Young and the Restless star Billy Miller has passed away at the age of 43. According to Page Six, the soap opera actor battled manic depression and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
What was Billy Miller’s cause of death?
In a statement to Variety, his manager, Marnie Sparer, also said Miller “was struggling with manic depression when he died”.
Meanwhile, TMZ wrote:
“A rep for the actor tells us Miller passed away Friday in Austin, TX. An exact cause hasn’t been revealed, but we’re told he was struggling with manic depression at the time of his death. His team suggests he may have taken his own life.”
TMZ
Growing up, he had a difficult time as he battled with a rare health condition called tarsal coalition, which affected the cartilage in his ankles.
Billy was 43 years old when he passed away last Friday in a hospital in Austin, Texas, and was close to celebrating his 44th birthday this Sunday, September 17.
What is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy?
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) mostly affects certain parts of one’s brain. It is also called Richardson-Olszewski syndrome. The chronic neurodegenerative disorder often affects the way one walks, swallows, thinks and moves their eyes.
According to Cleveland Clinic, it is not usual that one develops PSP before the age of 40.
Some symptoms include loss of balance, looking as if one is staring at something, difficulty speaking, mood changes, personality changes, insomnia, dementia and sensitive to harsh lighting amongst others.
There is no treatment for PSP. However, the symptoms can be managed through medications, movement therapy, palliative care and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.
According to the website, those who battle PSP often die six to nine years following their diagnosis. Those who suffer from the same are at high risk of pneumonia and dangerous bone fractures since they are at a high risk of falling.
It remains unclear whether PSP played a role in Billy Miller’s passing.
One of the brightest soap stars
The guy had incredible runs on both ‘The Young and The Restless’ as well as a memorable role on ‘General Hospital.’
He starred in over 700 episodes for the former — playing Billy Abbott — and acted in nearly 600 episodes for the latter, playing different characters. In addition to these two iconic shows, he also starred in ‘All My Children’ in the mid-2000s, which kicked off his soap career.
Miller’s work on daytime TV was recognized and praised by his peers — he won Emmys in 2010, 2013 and 2014 for Outstanding Lead and Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on ‘Y&R.’ He was also nominated a handful of other times, including for ‘GH.’
He didn’t just work on soaps, either. Billy Miller acted in a number of other TV series and movies … such as ‘CSI: NY,’ ‘Justified,’ ‘Ringer,’ ‘Castle,’ ‘Ray Donovan,’ ‘Suits,’ ‘Truth Be Told,’ ‘The Rookie,’ ‘NCIS’ and others. He also starred in flicks like ‘American Sniper’ and more.
Keep on writing, great job!