‘Heartbroken and Shook,’ Days of Our Lives Leading Lady Shares a Devastating Loss
It’s been almost impossible for Vanessa Williams “to make a fitting post,” she said.
This year, Siblings Day was a bittersweet-at-best occasion for Days of Our Lives‘ Vanessa Williams. As she explained to her followers on Instagram, less than three weeks earlier, “on March 23, my little brother left this earth.”
More: Tribute to cancelled soap on day the axe fell
The actress, who plays Valerie on the NBC soap, has understandably been reeling ever since. “Heartbroken and shook,” she wrote, “it’s been hard to process and harder to make a fitting post!
“So much, too much,” she continued. “I just don’t have the right words… “
Williams might not have felt like she could adequately express herself yet. But as far as we could see, she did a beautiful job of encapsulating her feelings about her late brother. “I love him,” she said. “He lives in me, in his children and every life the light of his life has touched!
“Rest in peace,” she concluded her post, “darling Matthew Elliot Williams!”
Needless to say, our condolences go out to Williams and her family during this difficult time.
If this story has left you feeling unusually reflective, first of all, if you can, call your own sibling. Second, pay your respects to the soap stars that we’ve lost already in 2021 by reviewing the photo gallery below.
Image: ABC
1/25
<p>Longtime <em>General Hospital</em> actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/588852/general-hospital-john-reilly-sean-donely-dead/" target="_blank">John Reilly passed away at 84</a> on January 9, 2021. Fans will never forget Port Charles’ Sean Donely, as well as the various other daytime characters he played. Like many others, fellow <em>General Hospital</em> actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/588922/john-reilly-dead-general-hospital-costars-tributes/" target="_blank">Finola Hughes recalled her dear friend</a>, “Darling John Reilly… One of the first days I walked on the set, this tall, handsome man in a leather jacket sauntered towards me. In his deep, all-American growl, he welcomed me to the show and told me he would be there for me should I ever need anything. Boy was he true to his word.” </p>
Image: Michael Germana/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
2/25
<p>Soap opera vet <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/589384/peter-mark-richman-soap-star-dynasty-dead-tribute/" target="_blank">Peter Mark Richman passed away</a> at the age of 93 on January 14, 2021. He created the role of C.C. Capwell on <em>Santa Barbara</em> and appeared in the primetime soapy hit <em>Dynasty</em>, as well as on the Saturday morning children shows <em>Electra Woman</em> and <em>Dyna Girl</em>. </p>
Image: ABC screenshot
3/25
<p>Soap alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/592147/general-hospital-christopher-pennock-soap-star-dead-76/" target="_blank">Christopher Pennock passed away</a> on February 12, 2021. The actor appeared on <em>Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless</em> and <em>Guiding Light</em>. </p>
Image: Courtesy: Everett Collection
4/25
<p><em>Guiding Light</em> alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/593534/guiding-light-dynasty-geoffrey-scott-dead-79/" target="_blank">Geoffrey Scott passed away</a> on February 23, 2021 at the age of 79. He also appeared on <em>General Hospital</em> and played Krystle Carrington’s first husband Mark Jennings on <em>Dynasty</em> — not to mention appeared in numerous popular commercials. Remember the Marlboro man?</p>
Image: George De Sota/JPI
5/25
<p><em>Guiding Light</em> and <em>All My Children</em> alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/593608/soap-star-dead-gil-rogers-all-my-children-guiding-light/" target="_blank">Gil Rogers passed away</a> on March 2, 2021 at 87. The actor will always be remembered by soap fans for playing one of daytime’s most notorious villains.</p>
Image: Netflix/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
6/25
<p>Legendary actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/595651/jessica-walter-dead-at-80-arrested-development-soap-actress/" target="_blank">Jessica Walter passed away</a> on March 24, 2021. To daytime fans, she’ll be remembered for playing Eleanor Armitage on <em>One Life to Live</em>, but to others as the matriarch on <em>Arrested Development</em> — not to mention numerous other credits.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot (3)
7/25
<p>Actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/595774/soap-opera-star-dead-robert-rodan-dark-shadows-adam/" target="_blank">Robert Rodan passed away</a> on March 25, 2021 at the age of 83. He’s known for playing Adam, Frankenstein’s monster stand-in, on <em>Dark Shadows</em>.</p>
Image: Lisa Rose/JPI
8/25
<p><em>General Hospital</em> alum Billie Hayes (ex-Agent Brighton O’Reilly) passed away at 96 of natural causes on Thursday, April 29. Former co-star Tristan Rogers (Robert) recalled their “magical relationship” <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/599133/general-hospital-tristan-rogers-mourns-co-star-billie-hayes-dead-96/" target="_blank">in a remembrance post</a>. </p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection
9/25
<p>Soap alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/599495/soap-opera-star-dies-dead-tawny-kitaen-whitesnake-video/" target="_blank">Tawny Kitaen passed away</a> on May 7, 2021. She will always be remembered for her iconic 1980s Whitesnake videos, as well as the 1984 film <em>Bachelor Party</em>.</p>
Image: Courtesy Everett Collection
10/25
<p>Soap alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/601277/soap-star-dead-robert-hogan-another-world-general-hospital/" target="_blank">Robert J. Hogan passed away</a> on May 27, 2021. He was known for roles on <em>Another World, General Hospital</em> and other daytime and primetime hits.</p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection (2)
11/25
<p>John Gabriel <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/602218/soap-star-john-gabriel-dead-90-ryans-hope-seneca-beaulac/" target="_blank">passed away on June 13, 2021</a>. He was best known for his role as Dr. Seneca Beaulac on <em>Ryan’s Hope</em> and appeared on various other soap operas.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (2)
12/25
<p><em>All My Children’s</em> <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/603275/all-my-children-ray-macdonnell-dead-joe-martin-soap-star/" target="_blank">Ray MacDonnell passed away</a> from natural causes on June 10, 2021. The daytime vet was best known for playing the role of Pine Valley’s Dr. Joe Martin.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI, ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (2)
13/25
<p><em>General Hospital</em> favorite <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/603395/general-hospital-stuart-damon-alan-quartermaine-dead-84/" target="_blank">Stuart Damon passed away</a> at 84 due following a struggle with renal failure. The actor was best known for playing Port Charles’ Dr. Alan Quartermaine.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
14/25
<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em> and <em>Another World</em> alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/603631/days-of-our-lives-another-world-alum-philece-sampler-dead/" target="_blank">Philece Sampler died in July 2021</a>. She played the daughter of Salem’s Stefano DiMera and had numerous credits throughout the years.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
15/25
<p><em>General Hospital</em> alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/615270/general-hospital-bergen-williams-dead-big-alice/" target="_blank">Bergen Williams passed away</a> on July 20, 2021. She was 62 and will always be remembered for playing Port Charles’ Alice Gunderson.</p>
Image: ABC / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
16/25
<p>Soap vet <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/605869/port-charles-actor-jay-pickett-frank-dead-while-filming-movie/" target="_blank">Jay Pickett passed away on July 30</a> while on the set of his new movie. The actor is best known for his <em>Port Charles</em> and <em>Days of Our Lives’</em> roles. </p>
Image: Courtesy Everett Collection
17/25
<p><em>Another World’s</em> <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/607705/soap-star-dead-micki-grant-another-world-first-black-contract-actress/" target="_blank">Micki Grant passed away</a> on August 21, 2021 at the age of 92. She was the first Black actress who held a contract soap role.</p>
Image: © Aaron Spelling Prod; ABC/Courtesy: Everett Collection
18/25
<p><em>Dynasty</em> and <em>All My Children</em> actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/607749/all-my-children-dynasty-soap-star-michael-nader-dead/" target="_blank">Michael Nader passed away</a> on August 23, 2021 from cancer. He was best known for playing Erica Kane’s husband, Dimitri, on the ABC soap. </p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
19/25
<p>In September, the soap vet’s colleague at the University of Nevada, where he worked as a film professor, disclosed that he had <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/610630/soap-star-michael-tylo-dead-73-bold-beautiful-general-hospital/" target="_blank">passed away at 73</a>. Though he’d appeared on everything from <em>Another World</em> to <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em>, he is most vividly remembered as Quint Chamberlain on <em>Guiding Light</em> and twins Blade and Rick on <em>The Young and the Restless.</em></p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, Aaron Montgomery/JPI, Sean Smith/JPI
20/25
<p><em>The Young and the Restless</em> veteran actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/614674/young-restless-jerry-douglas-dead-died-john-abbott/" target="_blank">Jerry Douglas passed away</a> on November 9, 2021 at the age of 88. He will always be remembered for playing Genoa City’s John Abbott, the patriarch of one of the CBS soap’s legendary families.</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
21/25
<p>Soap actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/616204/soap-star-dead-as-the-world-turns-lisa-brown-martha-byrne-tribute/" target="_blank">Lisa Brown passed away</a> on Novemver 24, 2021 at 67. She was best known for playing Nola Reardon on <em>Guiding Light </em>and Iva Snyder on <em>As the World Turns.</em></p>
Image: ©ABC/Everett Collection
22/25
<p>Former soap actress Arlene Dahl passed away on November 29 at the age of 96. Daytime fans may recall her role as Lucinda Schenck on <em>One Life to Live</em>, as well as Lady Lucille on <em>All My Children</em>.</p>
Image: Paramount/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
23/25
<p>Eddie Mekka, best known for playing Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa on <em>Laverne & Shirley</em> <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/616684/soap-laverne-shirley-eddie-mekka-dead/" target="_blank">passed away at the age of 69</a> on November 27, 2021. Daytime fans may remember him from his roles on <em>Bold & Beautiful, Guiding Light, Sunset Beach</em> and <em>Young & Restless</em>. </p>
Image: Image: NBC
24/25
<p>Actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/617440/days-of-our-lives-star-dead-rhonda-stubbins-white-lady-vi/" target="_blank">Rhonda Stubbins White passed away</a> on December 13, 2021 at the age of 60. She was known to daytime fans as Lady Vi on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>. </p>
Image: Walt Disney Co./Courtesy of the Everett Collection
25/25
