Tyler Christopher, soap opera actor from 'General Hospital' and 'Days of Our Lives,' dead at 50

Tyler Christopher, a Daytime Emmy-winning soap opera actor known for his roles in "General Hospital" and "Days of Our Lives," has died. He was 50.

Christopher's manager, Chi Muoi Lo, confirmed the actor's death in a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday. "This news was incredibly shocking, and I am devastated by his loss. He was a very gifted actor, and more importantly, an amazing friend," Lo said. "My heart goes out to his friends and family who loved him so much."

Christopher, who lived in San Diego, died Tuesday morning. USA TODAY has reached out to San Diego County authorities for more information.

His former "General Hospital" co-star, Maurice Benard, was the first to share the news in an Instagram post, sharing that Christopher died "following a cardiac event."

Benard's statement continued: "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."

Benard, who portrays Sonny Corinthos on the long-running daytime TV series, pointed to Christopher being a mental health advocate 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," he added.

Benard's wife, Paula Benard, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement, "We were devastated and always had hope for him."

Christopher starred in "General Hospital" on and off between 1996 and 2016 as Nikolas Cassadine; the role earned him a Daytime Emmy award in 2016. He also portrayed Stefan DiMera in "Days of Our Lives" from 2018 to 2019.

Frank Valentini, executive producer of "General Hospital," said in a statement Tuesday that he was "heartbroken" over Christopher's death. "He was kind, an incredible actor, and dear friend, who was beloved by our GH family and fans of Nikolas Cassadine," he added. "On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, our heartfelt sympathies go out to his loved ones during this difficult time."

Christopher married ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo in 2008, and Pedigo filed for divorce in 2019. They have two children, Greysun and Boheme. He was previously married to "Desperate Housewives" actor Eva Longoria in 2002. The two split in 2004.

In May, Christopher was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication at the Hollywood Burbank Airport after police officers found him sleeping on the floor, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was also arrested on suspicion of public intoxication in Indiana in 2019.

In an interview with Bloomberg Law, published in July, the actor acknowledged he had a "relapse" at the airport but was back in recovery.

At age 9, Christopher had his first drink, he told Benard on the State Of Mind with Maurice Benard podcast last year. "When you become an addict at 9 years old, fast forward 40 years, at some point, you cannot survive it," Christopher said. "At some point it will kill you, and it has. Three times, I have flatlined. ... and they brought me back."

Two of those were from poisoning, and one was from withdrawal, he explained. He was experiencing delirium tremens from withdrawal symptoms when he experienced an accident that sent him to the hospital with a fractured skull.

In November 2019, Christopher "underwent life-saving craniotomy surgery" after hitting his head against a bathtub while experiencing alcohol withdrawals, he told Bloomberg Law. During his recovery, after doctors recommended he be placed under medical guardianship, his sister filed a petition for temporary/emergency guardianship in Indiana.

The veteran actor claimed that his sister improperly used his funds during the arrangement, which he called restrictive. He successfully had the guardianship ended in 2021.

"I never thought in a million years that I would be taken advantage of by a family member," Christopher told Bloomberg Law.

If you or someone you know needs support for mental health, suicidal thoughts or substance abuse call, text or chat:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 and 988lifeline.org

BlackLine: 800-604-5841 and callblackline.com

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 and translifeline.org

Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 800-273-8255 and press 1 to talk to someone or send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder. You can also start a confidential online chat session at Veterans Crisis Chat. veteranscrisisline.net

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY