Kristoff St. John, the actor who played the character Neil Winters on the CBS daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless” since 1991, has died, according to his attorney Mark Gegaros. He was 52.
St. John was pronounced dead at his home in Woodland Hills, California on Sunday afternoon at 4:02 p.m.
St. John got his start as a child actor on the ABC TV mini-series “Roots: The Next Generation,” and he starred in his first soap opera “Generations” on NBC in 1989. Following the show’s cancellation, he originated the part of Neil Winters on “The Young and the Restless” and had portrayed him for 25 years. He’s the longest running African American actor to appear on the legendary soap.
In his long career, St. John was also the recipient of nine Daytime Emmy award nominations, winning twice, and 10 NAACP Image Award nominations. He most recently was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2017.
“The news of Kristoff St. John’s passing is heartbreaking. He was a very talented actor and an even better person. For those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him on ‘The Young and the Restless’ for the last 27 years, he was a beloved friend whose smile and infectious laugh made every day on set a joy and made audiences love him. On behalf of the Y&R cast and crew, CBS and Sony Pictures Television, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones, especially his two daughters, Paris and Lola,” a joint statement from CBS Television Network and Sony Pictures Television, which produces “The Young and the Restless,” read.
St. John’s son, Julian, with his ex-wife Mia died by suicide in 2014. And months later, the couple filed a wrongful death suit against the nurses and staff at La Casa Psychiatric Health Facility in Long Beach, California, claiming that the staff lied about the number of times they had checked in on their son and falsified records claiming they did so.
The Los Angeles County’s coroner said that St. John’s autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
Kristoff is survived by two daughters, Paris and Lola St. John.