The General Hospital star, 50, died of “positional asphyxia” due to alcohol poisoning, with the medical examiner citing coronary artery disease as a contributing condition.

• A friend of the actor found his body in his San Diego apartment in October 2023.
• Christopher was 50 years old at the time of his death, which was ruled an accident.
• His death was due in part to ‘positional asphyxia’ due to acute alcohol poisoning, according to the medical examiner’s report obtained by TMZ.

Tyler Christopher’s cause of death was revealed three months after his death.

The General Hospital star died at age 50 in October 2023 due to ‘positional asphyxia’ from acute alcohol poisoning.

A report from the Office of the Medical Examiner obtained by TMZ revealed that his tragic death was accidental and occurred due to the condition he was in.

Essentially, the report said that he died of asphyxiation and that he also had atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries, which is a buildup of plaque in the arteries.

According to the Mayo Clinic, complications of atherosclerosis can cause the coronary arteries to narrow, limiting blood flow to the heart.

On the morning of October 31, his friend discovered the actor in the bedroom of his San Diego apartment.

A day later, police sources said TMZ that officers visited the home around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday after the friend contacted 911 after finding the actor.

He told authorities that “it looked like he had been dead for some time.”

Christopher’s friend couldn’t reach the actor and went to his house to check on him, sources told the outlet.

The house was locked, but the friend was able to get in with a key the actor had previously provided, sources said.

Christopher’s death was publicly announced Tuesday by his friend and former co-star Maurice Benard on Instagram Tuesday: “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher.

“Tyler passed away this morning after a cardiac event at his San Diego apartment.”

Previously, Christopher was married to Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria from 2002 to 2004.

“Tyler was a truly talented individual who lit up the screen in every scene he performed and enjoyed bringing joy to his loyal fans through his performance,” Benard said on the social network.

“Tyler was a sweet soul and a wonderful friend to all who knew him.”

Benard said his late colleague “was an advocate for better mental health and substance use treatment who spoke openly about his struggles with bipolar depression and alcohol,” adding: “We are beyond devastated by the loss of our dear friend and we pray for his children. and his father.’

Christopher’s representative, Chi Muoi Lo, also confirmed the actor’s death in a statement. cnn.

“This news was incredibly shocking and I am devastated by his loss,” the actor’s rep said. “He was a very talented actor and, most importantly, an incredible friend. My heart goes out to his friends and family who loved him so much.”

The actor played the role of Nikolas Cassadine in 1,153 episodes of General Hospital from 1996 to 2016. For his work on the series, he earned four Daytime Emmy nominations and in 2016 won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

In the years that followed, he played Stefan DiMera in 159 episodes of another soap stalwart on Days of Our Lives, from 2018 to 2019.

In his personal life, Christopher was married twice: to Longoria and to former ESPN personality Brienne Pedigo from 2008 to 2021. He and Pedigo welcomed two children: a son, Greysun James, 10, and a daughter 4 years old. Bohemia.

The actor had been plagued by alcohol-related legal problems in recent years: He was arrested six months ago after passing out drunk at a Los Angeles airport, marking his second arrest for public intoxication in three years.

Christopher was found on the floor fast asleep at the Burbank airport in Los Angeles on May 26, when police were alerted to the snoozing soap star and woke him up, according to TMZ.

Christopher told authorities he had missed his flight before he was handcuffed and booked for public intoxication.

Authorities said Christopher showed clear signs of being intoxicated and was “unable to care for himself,” according to the news outlet. He was released shortly after his arrest and given a court date, the news outlet reported.

In November 2019, Christopher was arrested for public intoxication in his hometown of Martinsville, Indiana. TMZ reported.

In one incident on November 11, 2019, an Uber driver alerted officers to Christopher’s behavior after he allegedly passed out and urinated on himself after being dropped off at his home. He had two-fifths bourbon on him at the time, according to the outlet.

Authorities said in the outlet’s reviews of legal documents that police had received nine reports regarding Christopher’s drunken behavior in the two-month span that began Sept. 14.

In an incident on November 8, 2019 at Walgreens, a person reported that Christopher had been trying to get into their vehicle. Police who arrested the actor said he had possible head injuries because he was bleeding from his nose and urinating on his pants.

Authorities transported Christopher to a nearby emergency room for an examination and breathalyzer test, which showed his BAC was .267, more than three times the legal limit for driving.

In 2022, Christopher appeared on the mental health podcast State of Mind, with host and former General Hospital castmate Maurice Bernard’s, also known as Sonny, according to Soaps.

During the episode, he spoke openly about his addiction to alcohol and how he had his first drink at the age of nine.

“At some point, you can’t survive,” he said. ‘At some point, he will kill you, and he has. Three times I have stalled. And nobody knows that.

He continued: ‘Three times I have stalled and they brought me back. Twice due to (alcoholic) intoxication and once due to withdrawal.

Christopher in July spoke with Bloomberg about a family issue he was facing, after being placed under the guardianship of his sister Susan Asmo Baker in 2019 after being injured in an alcohol-related incident.

Christopher told the outlet that he “never in a million years thought I would be taken advantage of by a family member” after suing his sister alleging that she had spent $40,000 of his money for her own expenses.

She had denied wrongdoing to the court and the outlet, telling Bloomberg in an email: ‘If I hadn’t been his guardian, he would be DEAD!’

Some of Christopher’s other television and film roles included Days of Our Lives, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and the Paul Winfield comedy-drama Catfish in Black Bean Sauce, early in his career.

He also appeared in the crime drama No Turning Back, Face the Music and The Twilight Zone, as well as the 2014 romantic drama Beyond the Lights.

In recent years, he has been seen in TV movies such as 2023’s Ice Storm and the 2022 films 20.0 Megaquake and Super Volcano.

Amid the news of Christopher’s death, several of his contemporaries and fans took to social media to pay tribute to the late actor.

Alyssa Milano, with whom Christopher appeared in a 2000 episode of the series Charmed, posted a memorial on Tuesday that read: “It feels like the world is falling apart. Tyler Christopher has passed away.”

‘He was a wonderful actor and very good in the Charmed episode, Pardon My Past. I remember him as a sweet, sweet soul. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his friends and family.’

Actor Bryan Craig said: “So sad,” while actor Doug Davidson said: “Oh my God.” He was such a beautiful person and an incredible actor. I’m in total shock. May God bless his soul.’

Actor Sean Kanan said, “I’m shocked to hear that Tyler Christopher passed away.” I have no words. RIP my friend.’

General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini said he was “heartbroken by the news” and remembered Christopher as “an incredible actor and a dear friend,” adding: “Our deepest condolences are with his loved ones during this time. difficult”.

One fan of the actor said: “I’m stunned… so many people are leaving this world too soon.” RIP Tyler Christopher, wow!! We have lost another talented person, thinking of his loved ones.”

Another fan said that “Christopher’s eternal talent and charm filled us all with joy,” adding, “I, like many others, always supported him.” I hope he felt that.’

One fan noted a series of recent untimely celebrity deaths and said: ‘Billy Miller, Matthew Perry and now Tyler Christopher are gone too?!? My heart hurts.’

Another fan said they were “shocked and absolutely devastated” by Christopher’s death, adding that “losing him and Billy Miller within a month of each other is a double whammy” and “may their souls rest in peace.”