- Actor Billy Miller died on September 15 at the age of 43.
- Miller was a regular on multiple soap operas, including ‘The Young and the Restless’ and ‘All My Children.’
- His team revealed he battled manic depression and suggests he may have taken his own life, though no formal cause of death has been revealed yet.
On September 15, Billy Miller died. He was just 43 years old and passed just days before his birthday. Family and colleagues say Miller had been battling manic depression around the time of his passing and it is considered a contributing factor in his death.
The extended family of soap opera stars mourned a loss far too soon with the death of Miller. His was a familiar face on The Young and the Restless as Billy Abbott, as well as General Hospital, where he played both Jason Morgan and Drew Cain.
The dramatic career of Billy Miller
Oklahoma native William “Billy” John Miller II was born on September 17, 1979, and got his big break by signing on with a modeling agency, which led to him appearing in several commercials. These included JCPenney, Pizza Hut, and The Sims by EA.
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At 24, he tried out for CBS’s As the World Turns but his failure to secure a role left such a bad taste in his mouth, that Miller split with his agency and management team and took a two-year hiatus. Returning to the field, he had better luck finding a role on All My Children and from there, the momentum continued, seeing Miller feature prominently on The Young and the Restless. The nominations and wins for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series popped up in 2010 and 2013.
Heartbreak in the greater soap opera family
Miller was a series regular in countless programs and is remembered by many of his colleagues. Following news of Miller’s death, his former All My Children co-star Chrishell Stause grieved his unexpected passing.
“Too many feelings, but you are gone too soon and I’m so happy I got to work with you all those years, but also call you a friend,” she said in a tribute post on what would have been Miller’s 44th birthday. “I hope you are at peace now.”
I'm so sad to hear of Billy Miller's passing. His infectious charm and warmth left lasting impressions on all of us who were lucky enough to have him in our lives. Im gonna miss that mischievous smile. Love you Billy. pic.twitter.com/kTnML9Zxlw
— Eileen Davidson (@eileen_davidson) September 17, 2023
Eileen Davidson, who worked with him on The Young and the Restless, mourned, “His infectious charm and warmth left lasting impressions on all of us who were lucky enough to have him in our lives. I’m gonna miss that mischievous smile. Love you Billy.”
Miller’s manager Marnie Sparer did not give a specific cause of death but TMZ reports that his team suggests the actor may have taken his own life. “He also leaves behind a great many friends and colleagues who will miss his warm personality, generous spirit and genuine kindness,” Sparer wrote in a statement. He is survived by his mother Patricia and sister Megan.
