Billy Miller is DEAD TO ME!

THE. ACTUAL. FUCK?

Also? FENTANYL

Yeah. Very talented guy but when on Y&R back in the day seemed seriously amped.

That said, he could have been manic…

Drugs?

Were he and Monaco still together?

Guess we’re stuck with Jason Thompson forever now. But seriously, this is sad, tragic news.

MF’s site isn’t working and he’s the only one reporting it.

Tweets are saying he committed suicide.

I saw Alan Locher had it on his Facebook page.

And also said today would have been his 44th birthday.

Very sad. I don't know if it was drugs or suicide but he was very watchable on screen, especially as Billy on Y&R.

His time on GH reinvigorated that moribund soap, and just underlined how overrated Steve Burton was. Very sad news. So good-looking with a natural charm and talent, but I always got the sense this was an angry guy with a lot of demons (in real life). Such a shame.

[quote]Were he and Monaco still together?

No. Monaco recently threw him under the bus at some fan event.

[quote] Monaco recently threw him under the bus at some fan event.

Manaco....once a miserable fucking cunt, always a miserable fucking cunt.

Really shocking. I had hoped in the back of my mind that GH would bring him back as Drew since Mathison is so bad in the role.

Ausiello at TVLine

I stopped watching some time ago, but WTF is the deal with Drew? He was supposed to be Jason's never-before-known identical twin (even his own mother didn't know she had had twins, LOL) yet he looked nothing like Steve Burton. This was explained away by the obligatory soap excuse of "extensive plastic surgery" following some drastic explosion; apparently they also managed to alter his height, voice, and body type. Then he gets hurriedly written off (I think Miller wanted out after the usual horrible writing), presumed dead yet again.

Now he's recast by someone who looks nothing like him or Burton. Did they even bother with an explanation this time? Honestly, these shows are lot better off not explaining new actors. Everyone knows what happened behind the scenes so what's the point of foisting preposterous chestnut stories on the audience? Speaking of which, last I heard Jason was also now presumed dead for what has to be at least the fifth or sixth time. Imagine how much money the Quartermaines have wasted on sham funerals!

Wow. Met him a few times through work. Yeah he seemed really amped.

If and when the Daytime Emmys get around to happening this year, they’re going to be all In Memoriam.

His Wiki page has him deceased.

R18 Yes, I think that was established in OP's post. What is your point?

His restaurant partner confirmed his passing.

And there’s been no explanation R15.

Monaco tweeted about Billy’s GH exit and promised to reveal what really happened. Either Frank or the show shut her up because she deleted those tweets and never said anything else about it. She really isolated herself to him during his time on GH and was a real asshole about it.

r20, then just a month or so ago at the GH Fan Event she said he pressured her into their bad behavior after SB returned and she regretted going along with it. She basically put it all on him yet they both tanked scenes for well over a year in solidarity.

I'm sure she'll play The Widow Miller to everyone on set. More attention for her.

I don’t think they were really in touch or even friends after he left. He moved to Texas a few years back with his girlfriend that he was on and off with during the Monaco years.

Not true R21. What is wrong with you?

A slew of "he passed" posts online.

Passed gas? Passed the bar exam?

NYP . . .

Was he high here?

R27 - Doesn't seem stoned to me, but maybe he'd a had a couple of drinks. Not drunk, but a little buzzed and fuzzy. It happens. I don't know much about his private life, but it sounds like he had some kind of debilitating infirmity as a small child? Certainly appears to have overcome it.

I'd never heard of him, but he was very handsome. That's really sad.

r24, it is true and nothing wrong with me. Her sudden switching sides at the fan event was discussed on the GH thread here and other forums after the fan event. She supposedly cried at the event expressing her regret in participating. I'm not trashing him, I'm saying she's obviously two faced and he couldn't have forced her to do anything she didn't want to as she was the one had the seniority and clout at GH not him and she could do as she pleased.

R30 - I imagine Monaco is terrified of losing her job on GH. I mean, all she ever really had was her looks and big tits. But she's now 47 and she must know her days are numbered before she becomes background, and eventually written off. If she has half a brain, she'll do everything she can to stay on the right side of ABC and Frank.

I hope it wasn’t suicide. His last IMDb credit was just last year. Above poster said he moved back to Texas, so maybe he just decided to give up on acting. I really thought his talent, looks, and the heat surrounding his three Emmy wins, he would be able to transition more successfully to a prime time series, streaming or film work. Just sad all around.

So sad. I'm sure the cause of death will come out in the coming days.

Has Amelia Heinle issued a statement?

He had one of the best chests I’ve ever seen on a dude.

By far, he was the sexiest Billy Abbott.

I don’t understand the soap opera recasting procedure. Billy Miller was stocky, muscular and blonde. Jason Thompson is slender and dark. Every other Billy had been blonde as well. It’s about as odd as the hairy, gruff, thickset Scotsman Thorsten Kaye taking over the role of Ridge on B&B from the muscular, Speedo-wearing, chiseled out of stone pretty boy Ron Moss.

R37 it's usually one of four things:

1) They want to take the character in a different direction.

2) They want to recast with a "get". A "get" = a popular actor from another show or a primetime actor

3) They want to hire a friend.

4) In rare cases, the person auditioning, even though different from the previous actor, is the best for the part.

Don’t know if this contains any truth but sharing…

He was supposed to be 5'11".

R37 in the case of Billy Abbott, I think they just gave up trying to cast a blonde actor when JT became available. The role has had many actors. I was hoping Miller would come back one day, but they’re satisfied with Thompson, and he’s won an Emmy for the role also, so oh well.

I really don’t know what they were thinking with Kaye on BB. Hobo Ridge as we call him. None of the sexiness and Prince Charming qualities Moss had in spades. Maybe some of the hot soap actors in Moss’s age range weren’t interested, or didn’t audition right, so they went with Kaye.

Net Worth and Salary

Billy Miller’s net worth is more than $3 million. with another source of his fortune coming from owning the 4M company.

R41 I think TPTB wanted a Ridge who could act and not just grunt his lines and strut around in a thong.

I'll out live all you punks.

Some nudes.

Ronn Moss is one of those actors whose acting never improved the slightest bit in his 25 years on B&B. You'd think all those scenes with Flannery would have taught him a few things. But he was awful to the very end.

Flannery always spoke highly of Ronn, but surely she knew his acting was atrocious

r45 just shirtless

Has Brendad commented?

R30, she literally did not mention him at her FCW event last month. WTF.

I guess heaven just needed another angel built like a brick shit house.

Somewhere up there, Billy Miller is freed and moves with the speed of a thousand jaguars, because Wilma Jeanne is right behind him, talons locking in on her target.

Have fun you two crazy kids!

R31 Kelly has never had to worry about her job at GH. She didn’t wake up in scenes until Billy came along. She is an asshole on set and has been for years because she knows her job is secure. She has talked about bts crew avoiding her because they have some kind of perception about her. Doesn’t matter. She will always have a job there. That started in the Frons days and has continued with every regime. It’s kind of crazy compared to Herbst.

R43 Moss can’t act. Everyone knows this. The show was never about this great troop of actors doing serious drama (Flannery is a powerhouse. Really the only one and no one really close to her.) The show has always been escapist entertainment. Kaye arguably might be a better actor, but he looks like he needs a shower most of the time. Moss really brought the romantic, fantasy element to the show,

His manager didn’t confirm a cause of death in her statement to EW but said he was struggling with manic depression recently.

[quote]Kelly has never had to worry about her job at GH.

As was reported on DL years ago, I think we all know why. 😉

Ron Moss looks like a romance novel cover himbo who enjoys a good Cabernet. Thorsten Kaye looks like the type who only showers three times a week and would knock back a few pints with you at the bar. I will admit that Kaye has great tits and a nice big ass, as displayed on the show the other day.

I remember being struck when pale, redheaded Julianne Moore took over the role of Frannie on ATWT from the previous blonde actress. whose name escapes me.

It doesn't surprise me that he had a manic depression. He had a weird energy about him as Billy Abbott.

Don’t forget what a bitch that Erica Kane was to him. Pushing him out of the hospital window while he was hooked up in a coma.

Kin Shriner (hmmmmm?) and Eileen Davidson have both posted the expected kind remarks on Twitter.

Obviously Susan Dey gets a pass on this one.

Has Scoche Marin issued a statement?

That bitch!

A little known fact... Before Jeanne Cooper died, the next big story for Katherine was that she was going to cheat on Murphy on Billy Abbott.

Cheat on Murphy *WITH* Billy Abbott.

They were going to go back to nude scenes as part of it too.

Wilma Jeanne was always fine with nude scenes as long as they were integral to the plot.

[quote]Kelly Monaco posted he had a stroke and his rep concurred and that the stroke was a complication of a rare neurological disease, PSP, which he was diagnosed with 2 years ago. Google it. It is devastating. He suffered.

What Linda Ronstadt suffers from.

Manic depression can be horrible to live with. Explains why he seemed amped.

God bless him. Hard to imagine that level of emotional pain.

r69 That's when I will cry like a rainstorm, when Linda dies.

R71 are you THE Linda troll? (if yes....hi!)

Yes, R72, it's me. Hello to you, too.

Kelly Monaco hasn’t posted anything. And his rep hasn’t confirmed his cause of death. That’s fake info from an AI-generated site.

If Billy Miller's manager is already bringing Billy's manic depression into the conversation, I think we likely know the cause of death.

R75 Reminds me of Naomi Judd's suicide. Remember the early reports said she died of "mental illness," leaving the public to read between the lines.

[quote]The show was never about this great troop of actors

Oh, dear.

And howl like the wind, R71

Was it the AIDS?

He had a hot ass but he couldn’t live forever.

Has Chrissy LeBlanc issued a statement?

He was so good. One of the best in soaps. This is so very sad. He spent 5 years in that children's hospital. He had weird problems with cartilage and couldn't walk. Not a great life.

Just very sad.

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.

[quote] I'd never heard of him, but he was very handsome. That's really sad.

If they’re ugly, good riddance.

Manic Depression? What decade is this?

Some soap fans are proving their nuttiness today.

How, R86?

Was Bill a homo?

There were rumors about Miller's depression (along with drinking) even when he was on Y&R ca. 2008-13.

Alright, ENOUGH!

Was he gay? Are there nudes?

r83 r84 r85 r87 r88 r89

R87 in myriad ways.

The ones who are the Only Ones Who Know Exactly What Happened, the ones that claim he's still alive....the ones who think they're somehow secretly in on the real deal when they're fat basement dwelling agoraphobic lumps that know no one and nothing.

It's just been all over FB this morning, that sort of energy. It always is when a soap related news story breaks.

Billy asks you to respect his privacy while he completes his transition.

r93 this is Billy Miller, hon, not Billy Porter.

R91, stop littering, you fucking cowardly loser.

Oooooooh, I blocked them, but I can't resist reading anyway.

Pathetic.

r95

Worth skulking around for, R96?

Soap Opera Digest has a rundown of some of his fellow actors responding.

R98 Of course. Kate Linder had to chime in.

R99 Well, Linder did play Billy's mother-in-law for awhile and was Delia's grandmother, so it's not like she and MIller never worked together.

r100

I've never seen an actress with such an insignificant role excel so much at self promotion as Kate Linder. Maybe she should have used some of that energy into learning how to act and getting herself a real role someplace.

R102 She's almost 76-years old. That ain't gonna happen. They satisfy Linder with that bare minimum guarantee that keeps her on contract and allows her to play the role of Y&R's Miss Hospitality.

Kate Linder would go to the opening of an envelope.

Brendad would go to the opening of an envelope....but prefers to be at the opening of a zipper.

Funnily, Linder's post is one of the smarm free reactions. Well done her.

I heard the next big storyline involves Esther plotting to break up Victor and Nikki's marriage. Victor realizes after all these years that Esther is his one true love.

r103 r105

Quit littering, R107, you sad fucking no hoper.

Well that's not gonna save Billy Millers, R106.

But it would be so hot.

Fen and Kyle need to fall in love.

I wish instead of all the current drivel on Y&R that the writers would just go completely off the rails and create stories for shock, excitement, and entertainment. In addition to the Esther/Victor pairing, Jill could find definitive proof that Kay Chancellor was a closet lesbian.

R111 In order to make extra money for Christmas this year, Summer begins turning tricks on the bad side of Genoa City.

JaBottom tires of the business rat race, and begins presenting hole on camera

Refusing to accept menopause, Ashley has an abortion.

Every Friday!

isn't it odd, how many actors are nuts?

Entering her twilight years, Nikki discovers she's growing a dick.

I skimmed through the entire thread and not one post about the cause of death???!!

R117 Billy Miller's manager says he was suffering from depression. Draw your own conclusions.

Lauren is rushed to the hospital after she gets a tampon stuck up her twat.

[quote] Beautiful man

He really was. Troubled and the kind of guy you'd meet while he was on parole or something.

But dirty sexy. And hot. A wounded bird, in many ways.

[quote]Lauren is rushed to the hospital after she gets a tampon stuck up her twat.

When she realizes Michael is on the other side of the curtain, with a similar problem, hilarity ensues!

He was gorgeous... random question but does anyone know if he smoked? He seemed like a guy who always had a cig in one hand a drink in the other

I like Esther.

Will there be an RIP slide on the end of tomorrow’s episode?

R123 Not sure since he hasn't been on the show in nine years. and the role of Billy has been recast.

Michael Muhney remembers Billy on Twitter (X).

R122 - He seems like he would have been a smoker (intense, antsy sort). Luckily, if that's true, it hadn't yet messed with his looks.

Muhney really wants a job

If you're on Instagram, check out Liz Hendrickson's stories before they disappear.

e.c.hendrickson

Also, the EP-HW who hired him at Y&R, Maria Arena Bell, has a lovely tribute to him on her page.

Liz H's post is already gone, apparently.

R129 Her numerous posts about Billy are still there. They're in her "Stories." There are about 17 posts right now. The oldest ones were put up 8 hours ago, so those one should be there for about another 6 hours.

Is it bad to be a homo?

typo ^ "for about another 16 hours"

R130 I see no parts of her page marked "Stories."

R100 but that's kind of the point; Kate chimes in on everyone and she's developed the rep for chiming in whether she really knew them or not; Michael Tylo? really?

But in fairness to her sites and pubs shouldn't be repeating her tweets.

In this case, she might have actually known Billy more but...because she always comes forward it loses its impact.

Reminds me of Jonathan Jackson.

He should have been a recast Lucky, but GH fans can't have nice things.

I wonder what the other Y&R performers think of Kate Linder and her never-ending need for self promotion. Like when she submits herself for Emmy consideration despite having zero scenes of substance, do they just roll their eyes at her?

He was on five episodes of "Suits." Has anyone asked the Duchess how she's doing?

They’re there, r133. Ten of them. They go by quickly.

I'll take your word that they are there for you but they aren't for me. I've spent an hour looking and I've had IG for years. Not sure why, must be a bug for me.

My heart hurts for him.

I read EH’s post. She made it seem as if they had a tumultuous relationship but were still always there for each other when needed. She even mentioned wanting to “punch him in the face” at times, or something along those lines.

EH also retold the story about how she queefed during one of the bedroom scenes with BM, and they couldn't stop laughing.

r140, does this help?

R133 To watch Instagram "stories" you tap the person's profile picture. You'll know if there are new stories to watch, if there's a ring around the profile picture. Tap on any story to view it, or swipe left to get to the next screen or story. Select x in the top right to exit someone's story and return to Feed. Stories only stay there for 24 hours.

R139 r145 r146

r50 "literally"

Oh, dear!

Thanks for the help - I did see it, thanks R145

Apparently some weird permissions thing I've never seen before was missing and once I clicked OK it was fine.

Thanks all

FUCK Michael Muhney on Twitter..."We left YR around the same time".....Bitch, YOU were FIRED and Billy Miller wasn't.

Christian Le Blanc basically confirming it was suicide on instagram.

Any recent pictures? I bet he was fat when he died

Miller also had a relationship with Y&R actress, Jessica Collins, who played "Avery Bailey Clark" on the show (2011-15). On one of their trips they went to New Orleans and stayed with Chrissy and his husband who showed them around the city, a typical thing for the couple to do with CLB's castmates.

It's interesting that although he was almost 44, he never married or had children. Perhaps he realized that it wouldn't be the right thing for him

This is just so sad.

I believe he was struggling with his sexuality.

Was he in some story line Hillary Clinton didn't like?

[quote] It's interesting that although he was almost 44, he never married or had children.

It's been said in prior articles about Miller that when he was a child he spent five years as a patient of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children due to a rare condition he suffered from known as Tarsal Coalition. I remember he used to participate in benefits for the hospital.

According to websites on Tarsal Coalition, it is a "genetically determined" condition, and "if one of a child’s parents has the condition, there is a chance that the child will also have it."

I have no idea what his thinking was, but things like that can factor into someone deciding whether or not to have children.

I liked him as Billy, but I’m not surprised he killer himself. Winning 3 Emmys is an amazing feat…and he hasn’t done anything of significance since achieving that milestone nearly 10 years ago.

Not to be morbid but I wonder how he did it? Did he leave a note? I would never kill myself at home. A motel 6 maybe.

He won 3 Emmys in 5 years on YR. And that's not counting his GH nomination. This is sad.

And if had not won any Emmys, r161, this would be less sad?

I would have eaten his hole until I got to the small intestines. Now only the worms will be able to do that. Just my fucking luck.

Who’s had him?

R163, you sound classy.

Surprisingly, he’s tied with Peter Bergman, Maurice Bernard, and Christian LeBlanc…who all have 3 Daytime Emmys.

R156, on what basis?

R156 oh ffs

He had a long time girlfriend for years till his death. What a pointless dumb comment.

Not to mention he publicly dated 3 female costars.

[quote]What a pointless dumb comment.

That's what's replaced the bitchery around here.

R56: " As was reported on DL years ago, I think we all know why. 😉 "

IDK why, please tell me. I can't stand that mumbling slut.

I really liked Billy on GH. He was the only reason I started watching the show again after Mumbles Teleprompter, Snarly, and Block of Wood ate the damn show. That said, he looked either amped or medicated in many of his scenes. I just assumed anyone having to work with the aging, mumbling slut KM would have to anesthetize themselves to endure her comatose " acting". RIP, Billy. You will be missed.

Some of you really shouldn't be around other people.

Soap Recasts. When it is a major character - it is usually because the exec producer wants a get or just likes how someone plays. With Ridge they wanted a named soap actor to replace the cardboard cut-out, Ronn Moss. They could not have gone any further from Ronn with Thorsten. They recast Throne a long time ago from another wooden actor Clayton Norcross who was beautiful but meh with Jeff Trachta. The reason? Brad Bell wanted to make Thorne and Macy a singing couple and Jeff could sing. Jeff originally tried out for Jack Abbot, then a few days later showed up as Thorne.

I want the Ron Moss scarf collection to be willed to me when he dies. 🧣

Didn't Steve Burton throw Billy under the bus somehow? Bernard and Burton get rid of all of the talented male actors out of jealousy and insecurity because they both suck and they know it. Bernard use to be a good actor but it has been years since he has put any effort into it.

They threw BM, a much more talented, versatile and charismatic actor , under the bus for boring Sbu Jason. BM was the only Jason I ever liked. Not to mention they fired my fave Rebecca Buddig to accomodate Sbu's return. All for nothing, the Jasam chemistry was absolutely gone, as was the chemistry between him and Sonny and Carly and the stories were stagnant. 3/4 years later, he was gone. It was all for nothing.

R176 Laura Wright also had a part in that.

How does an actor tank a scene? I hear this a lot with GH, but I'm not sure how it works.

Laura Wright is a backstabbing cunt.

[quote]Some of you really shouldn't be around other people.

Copy that.

Jess Walton has done a Susan Dey on this one.

"Laura Wright is a backstabbing cunt. —There, I said it. "

Someone had to say it because it is true. We also had to endure years of her talentless boyfriend on GH. I will never understand why TPTB allowed them the power to ruin that show.

She's snaggletoothed trailer trash that used to work at a convenience store. She must have blown the right person to be hired at Loving, and she polluted GL with her stank years before she went to GH, which has been in her toxic queef cloud for 18 years now.

R184- Mole woman. Why doesn't she have those moles removed?

I have not watched these shows since 2012 (I pretty much only watched Y&R and OLTL at the end)... Very surprised that Laura Wright made it as far as she has. She was horrid on Loving and horrid on GL when I would catch her on those..

Who is this "boyfriend" you are all taking about? But hell, very surprised this chick went anywhere. Average looks, average acting- not alot of charisma...

Crazy.

So sad to learn this about Billy- he really had charisma and talent to spare.

R186:

GH’s Wes Ramsey Makes Statement on Criticism, Social Media, and Professionalism

R166, ahem.

[quote]Surprisingly, he’s tied with Peter Bergman, Maurice Bernard, and Christian LeBlanc…who all have 3 Daytime Emmys.

Bergman, Bernard and LaBlanc (sounds like a law firm name) -- all their Emmys are in Best Lead Actor.

Billy Miller has three Emmys as well -- two in Supporting Actor and one in Lead Actor

As for Scott Cliofton, he also has three Emmys -- one in Younger Actor, one in Supporting Actor and one in Lead Actor

Jess Walton has reposted the show's statement on Billy's death on her Twitter page.

Tony Geary has EIGHT Lead Actor Emmys.

David Canary has SIX Lead Actor Emmys

Justin Deas has SIX Emmys as well -- four in Supporting Actor and two in Lead Actor. He also won for three different show -- ATWT, GL and Santa Barbara.

I should have the most Emmys.

Criticize Ronn all you want but he was the absolute incarnation of Ridge that Bill Bell wanted.

Ronn actually has four daytime Emmys for producing the digital series The Bay.

Bill Bell was known for hiring pretty boys and girls with limited acting experience and then giving them scenes with seasoned actors like Jeanne Cooper and Susan Flannery to show them the ropes. Oftentimes, that happened. Unfortunately, with Moss..... it did not.

Jess Walton on Twitter.

Billy was an incredible actor with a generous spirit. He was more beloved on the set of Y&R than GH, however of no fault of his own. R.I.P. to him, we've lost a great talent.

[quote]Bill Bell was known for hiring pretty boys and girls with limited acting experience

That strategy came from John Conboy in 1973. He knew audiences would watch beautiful people on their screens even if they had limited experience. Bill Bell understood the wisdom behind that.

R38 Very accurate. In Billy's case, it was #2 & #3. Jill Farren Phelps preferred bringing in Jason Thompson, a "get" from GH, who's also a good friend of hers. He ended up on both Mal Young's & Josh Griffith's good sides as well, resulting in him staying on for so long.

R50 Actually that did happen. It's not some smear campaign against her, and as someone mentioned, several different fans on different forums who attended one of her events were the ones who referenced her doing this, down to the crying.

R191 And they were all HAMS from hell that overacted.

What's wrong with overacting?

JFP originally brought back the one-time, very popular David Tom to replace Miller. .. Unfortunately, her main concern was to hang on to "Villy" (Victoria and Billy) at all cost, and Tom didn't display much chemistry with Heinle, and he was let go after 13-weeks. .. Many viewers often said that Miller was so good that he could have had chemistry with a mop. Well, that was the case with Heinle's Boretoria, because whatever Villy had was pretty much him.

JFP then cast "Rawhide Billy" (Burgess Jenkins) in the role. He had a little more chemistry with Heinle, but the show's backup plan was to have Victoria's affair with Stitch come into play. (Recall, when they knew Miller wasn't renewing his contract, they quick put the increasingly popular Sean Carrigan on contract.) So the story shifted more to a triangle Billy-Victoria-Stitch triangle. Jenkins remained in the role almost two years. Then, Thompson became available. But as talented as he may be, many viewers still don't buy him as Billy.

All three could ham it up when they wanted to, r201. And that was much of the time.

But they could give some heartfelt performances when they wanted to.

Get the fuck out of my eyeline!

Billy was one of the most talented sudsers ever. He also had a lot of pain and struggle throughout his life. Despite that, he had a good heart, which is hard to encounter in Burbank. At a time when gay people were oppressed beyond belief, they identified with his struggles and he theirs.

Ha! Ha! I'll say.

Nice statements from Jason.

R156 I believe YOU were struggling with his sexuality

R203 Correct. However fans were clamoring for Billy Miller to return as Billy when both David Tom (nicknamed Baby Billy or Young Billy) & Burgess Jenkins (nicknamed Old Billy) weren't catching on. Billy originally left because he asked Jill for more outs once he renewed his contract, which she refused. She also had an attitude with him, which led him to walk, reportedly referencing her as a Cunt (that's the rumor) which actually echoed others opinions about her. Jill refused to rehire Billy, which is when GH offered him Jason. Jason Thompson knew his time on GH wasn't expected to last, for he was miserable while practically languishing in the background, so Jill brought him over to Y&R. He managed to stay because Mal Young & Josh Griffith both appreciated him, whereas Josh got rid of Gina Tognoni in favor of bringing his buddy Michelle back (who was pissed off at Frank for asking her to take a pay cut as Nina on GH, along with the cult storyline, while she reportedly wanted a raise. Josh gave her the money & freedom that she was expecting from Frank)

Hans tweets:

[quote] We lost BILLY MILLER! It saddens me deeply! He was a very gifted actor! Amelia (Victoria) and I took him to dinner one evening while he was in tough negotiations, and I remember telling him to reconsider, because rarely is an actor given a part that describes him almost perfectly, and to not make the mistake I had seen some actors make over my 60’years in the business, that they are indispensable! Once an actor thinks that or is told that by some sycophants, they step onto a slippery road…usually to oblivion! “BILLY BOY” was not only a damn good actor but a nice man! May he rest in peace and meet up with KRISTOFF in the BEYOND, ‘the undiscovered country from whose bourn no Traveller returns “ and tell each other jokes! They were both loved by their colleagues!

Jason Thompson is horrible in everything he does. His poor excuse for acting and his trashy bird tattoos never appealed to me.

Eric Braeden "solves" why Billy is dead. Move over Dr. Phil. There's a new asshole trying to take your shtick.

Suicide confirmed. How tragic.

Has FV been stupid enough to comment yet? Like HIS actions played no part in this mess.

[quote]Like HIS actions played no part in this mess.

Frank had nothing to do with bringing Steve Burton back, thereby pushing Billy out of his starring role into a secondary role.

The was 100% Maurice who went over Frank's head to ABC.

I hate both of them but please stop.....neither them or anyone else is responsible for what happened to BM.

The real tragedy in situations like this.... many of his friends probably didn't even know Billy was sick and never thought to reach out.

I’m guessing he was largely out of the industry at this point, hence his moving back to Texas. His last IMDb credit was last year, but it could’ve been filmed in 2021 for all we know. His declining mental condition might’ve been why he moved back home. Even though Patty Duke worked for years with her bi polar before being treated, everyone is different. Plus the offers might’ve dried up too. Just speculation. Too sad and tragic for words.

The pandemic made many people's mental conditions worse, especially people who are bipolar.

[quote] ... many of his friends probably didn't even know Billy was sick and never thought to reach out.

As someone who's been pretty close to two bipolar people, I can tell you that reaching out is one thing, getting them to do something about it is quite another. .. When they're up, they're not going to listen to you. Everything's great, or they're not even around because they've got places to go, people to meet, which can include sex and drugs, etc. In short, there's no reasoning with them during this period. .. And when they're down, you may not even be able to wake them up. Sleeping 20 hours at a time, for days on end. .. And getting them to do something about their problem during that small window of opportunity when they're behaving "normal" can be hard, because they might not even remember the manic period and make excuses for the down period (or they haven't got time, because they've fucked something up in their life and have to work on correcting that first). Getting on proper meds can be trial and error finding the right one or combination of drugs and sticking with that routine isn't guaranteed.

I can honestly say that trying to reach out to the bipolar people I know to get help for themselves has been (and still is) far more difficult than getting people I've known with substance abuse problems see the light and get sober.

R221 yes.

I know two bipolar people that went off the rails in the last few years.

One of them had a tragic event happen in their family and that's made them even more manic/up and down. The other one is now in prison.

Thanks for sharing that r221. Much appreciated.

I am sorry but I am very disappointed when families confirm a suicide but do NOT disclose their method of dying. As a fan I think I have a right to know. And NO I am not kidding. I want to know details.

R224 you deserve nada.

R224 is Wynonna Judd

R226 No I am not. I miss the days when the suicide was explained.

R224 Gee, if it means that much to you, then go right ahead and contact the Travis County Medical Examiner's office and request a copy of the autopsy report.

Per Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures, one of the categories that the Medical Examiner investigates and reports on is suicide.

And according to the Texas Public Information Act, "an autopsy report is public information and may be released to anyone who requests a copy unless there is an exception under the law."

R227 if he slashed his wrists, hung himself, or swallowed a bottle of pills the end result is the same in Millers case. What matters is this talented, beautiful man is dead and he’s not coming back. His mother is devastated by all this. She didn’t even have to share what she did.

Sick

R228 Thank You. I did google suicides in the Austin area but came up empty. Maybe TMZ has the info? I like to know how celebrities off themselves in case I ever need to go down that road.

Some are comparing Billy's situation to Angus Cloud's; like Angus, Billy lost his father as well, in January, so dealing with his loss along with his manic depression were most likely contributing factors. Also yesterday was Billy's birthday. It's just terrible all around.

R231 - What road?

Stoney end, Rose!

R231 et must be our resident soap troll

Oh, to see his magnificent tits just one more time!

Some random old queen is claiming to be Billys "second cousin" and jumping into the whole thing. At least he used a good photo.

R231, why would you think Google would show that he killed himself? That private info right now unless the family says something.

We don’t say manic depression anymore.

Eric Braeden's posting was sweet & sincere imo which can also be attributed to various other Y&R cast members, who were actually nice to Billy while he was there.

Maurice Bernard, on the other hand, is posting all sorts of "tributes" saying he wish he would've known Billy was suffering from the same disease as him, which can be some sort of survivors guilt, for he was an asshole to Billy while he was there. It's worth mentioning again that Maurice went over Frank's head to get his "preferred Jason back" in Steve; I know it was mentioned already in this thread, however it's sad how he continues to blame his mistreatment of certain costars on his disease, whole others who have it don't necessarily behave in the same manner as him.

Fucking copy cat……I did it first and better

[quote]I am sorry but I am very disappointed when families confirm a suicide but do NOT disclose their method of dying. As a fan I think I have a right to know. And NO I am not kidding. I want to know details.

Yes, how thoughtless of his mother not to appease the morbid curiosity of someone as twisted as you.

....

....

Here you go.

Why share the shitty, awful Post? Nothing in that article was special, it was available from many less evil sources.

Another whine against Murdoch. Sigh.

I almost spit my coffee out when reading that NY Post line:

[quote] He also had credits in the Meghan Markle-fronted “Suits,”

I live in Los Angeles and have heard how he did it. But this it is very second hand, smells like a rumor etc. I won’t post it for those reasons so please don’t ask. I am serious. RIP.

R248 Why bother?

In some way, I actually agree with R224 about publicly saying how he died, but for an entirely different reason than somehow feeling entitled to know because you're a fan.

Why? Because we're now going to get idiots speculating and posting bad rumors based on nothing but made-up bull crap, which then gets repeated and manipulated further to sound like fact. Some of this garbage is put together by bots and comes off like an official news report. One I read has known falsehoods in it, but sounds real. It's sick.

The mom indicated that she stepped forward to tell the truth about the suicide because of all the shit she was hearing about on the Internet. .. And while she doesn't plan to come back, she might have to in order to stop the next load of garbage from continuing.

A simple statement of what he did by someone with the authority to do so might be better than having to put up with all that.

I find this part of the mother's comments odd:

The actor's mother said that the other causes of death being reported "are not true."

"I wish they were but they just aren’t," she said.

R251 = Yeah...THAT line made me want clarification of how he offed himself.

R251 the woman is a wreck right now. She just means if he had to go, she wished it was by natural means, instead of him taking his own life. I don’t find it that odd.

Victoria Rowell is somehow hopping in to “help”:

They should find Drucilla and bring her back. I loved how she could stick it to that cunt Phyllis, who continues to have no reason to live.

Those are the same two Mac books Rowell was trying to sell three weeks ago for $300 each. RME.

Victoria Rowell = "Buy my stuff. For BILLY".....oh my...She isn't even donating to a mental health cause or to the Texas Hospital that helped Billy as a child. What a fucking nerve.

R257, clearly, she's been hacked.

Anyone could see right through that transparent tweet.

Elizabeth Hendrickson has been accused of going overboard with her grieving for Billy, saying how he turned her world upside down while sharing pictures along with private text messages. Some are saying it's not only disrespectful to her husband, it's disrespectful to Billy's memory, for he was more of a private person. Elizabeth apparently cheated on Billy while they were together, she also "allegedly" was too busy kissing up to Maurice while practically ignoring Billy during her GH stint.

Yet Matthew Perry still walks among us!

DIGNITY.

I know this is a foreign concept to the sick fucks insisting on knowing how he offed himself, since you yourself have never known what it means, but maybe crack out the thesauras and try to understand it.

R259, Elizabeth did the write thing by playing up to Maurice. That's how you stay on GH.

Ironic, she got the boot; I kind of liked Margaux.

Digest will have its Billy tribute out a week from Monday and it'll be nothing but already posted Instagram posts.

...

[quote]she also "allegedly" was too busy kissing up to Maurice while practically ignoring Billy during her GH stint.

Apparently, that's the way he was treated by much of the GH cast. Except Kelly Monaco.

He was very unhappy there. Especially after Steve Burton returned.

R259 I saw nothing wrong with what she said...who's complaining?

Has Robert Tyler commented?

R266 No one is. I have yet to see anyone be anything but moved by her tribute. But she's always had a few unhined, *lunatic haters, so I guess that may be where it's coming from.

R265, in fairness to the GH cast Billy was -- clearly -- unhappy in life. Braeden posted that he and Heinle took him out to dinner to try to convince him to stay. He was the best Billy Abbott and he found his role. He wasn't Drew. Jason isn't Billy. Genie Francis wasn't Genevieve.

For god's sake, these actors land roles of a life time and if they don't know, they have people in their lives telling them they have.

Billy walked because he didn't get everything he wanted at Y&R; I can't imagine they said not to a pilot out or an out if he's picked up as a series regular. That's what Justin must have had for THIS IS US. In the meantime, keep the money coming in and keep winning DT Emmys.

I'd heard Billy was picked up right before a deal was worked out with Steve to return as Jason; hence, we got Drew.

I know a lot of actors; some never make it. Billy landed his role; think of all the money he'd have made if he'd stayed at Y&R. The big question is why did Y&R never 'Tognoni' Jason and bring Billy back. I wish they had. He might be alive and Jason could be back at GH playing Patrick. Where he belongs.

But maybe none of this matters; maybe he was just fated to leave this earth when he did.

[quote]I'd heard Billy was picked up right before a deal was worked out with Steve to return as Jason; hence, we got Drew.

Please explain what you mean here. Billy started at GH in 2014. Steve Burton returned in 2017.

R262 Unfortunately I'm well aware of how much ass kissing it takes to keep Maurice satisfied. Frank began his ass kissing campaign shortly after he saw firsthand how dirty Maurice can get when he organized that mutiny to have Ron fired.

Right or not, there were some complaining that she didn't have to dissociate herself from Billy in favor of Maurice. Also, as mentioned, she ended up being let go anyway. For what it's worth, she's been in talks, allegedly, with Frank to return.

R265 He was close to Donnell Turner as well. Right after Kelly, while he was there, Donnell was like his closest male friend.

[quote] Billy walked because he didn't get everything he wanted at Y&R; I can't imagine they said not to a pilot out or an out if he's picked up as a series regular. That's what Justin must have had for THIS IS US. In the meantime, keep the money coming in and keep winning DT Emmys.

I think the difference back then is that MAB -- who originally hired Billy and absolutely adored him -- was willing to do everything she could to keep him at Y&R, so she was willing to give him those one-year contracts and 'outs' after his initial contract was up. .. Then JFP came in, so things probably changed. .. And from what I remember, the Justin Hartley deal that came while JFP was there had more to with Anjelica McDaniel (CBS). .. Justin was a big 'get' for her, since he was a known primetime commodity, which was a McDaniel thing, so whatever deal they needed to secure him and give him what he wanted was directed by her.

R266 Soap fans here and there were complaining on different forums. Nothing major, they just commented on how she was going overboard, especially since she cheated on him

2 things. GH sounds like a toxic work environment. I know Days just went through some producer drama, but I don't think you've got actors backstabbing each other and you've got to kiss this one's ring to remain employed. That just sounds horrible.

#2 - If you want to keep good actors you have to let them stretch. Jill was shortsighted in not giving Billy the outs he wanted. It's not 1985 any longer, soaps can adjust. The was a middle ground.

[quote] Jill was shortsighted in not giving Billy the outs he wanted. It's not 1985 any longer, soaps can adjust. The was a middle ground.

Jill's not exactly known for flexibility.

R270 Yeah I think that might have been a typo.

Steve quit GH in 2012 because he didn't want to work under Frank and Ron, who refused to give in to his "outs" for one thing, which were catering to his bicoastal lifestyle (living in Tennessee, working in LA) yet his friend Jill was more than willing to accommodate him, bringing him onboard as Dylan. Billy couldn't get the outs he wanted at Y&R under Jill, so he quit and ended up on GH in 2014. Frank gave him a one-year contract every year at Billy's request, he also allowed various outs to him. Unfortunately, Frank laid him off in 2019 while refusing to renew his yearly contract, which apparently blindsided Billy (Frank refused to renew Tamara Braun's contract as well). Rumors were that they were planning to pair Billy's Drew with Terry (for those who don't watch GH, Terry is a MTF transsexual doctor) since he wasn't too thrilled with his Drew/Kim storyline (she was trying to rape him and have his baby, since their teenage son Oscar lost his battle with cancer)

R275 Exactly. GH is "rumored" to be the most toxic set out of all four current soaps. Besides that producer drama at DOOL, I've only heard of a few actors not getting along with each other, which is common in every workplace, however not to the extent of GH.

Right. Especially when she gives certain perks to friends of hers, yet not to others

[quote] Jill was shortsighted in not giving Billy the outs he wanted. It's not 1985 any longer, soaps can adjust. The was a middle ground.

To Jill, losing Billy Miller meant she could play her boy, Steve Burton, even more.

[quote]Frank laid him off in 2019 while refusing to renew his yearly contract, which apparently blindsided Billy

Can't blame Frank for not renewing the contract. By that point, Billy had been phoning it in for more than a year. And by phoning it in, he tanked many scenes and many potential pairings. His poor performances tanked the character of Drew.

I'm not saying Billy didn't have reason to be angry. He was sidelined in favor of Steve Burton, he was treated like badly by Maurice and his followers, he was given lackluster storylines. But at the same time, Billy phoned in his performance which just made matters worse.

R280 No, not blaming Frank, just shedding a light on the situation. However, his manic depression can certainly explain why going from Jason to Drew, along with losing our in his Dream pairing, possibly exacerbated his illness. I'm just sorry he felt this was his only solution. Although unconfirmed, apparently he wasn't seriously involved with his significant other Erin at the time of his death either, even though they were together for awhile in Texas. He also had a condition from childhood that he most likely didn't want his future children to inherit, which has some believing that's why he never had any children. He just seemed like a troubled soul.

Steve Burton should have stayed put at GH in 2012.

Billy Miller should have stayed put at Y&R in 2014.

R282

Yes to #2

Hell NO to #1...never happier with one major character leaving a soap...his absence was and is a breath of fresh air.

Billy dedication at the end of YR today

I suppose a 10-second dedication is better than nothing.

Well, it been 9 1/2 years since Billy was last on Y&R.

Most former actors only get a black screen.

[quote]but maybe crack out the thesauras and try to understand it.

Crack out the what now?

R270, I meant that BIlly was up in 2017; the show decided to keep him and right after that ...Steve came back.

If the timing had worked out differently, the show would have let Billy go and there would be no Drew and Steve would have just come back and taken the part back.

R279 that pic says everything.

its' not the fans who have unrealistic relationships with the talent; it's the people behind the screen

all this producer being friends with actors and them jumping ships is better story than what we see on air.

Jill Farren Phelps is basically Weinstein in a dress.

[quote]Yet Matthew Perry still walks among us!

And Donald Trump still waddles down ramps!

I’m having a hard time with this. It just makes me so sad. I lost a brother to mental illness and it stings. Drew (which was also my brother’s name) always seemed out of place on GH. He was only one of a few actors I connected with on GH. I stopped watched soon after soon he left.

Maybe ‘Days’ would have utilized him better.

R294 Sorry about your brother. It's terrible that he was suffering as much as he was mentally. I once heard about a fan encounter he had while he was dating Kelly; the two of them were out at a restaurant somewhere in LA. A guy ran into them, explaining how he was fans of their characters/the show. According to him, they couldn't have been any nicer; they asked him where he was from, and when he said LA, they were surprised since they were usually approached by fans from out of state. He said they actually talked to him for awhile. Billy even wrote a "Thank You" letter to all his fans once he was laid off at GH. DAYS most likely wouldn't have brought him on because of their tough taping schedule; I think that B&B missed an opportunity to bring him on. The fact that he's at peace now is really the only bright light out of this darkness.

His ex-flame from Y&R, Jessica Collins, put a nice slide show of photos of Billy up on her IG with the message:

[quote] My sweet friend. Thank you for all of it. #RIP 💔

As i recall they were together for quite some time even after he left the show.

I always thought they made a really good-looking couple and thought they looked fun together and just kind of fit. I was rather surprised when they broke up.

I’d like to see her back on a show.

R297 If not on a soap, Jessica would make a great addition to some Food Network show. That cooking show thing Y&R had her "Avery" character doing wasn't just made up. IRL, she's quite the chef, a graduate of the cordon bleu college and ran some kind of bakery business.

For all I know she’s already on a cooking show. Zzz

Would like to see her on something I’d watch. Lol

Why did he die?

R284 Billy would have been a gold star ⭐️ bottom

Love this photo that Beth Maitland put up with Billy and Eileen Davidson.

While Peter Bergman isn't in this photo, The Abbots just seemed 'complete' when Miller was in the role.

Thompson was never right for the role, and it's like a piece is missing.

Billy was perfectly cast as the half brother of a the three older Abbott siblings; he was an Abbott but he was Jill's not Dina's.

Jill let BIlly walk out the door because he wasn't hers; she'd rather have shined the spotlight on Steve and Jason -- two people who aren't a big part of Y&R and never will be.

Bill Bell was friends with Susan Hayes going back to their time on DAYS; he hired her at Y&R as Joanna and that role didn't really work out. He wrapped up the character and wrote her off.

But other producers would rather send a show into the crapper before admitting they made a mistake.

Thanks so much for that picture R302......it's great!!!

Gunshot wound to the head