The soap opera world, and the entertainment industry in general, is in mourning.
On Monday morning, February 4, we learned that Kristoff St. John has been found dead at his home in California.
The multiple-time Daytime Emmy Award nominee, wh starred on The Young and the Restless since 1991, was only 52 years old.
According to TMZ, there were no signs of foul play.
With information still coming in about what transpired, scroll down for the latest on this tragedy and also to see what those who knew St. John best are saying about his passing…
What Do We Know at the Moment?
The soap opera star was found dead Sunday, Februsary 3 after one of his friends went to check on him at his home in the San Fernando Valley. Police and paramedics were alerted and responded to the house, where the actor was pronounced dead on the scene.
He Was a Daytime Drama Icon
Kristoff had portrayed Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless since 1991. This role that earned him nine Daytime Emmy Award nominations and he also won 10 NAACP Image Awards as a result.
Is There an Official Cause of Death?
Not yet. An autopsy has been scheduled, but a police official has confirmed that the actor’s death was possibly due to an alcohol overdose.
Might This Have Been a Suicide?
We do not want to speculate. But, yes, there is a reason to make this assumption: St. John’s son, Julian, with ex-wife Mia St. John took his own life in 2014 at the age of 24.
A Tragic History?:
Julian was getting treatment at a mental facility at the time, and Mia and Kristoff sued the facility for negligence. (The suit was eventually settled.)
Fast Forward Three Years…
In 2017, around the anniversary of Julian’s suicide, Kristoff threatened to kill himself with a gun. The police placed him under a 72-hour hold for psychiatric evaluation.
Mia Reacts:
In response to Kristoff’s death, Mia references her late son and that facility in a Tweet she has since deleted, writing: “THAT HOSPITAL KILLED OUR SON @TheArtofJulian THEN MY HUSBAND @kristoffstjohn1. THATS WHAT HAPPENED! THEY KILLED MY FAMILY.”
And Mia Clarified:
In a statement to Entertainment Tonight at the time, Mia trashed reports about the incident that led her St. John to seek help, saying: “I want the world to know the truth about what is happening with Kristoff, because currently there is inaccurate, and fabricated information being reported by certain online outlets. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and for those who do, it is a nightmare that haunts you forever. The death of our beloved son Julian has taken a toll on both of us. 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.â€Â
Kristoff Tried to Help Others
After their son’s death, Kristoff and Mia founded the El Saber es Poder (Knowledge is Power) Foundation to battle mental illness.
Kristoff St. John, Fiancee
In 2018, St. John got engaged to Russian model Kseniya Mikhaleva.
A Woman in Mourning
Following this tragedy, she shared this photo of the couple and wrote as a caption: “How did it happen ??? How ??? Why did you leave so early ???? and left me alone ….. I can’t believe. you were everything to me …. you were a loving father, a loving man,…..how love??we should doing a lot of things in future……”
The Sad Tweets Pour In
This is from Marci Miller, who played Abby on The Young and the Restless.
Kate Mansi Reacts:
Mansi portrays Abby on Days of Our Lives and Tweeted: My heart goes out to all of you survivors today that have ever felt left in the wake of a loved one’s pain. Sending comfort & support.
Vivica A. Fox Reacts
Fox revealed that she got her start in acting with St. John on both Generations and Y&R. She also said that the two recently went on a Christmas cruise together. With a heavy heart, Fox wrote, in part: “Kristoff I will soo miss u my brotha! U were a true gentleman 4sho! #GONETOSOON #RESTINPARADISE my friend! #Blessed#Respect.â€Â
Jacob Young Reacts:
The Bold and the Beautiful actor expressed his condolences on Instagram with a photo of St. John hugging him and wrote: “Kristoff, you were such a loving, caring beautiful soul. You always had a smile and kind word to say. You were such a light…. The world truly lost one of its finest.
Nancy Lee Grahn Reacts:
Wrote the General Hospital star: “My sincere condolences to everyone @YRInsider and all the myriad fans that have loved @kristoffstjohn1 over the years.”
His Final Tweet:
St. John’s last activity on Twitter was on January 21, when he retweeted a tweet about losing a child that reads: “Grieving the loss of a child is a process. It begins on the day your child passes, and ends the day the parent joins them.â€Â
May Kristoff St. John Rest in Peace
We send our condolences to his friends, family members and loved ones.