There are few shows that have the running power that soap operas do. Many of the most well-known soap operas, like General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and Days of Our Lives, have been on the air for decades. What’s more, many of the actors in those shows have been a part of the storylines for years. Fans love to see the characters grow and change. And if you’re a soap fan, you love to see them change partners more than they change their underwear.
Unlike newer shows, main characters rarely get killed off, and their stories go on for years.
Soap opera stars are also known to go from one soap to another, especially as more of the shows are canceled due to declining audiences. Fans will easily see a number of faces they know in various shows.
Sadly, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless actor Billy Miller has passed away at the young age of 43. Known for his megawatt smile and tousled blond locks, Miller starred as Billy Abbott in The Young and the Restless. In General Hospital, he played several roles — Jake Dow, Drew Cain, and Jason Morgan.
Miller’s death was a shock to both his costars and fans, but his family revealed that he had been dealing with mental health struggles for years. Not long after his death was announced, his mother shared that he had died by suicide. Miller’s agent shared a message from his mother on X (formerly Twitter), where she said that her son had “surrendered his life.”
“I would like to share the following thoughts.
He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. 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 the fight and he surrendered his life. The other causes of death being told are not true. I wish they were but they just aren’t. We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support.”
Patricia Miller has asked me to share the following on her behalf. pic.twitter.com/90ze1MZHGy
— Marnie Sparer (@TalktoMarn) September 18, 2023
General Hospital was not the only ABC soap opera that Miller starred in. He got his big break in the industry when he was cast as Richie Novak on All My Children. It was that role that launched him into one of the roles that would define his soap opera career — Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless. He played Abbott for 700 episodes.
His role as Abbott earned him multiple Daytime Emmy Award nominations — three for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and two for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He won two out of his three Supporting Actor nominations.
Miller then moved on to ABC’s General Hospital, where he was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead in a Drama Series.
Miller was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1979 and was raised in Grand Prairie, Texas. He attended the University of Texas in Austin and moved to Los Angeles after graduating. He did not pursue a career in acting until his friends dared him to attend an audition.
Miller is survived by his mother Patricia, his sister Megan, brother-in-law Ronnie, nephew Grayson, and niece, Charley.
If you or someone you know is struggling or is in crisis, there is help. Please dial 988 to be connected with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. You can also visit 988lifeline.org.
