The mother of late General Hospital star Billy Miller says he died by suicide at age 43.
The soap opera actor and three-time Daytime Emmy winner, who also starred on “The Young and the Restless,” died Friday in Austin, Texas, soap opera journalist Michael Fairman reported.
Patricia Miller issued a statement to Soap Opera Digest on Monday to dispel rumors about her son’s death.
“He fought hard and bravely for years against bipolar depression,” Patricia said of her late son. “He did everything he could to control the disease.” He loved his family, his friends and his fans, but in the end the disease won and he gave up his life.
She added that “the other causes of death that are mentioned are not true” as his cause of death has been the subject of speculation on a number of fan blogs, adding: “I wish they were true, but they just aren’t.” true.”
Gone too soon: Late General Hospital star Billy Miller’s mother says he died by suicide at 43; He is pictured in LA in 2019
According to TMZ, representatives for the actor claimed he was struggling with “manic depression” at the time of his death.
The actor died just two days before his 44th birthday. Miller is survived by his mother Patricia and his sister Megan.
has reached out to representatives for Miller.
Struggling with depression: A cause of death has not yet been announced, although representatives for the actor claimed he was struggling with “manic depression” at the time of his death, according to TMZ; seen in a still from General Hospital
According to Fairman, his death was confirmed by someone at The Belmont, a restaurant and bar in Los Angeles, California, of which Miller was a co-owner.
Born in Oklahoma, Miller worked in the mailroom at Industry Entertainment before being signed as a model by Wilhelmina.
He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in communications before moving to Los Angeles.
He got his start in the entertainment industry after landing a role on the popular soap opera All My Children, where he played Richie Novak.
He then joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 2008, playing the fourth version of Billy Abbott.
Miller left the show in 2014.
He received three Daytime Emmys for this role: two for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and one for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Miller joined the cast of General Hospital in 2014.
He played Jason Morgan and Drew Cain and was a series regular until 2019.
Sad: The actor died just two days before his 44th birthday. Miller is survived by his mother, Patricia, and sister, Megan; seen in a still from General Hospital
Tribute: Octavia Spencer, who starred alongside Billy in the TV series Truth Be Told, paid tribute to the actor following news of his death
Claim to fame: The soap opera actor and three-time Daytime Emmy winner famously played leading roles on “General Hospital” and “The Young and the Restless”; It can be seen in 2009
Successful: He received three Daytime Emmys for his role as Billy Abbott in “The Young and the Restless”; Pictured at the 40th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards 2013
What he was like: Before his acting career, Oklahoma-born Miller worked in the mailroom at Industry Entertainment before being signed as a model by Wilhelmina; seen in 2009
Miller has also appeared on Showtime’s Ray Donovan, Meghan Markle’s Show Suits and Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told.
Following the news of his death, tributes poured in from fans on social media.
Actress Octavia Spencer, who starred alongside Billy in the TV series Truth Be Told, paid tribute to the actor on Instagram.
‘I’m speechless. I’m laying here scrolling through IG and I came across a post that we lost Billy Miller. “My deepest condolences to his family, legions of fans and our #TruthBeTold family,” she wrote alongside a photo of the actor.
“I am so sad to learn of the passing of Billy Miller. I loved watching him with all my little kids and the restless and general hospital. May he rest in peace,” another person wrote on Twitter.
“A real loss to the genre, just so sad,” another fan added.