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General Hospital actor John Reilly dead at 84
Veteran actor and star of General Hospital, John Reilly, has passed away at the age of 84.
Reilly’s daughter, Caitlin Reilly, announced the sad news in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday in which she remembered her father as the ‘brightest light in the world’.
“John Henry Matthew Reilly AKA Jack. The brightest light in the world has gone out.
“Imagine the best person in the world. Now imagine that person being your dad. I’m so grateful he was mine. I’m so grateful I got to love him. I’m so grateful I made it in time to hold him and say goodbye.
“I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know he’ll be with me. I love you forever Daddy.”
Back in June, Caitlin shared a clip of her dad on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and revealed that the pair had been separated for months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Can’t be with my dad today and haven’t seen him in months due to COVID-19. I miss him A LOT because he’s a sweet and adorable old man and basically my twin so here is a clip of my favorite thing he ever did in his career because I love him. Hug your dads.”
Reilly’s cause of death has yet to be revealed.
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Reilly portrayed Sean Donely on General Hospital from 1984 to 1995, returning in 2008 for the season two finale of the show's spinoff, General Hospital: Night Shift.
He reprised his character on General Hospital for the long-running show’s 50th anniversary year in 2013.
Reilly also appeared as Alistair Crane on TV soap Passions from 2005 to 2008. He got his start in showbiz in 1974 when he landed the role of Dr Dan 'Danny' Stewart in As The World Turns and later secured a six-episode arc as Roy Ralston on Dallas.
From 1996 to ‘98, Reilly played Bill Taylor, the flaky father to Jennie Garth’s Kelly Taylor in Beverly Hills, 90210.
His General Practice co-star, Finola Hughes, took to Twitter to pay tribute to a ‘kind, true friend who loved his family above all else’.
The show’s director-producer, Frank Valentini, also shared his condolences to Reilly’s family and friends on behalf of the ‘GH family’.
“The entire GH family mourns the passing of John Reilly #GH @GeneralHospital.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
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