obit

Kristoff St. John, Longtime Young and the Restless Star, Dies at 52

A cause of death has not yet been reported.

February 4, 2019

Kristoff St. John, the star of long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless, has died. He was 52 years old.

The actor’s death was confirmed by his attorney, Mark Geragos, according to CNN. A cause of death has not yet been reported. TMZ reports that St. John was found dead at his San Fernando Valley home on Sunday.

St. John, who made his TV debut in 1975, is best known for his work on The Young and the Restless. He joined the cast in 1991, playing Neil Winters, a role that would earn him two Daytime Emmys, and several more nominations, over the course of his career; his most recent nod was for best lead actor in a drama in 2017. He notched a slew of other notable performances as well, including turns in The Cosby Show and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.

“The news of Kristoff St. John’s passing is heartbreaking,” CBS Television Network and Sony Pictures Television said in a statement. “He was a very talented actor and an even better person. For those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him on The Young and the Restless for the last 27 years, he was a beloved friend whose smile and infectious laugh made every day on set a joy and made audiences love him. On behalf of the Y&R cast and crew, CBS, and Sony Pictures Television, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones, especially his daughters, Paris and Lola.”

St. John took a leave of absence from the show in 2017 to deal with his mental health. The actor, who was a mental-health advocate, had been open about his battles with depression after the death of his son, Julian, who died by suicide about three years prior. “The death of our beloved son Julian has taken a toll on both of us,” his ex-wife Mia St. John said in a statement at the time. “He is an actor and while he may appear whole on the outside, his heart is broken. As a society, we need to start taking mental health seriously and realize that no one is immune.”

Viola Davis mourned the news of St. John’s passing on Monday, writing on Twitter that “the pain of grief and mental health should be addressed in the same realm as ‘physical’ ailments. No real words except . . . . I hope you found peace. God bless those you loved who were left behind. With all my heart and empathy.”

St. John is survived by his daughters and his fiancée, model Kseniya Mikhaleva.

If you need emotional support or are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.