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General Hospital’s John Reilly Dead at 84: ‘The Brightest Light in the World Has Gone Out’
Sunday, January 10th, 2021
He was “the kindest man you ever could find” according to former co-star Finola Hughes (Anna).
It’s almost impossible to think about the heyday of General Hospital without the images which flicker through your memory including a few of John Reilly, whose Sean Donely played a central role in some of the epic adventures which unfolded in Port Charles during the late 1980s.
Sadly, the beloved daytime vet — who also appeared on soaps ranging from Passions to Sunset Beach — passed away on January 9 at the age of 84.
“The brightest light in the world has gone out,” wrote the star’s daughter, Caitlin Reilly, on her Instagram page. “Imagine the best person in the world. Now imagine that person being your dad.
“I’m so grateful I got to love him,” she continued. “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.”
More: Much-loved GH vet set to return
Although known for a variety of roles in both daytime and primetime, Reilly will for many of us forever be remembered as Sean, the roguish (mostly) good guy who found love with glamourpuss Tiffany Hill. To this day, the pair’s wedding — at which Sean discovered that his bride had been born Elsie Mae Crumholz — remains a favorite among longtime General Hospital fans. (You can watch it unfold in the clip below.)
Upon hearing the news, a heartbroken Finola Hughes (Anna) told our sister site TVLine that Reilly had been “a big brother to me. The kindest man you could ever find. I can not express how sorry I am to hear of his passing.”
More: Kimberly McCullough pays tribute to former co-star
Although best known for his 11-year run as General Hospital‘s Sean, Reilly’s first daytime role was actually that of As The World Turns’ Dan Stewart, a part he played for just over two years beginning in 1974. He also spent three years walking in the shoes of twisted Crane family patriarch Alistair on NBC’s Passions, a role about as far removed from his real-life persona as imaginable. (See photo below, with Kathleen Noone.)
Primetime soap fans knew him as Bill Taylor, the oft-mentioned, rarely-seen dad of Jennie Garth’s Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210. More recently, he appeared on the Web-based soap The Bay.
But so strongly associated was the actor with the role of Sean that he was invited to appear on SOAPnet’s General Hospital spin-off, Night Shift. And he would make a special appearance on the mothership during a storyline designed to help mark General Hospital‘s 50th anniversary in 2013.
As we mourn the passing of a true daytime legend, leave your memories of the Reilly scene you’ll never forget in the comments. Then click here to read what more of his former colleagues had to say about him, and join us in remembering some of the bright stars we lost from around the daytime dial in 2020 via the photo gallery below.
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<p>General Hospital alum and Highlander star <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/557507/obituary-general-hospital-stan-kirsch-dead-at-51/" target="_blank">Stan Kirsch tragically died</a> at the age of 51 on January 11, 2020. The former ABC soap opera star played the role of Carl. </p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/557718/obituary-norma-michaels-days-of-our-lives-dead-at-95/" target="_blank">Norma Michaels passed away</a> at the age of 95 on January 11, 2020. The actress was best known for her role as Josephine on King of Queens. </p>
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<p>Another World and Dark Shadows actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/558084/obituary-john-karlen-dead-86/" target="_blank">John Karlen passed away</a> on January 22, 2020 due to congestive heart failure. The actor was 86 years old. </p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/558115/obituary-marsha-kramer-dead-74/" target="_blank">Marsha Kramer passed away at 74</a> on January 23, 2020. The soap alum was best known for her role playing Margaret on Modern Family. </p>
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<p>Legendary soap opera actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/558330/obituary-marj-dusay-dead-83/" target="_blank">Marj Dusay passed away at 83</a> on January 28, 2020. She appeared on many soaps, including Capitol, Santa Barbara, Days of our Lives, All My Children and Guiding Light.<br /> </p>
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<p>Husband of The Bold and the Beautiful’s Alley Mills (Pam Douglas), <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/559116/obituary-bold-and-beautiful-orson-bean-dead-at-91/" target="_blank">Orson Bean died in a traffic accident</a> at age 91. The actor guest-starred on the CBS soap opera in 2016. </p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/559805/obituary-days-of-our-lives-lynn-cohen-dead-at-86/" target="_blank">Lynn Cohen died on February 14 </a>of unknown causes in New York. The actress, best known for her role of Magda on <em>Sex and the City, </em>had numerous theatre, film and television credits to her name including Days of our Lives. </p>
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<p>Best known for her role of Willona Woods on <em>Good Times, </em><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/560021/obituary-love-of-life-janet-dubois-dead-at-74/" target="_blank">Ja’net DuBois passed away</a> at age 74. The actress also starred on <em>Love of Life</em>, making her the first African-American actress cast as a regular on a soap opera. </p>
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<p>Legendary co-creator of Bold and Beautiful and Young and the Restless <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/560502/obituary-lee-phillip-bell-dead-91-co-creator-bb-yr/" target="_blank">Lee Phillip Bell passed away</a> on February 25. She was 91 and the mother of William J. Bell, Jr., Lauralee Bell (Christine Williams, Young and Restless) and Bradley Bell (head writer, executive producer, Bold and Beautiful).</p>
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<p>Best known for his position on Inside the Actors Studio, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/560761/obituary-soap-writer-guiding-light-actor-james-lipton-dead-93/" target="_blank">James Lipton died on March 1</a>. He was 93. Lipton was also a head writer and writer for numerous soap operas and appeared on Guiding Light. </p>
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<p>Soap opera legend <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/561078/obituary-soap-star-roscoe-born-dead-at-69/" target="_blank">Roscoe Born passed away</a> on March 3. The actor is known for playing a villain in various soaps including Days of our Lives, One Life to Live and Young and the Restless to name a few.</p>
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<p>Award winning playwright and former Young and Restless actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/562088/obituary-yr-alum-playwright-terrence-mcnally-dead-at-80/" target="_blank">Terrence McNally died</a> on March 24. He played Dr. Robert Lynch on and off from 1993 to 1994.</p>
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<p>Soap vet <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562326/obituary-john-callahan-all-my-children-santa-barbara-soap-star-dead-66/" target="_blank">John Callahan passed away at 66</a> after suffering a massive stroke on March 27. The actor is known for his roles on All My Children, Days of our Lives, General Hospital and Santa Barbara.</p>
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<p>Another World alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562382/obituary-david-schramm-another-world-wings-actor-dead-73/" target="_blank">David Schramm’s death was announced</a> in March. The actor played Herb Harris on the soap opera and was best known for playing Roy Biggins on Wings.</p>
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<p>Edge of Night actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562847/obituary-forrest-compton-dead-94/" target="_blank">Forrest Compton died on April 4, 2020</a>. He also appeared in numerous soap operas including All My Children, As the World Turns and One Life to Live.</p>
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<p>General Hospital alum, Smurfs and Young Frankenstein actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/563445/obituary-gh-alum-young-frankenstein-danny-goldman-dead-80/" target="_blank">Danny Goldman passed away at 80</a> on April 12, 2020. Daytime fans may remember him for playing Clarence Darrow in 1991.</p>
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<p>Veteran actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/563584/obituary-dallas-dynasty-knots-landing-brian-dennehy-dead-81/" target="_blank">Brian Dennehy died on April 15, 2020</a> of natural causes. He appeared in numerous films and in the primetime soap operas Dallas, Dynasty and Knots Landing.</p>
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<p>Veteran actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/563977/obituary-oltl-desperate-housewives-shirley-knight-dead-83/" target="_blank">Shirley Knight passed away</a> on April 22, 2020 of natural causes. She appeared in daytime on One Life to Live as Claire in 1986 and held numerous primetime and film roles.</p>
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<p>Legendary signer <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/565314/obituary-little-richard-dead-87/" target="_blank">Little Richard died on May 9, 2020</a>. He made guest appearances on One Life to Live as well as Young and the Restless.</p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/566149/days-of-our-lives-scarface-geno-silva-dead/" target="_blank">Geno Silva died on May 9, 2020</a>. He played the role of Domingo Salazar in 1991.</p>
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<p>Actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/565880/obituary-bold-beautiful-fred-willard/" target="_blank">Fred Willard passed away at age 86</a> on May 15, 2020. He was known to daytime fans for playing John Forrester, brother to Eric, on Bold & Beautiful. </p>
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<p>Guiding Light alum and Emmy Award winning actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/567892/mary-pat-gleason-dead/" target="_blank">Mary Pat Gleason died on June 2, 2020</a>. The prolific film and television actress passed away from cancer.</p>
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<p>General Hospital alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/570391/general-hospital-linda-cristal-dead/" target="_blank">Linda Cristal died on June 27, 2020</a>. The actress played a mob boss’ mistress named Dimitri in 1988.</p>
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<p>Soap opera director <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/571198/soap-opera-director-maximilian-b-bryer-dead/" target="_blank">Maximilian B. Bryer passed away</a> on June 16, 2020. He worked on both As the World Turns and The Edge of Night.</p>
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<p>Actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/571739/capitol-csi-cyber-kelly-preston-dead/" target="_blank">Kelly Preston died at 57</a> after privately battling breast cancer. The actress who starred in the movies Twins and Jerry Maguire had an early role in the CBS soap opera Capitol.</p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/572374/phyllis-somerville-dead-76/" target="_blank">Phyllis Somerville died on July 16</a>. The recognizable actress appeared in many television series including As the World Turns, Loving, and more. Somerville was 76.</p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/573326/john-saxon-dead/" target="_blank">John Saxon passed away</a> on July 25, 2020. The veteran actor starred in the primetime soap Dynasty as well as the film Nightmare on Elm Street. </p>
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<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/573328/regis-philbin-dead-susan-lucci-tribute/" target="_blank">Regis Philbin passed away</a> on July 24, 2020. The TV legend once appeared on All My Children, One Life to Live and Ryan’s Hope.</p>
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<p>All My Children alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/576619/chadwick-boseman-dead-all-my-children-reggie/" target="_blank">Chadwick Boseman passed away</a> at 43 on August 28, 2020. He played Reggie on the ABC soap opera and T’Challa on Black Panther.</p>
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<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/577376/kevin-dobson-knots-landing-days-of-our-lives-dead/" target="_blank">Kevin Dobson passed away</a> at 77 on September 6, 2020. He is best known for playing Mack MacKenzie on Knots Landing.</p>
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<p><em>All My Children</em> actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/580358/all-my-children-actor-ben-jorgensen-dead-suicide/" target="_blank">Ben Jorgensen passed away</a> at 51 years old. He played Kevin Sheffield from 1995 to 1998. </p>
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<p><em>The Young and the Restless’</em> original Mamie Johnson, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/586505/young-restless-marguerite-ray-mamie-dead/" target="_blank">Marguerite Ray died on November 18, 2020</a>. She was 89 years old. </p>
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