Kristoff St. John, a longtime star of CBS soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” was found dead on Sunday. He was 52.
Friends went to check on St. John at his San Fernando Valley, Calif., home on Sunday, when they discovered his body, TMZ reported. They called police and paramedics, who pronounced the actor dead at the scene.
St. John’s attorney, Mark Geragos, confirmed the soap star’s passing to Page Six and also tweeted a statement.
“Few men had the unique strength, courage & sensitivity that @kristoffstjohn1 lived every single minute of every day. He impacted everyone he met and millions who he inspired and in turn admired him,” Geragos wrote. “On behalf of @MiaStJohnBoxer & @TheStJohnFamily thank you for all of your love.”
CBS Television Network and Sony Pictures Television released a joint statement confirming the death of St. John, who played Neil Winters on “The Young and The Restless” for nearly three decades.
“The news of Kristoff St. John’s passing is heartbreaking. 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,” the companies’ statement read. “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 two daughters, Paris and Lola.”
In a since-deleted tweet, St. John’s ex-wife, boxer Mia St. John, blamed the mental health facility that treated their son for Kristoff’s death.
“THAT HOSPITAL KILLED OUR SON @TheArtofJulian THEN MY HUSBAND @kristoffstjohn1 THATS WHAT HAPPENED! THEY KILLED MY FAMILY,” she wrote.
Kristoff and Mia’s son, Julian, died by suicide in 2014 while seeking treatment at the unnamed facility. They sued for negligence and later settled. The former couple also founded the El Saber es Poder (Knowledge Is Power) Foundation to battle mental illness.
In 2017, Kristoff threatened suicide and was placed on a 72-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation.
He leaves behind two daughters, Paris St. John and Lola St. John.
Vivica A. Fox took to Instagram to pay tribute to her former co-star.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I wake up this morning to hear about the passing of my good friend @KristoffStJohn who I started off my acting career with on the Soap Opera #Generations and recently #AChristmasCruise WOW! Kristoff I will soo miss u my brotha! #RESTINPARADISE my friend! #Blessed #Respect,” she captioned an old photo of the two of them together.