the state. Christopher, who had manic episodes, skilled homelessness after that, dwelling on L.A.’s Skid Row for a interval. He revealed he was engaged on a ebook about his habit and psychological well being challenges.
“Nobody is responsible for something that has occurred to me,” he advised Benard.
Christopher was sober and getting psychological well being remedy when that interview came about and issues appeared headed in the proper route. A social media submit, on his November 2022 birthday, acknowledged that individuals did not assume he was going to “make it to 50,” however he vowed: “The very best is but to return.” He continued making an attempt to restart his profession. He used his voice to advocate for mental health care. In Could, he was arrested once more for public intoxication. Quickly after, he sued his sister, alleging guardianship abuse.
Regardless of the sobriety setback, he was wanting forward. In his final interview, which ran in September, Christopher stated he was “ready for the following mission. I am not on daytime anymore, so I do not work every single day. I’m in a brand new chapter in my life.” At a fan occasion the identical month, he stated he was “six weeks sober.” He was additionally targeted on making “serious changes” to develop into a greater father, Greysun, 14, and Boheme, 8, whom he was solely allowed to see three days a month.
Benard introduced Christopher’s demise on Oct. 31. He known as him a “actually gifted person who lit up the display in each scene he carried out and relished bringing pleasure to his loyal followers by his performing. Tyler was a candy soul and great buddy to all of those that knew him.”
He praised him for being “an advocate for higher psychological well being and substance use remedy” and brazenly talking “about his struggles with bipolar melancholy and alcohol.”
Wanting again at his profession and loves
Christopher, initially identified by Tyler Baker, made his GH debut in 1996. His character was a part of two of the present’s best-known households, the Cassadines and Spencers. He was a part of a well-liked love triangle with Jonathan Jackson’s Fortunate and Rebecca Herbst’s Elizabeth.
He gained a Cleaning soap Opera Digest award for Finest Newcomer in 1997.
His first Daytime Emmy nomination, for Excellent Youthful Actor in a Drama Sequence, got here in 1998.
He fell in love along with his GH costar Vanessa Marcil they usually had been briefly engaged earlier than splitting in 1999. They remained pals, with Marcil visiting him after his mind damage. She has posted quite a few tributes since his demise.
Additionally in 1999, he departed GH to pursue prime-time alternatives. He appeared on a Charmed reverse Alyssa Milano, who remembered him as a “nice actor and “candy, candy soul” on Instagram. He additionally appeared on Felicity, Crossing Jordan, The Twilight Zone, Angel, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Into the West.
Christopher dated fellow cleaning soap star Longoria they usually had been married in 2002, however they divorced in 2004 after she shot to stardom in Determined Housewives.
Christopher returned to GH in 2003.
In 2004, he began relationship one other co-star Natalia Livingston they usually had been collectively till 2006.
He obtained two extra Daytime Emmy nominations in 2005 and 2006.
He married second spouse Pedigo in 2008. Their kids had been born in 2009 and 2015.
In 2011, he was solid in ABC Household’s The Mendacity Recreation — and the brand new position led to him being let go from GH.
Two years later, he returned to GH — and The Mendacity Recreation was canceled quickly after.
Christopher gained his Daytime Emmy in 2016. Nevertheless, he was let go by the present quickly after, which he later stated was on account of his habit. His final look on the present, after 20 years, was in June 2016 and his position was recast.
In 2017, he was employed by Days to play Stefan DiMera — one other large position.
He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2019, however was let go by the present the identical 12 months on account of his habit. “It was devastating for a myriad of causes,” he advised Benard of the back-to-back firings. “One, the factor that I really like essentially the most was taken away. Two, I threw it away. No one took it away from me… Once I seemed within the mirror, there was just one particular person to level the finger at.”
Since 2022, when he went public along with his habit, psychological well being struggles and traumatic mind damage, he appeared six motion pictures, three of them TV motion pictures, together with Homicide, Anybody? and Ice Storm.
If you happen to or somebody you recognize is scuffling with habit, contact Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration Therapy Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).
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