The mother of late General Hospital star Billy Miller said that he died at the age of 43 via suicide.
The soap opera actor and three-time Daytime Emmy winner, who also starred on The Young and the Restless, died on Friday in Austin, Texas, as reported by soap opera journalist Michael Fairman.
Patricia Miller issued a statement to Soap Opera Digest Monday to clear up rumors circulating about her son’s passing.
‘He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years,’ Patricia said of her late son. ‘He did everything he could to control the disease.’
Patricia said her son ‘loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life.’
Gone too soon: The mother of late General Hospital star Billy Miller said that he died at the age of 43 via suicide; he is pictured in 2019 in LA
She added that ‘the other causes of death being told are not true,’ as his cause of death had been the subject of speculation on a number of fan blogs, adding, ‘I wish they were but they just aren’t.’
Patricia said she was grateful for the kind response she received from fans in the wake of her son’s tragic passing.
‘I want to personally thank the many fans & personal friends for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers & condolences sent to me and my family on the devastating death of my beautiful son BJ – Billy Miller,’ she said.
Patricia continued: ‘We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say.’
She wrapped up in saying, ‘Thanks for the love and support.’
A number of Billy’s friends and fans responded to Patricia’s statement posted on Twitter.
‘To the Miller Family, When u spoke with Billy, he always had away of making you feel very special,’ one user said. ‘He will always have a place in my heart. Your Family is in my thoughts and prayers. May peace and love surround you.’
Another said, ‘This loss really hurts. I’ve thought of little else the past two days. God bless Billy always. I pray he’s at peace now.
‘His kindness, talent, and that beautiful smile will never be forgotten. My sincere condolences to his brave mother Patricia and to all who loved him.’
Sad: The actor’s death came just two days prior to this 44th birthday. Miller is survived by his mother, Patricia, and his sister, Megan; seen in a still from The Young and the Restless
Struggle with depression: Reps for the actor claimed he was struggling with ‘manic depression’ at the time of his death as per TMZ; seen in a still from General Hospital
Emotional times: Soap vet and Selling Sunset star Chrishell Strause posted a memorial to her late friend Monday
Feedback: A number of Billy’s friends and fans responded to Patricia’s statement posted on Twitter
One user said, ‘It’s so hard to believe someone with such a beautiful smile was struggling so deeply,’ to which another responded, ‘That’s how it works … I struggled with depression and there are pictures where I had the biggest smile on my face but I was carrying the most on the inside.’
Soap vet and Selling Sunset star Chrishell Strause posted a memorial to her late friend Monday: ‘Too many feelings but you are gone way too soon and I’m so happy I got to work with you all those years but also call you a friend. I hope you are at peace now.’
The actor’s death came just two days prior to this 44th birthday. Miller is survived by his mother, Patricia, and his sister, Megan.
Reps for the actor previously claimed he was struggling with ‘manic depression’ at the time of his death as per TMZ.
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Miller.
His death was confirmed by a representative at The Belmont, a restaurant and bar in Los Angeles, California that Miller co-owned, according to Fairman.
Oklahoma-born Miller worked in the mailroom at Industry Entertainment before being signed as a model to Wilhelmina.
He had graduated with a communications degree at the University of Texas 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, playing Richie Novak.
Tribute: Octavia Spencer, who co-starred alongside Billy in TV series Truth Be Told, shared a tribute to the actor following the news of his passing
He then joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 2008, playing the fourth iteration of Billy Abbott. Miller left the show in 2014.
He received three Daytime Emmys for the 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.
He also had credits in Showtime’s Ray Donovan, Meghan Markle’s show Suits, and Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told.
Tributes from fans poured in on social media following the initial news of his passing.
Actress Octavia Spencer, who co-starred alongside Billy in TV series Truth Be Told, shared a tribute to the actor on Instagram.
‘I am speechless. I’m laying here scrolling through IG and came across a post that we lost Billy Miller. To his family, legions of fans, and our #TruthBeTold family my deepest condolences,’ she wrote underneath a photo of the actor.
‘I am so sad to learn of Billy Miller passing. I loved watching him on all my children young 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,’ yet another fan added.
