Young & Restless’ Jess Walton Shares Devastating Loss: ‘My Sweet Husband of 40 Years Passed Away’
Thursday, August 12th, 2021
Saying goodbye to someone you love is heartbreaking.
Soaps.com wants to take a moment to send our deepest condolences to The Young and the Restless’ Jess Walton (Jill) on the loss of her husband John. The CBS soap vet shared a family photo along with the devastating news on Twitter, “My sweet husband of 40 years passed away this week.”
My sweet husband of 40 years passed away this week. For more details please read my Instagram or Facebook post.https://t.co/gnKLRpA97O pic.twitter.com/WN8J744S00
— Jess Walton (@JessWaltonYR) August 12, 2021
She went on to explain on Instagram, that John had been diagnosed three months ago with terminal liver cancer. Since then, Walton, their daughter Allison, who John walked the aisle in May, her husband Wade and their son Cole, had been taking caring of him at home. “This has been far and away the most painful period of my life, and our children’s. At the same time it has been richly rewarding.”
The actress recalled how her husband had spent “his entire life helping others and most especially taking care of us, his family.” They felt honored to be able to devote themselves to him — to “give him love and care and comfort from the people he loves the most.”
Walton also shared a gift that John left them with… The Grief Recovery Method, the company that he founded in the mid-1980s. “That gift will guide all of us through the daily heartbreak of living without him,” she expressed.
We will keep the actress, John’s family and friends in our thoughts.
View our gallery below containing photos of daytime stars the industry has lost this year and get your free daily soap-opera fix for The Young and the Restless — and all of the other daytime dramas — delivered straight to your email inbox by signing up for Soaps.com’s newsletter.
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Image: ABC
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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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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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
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<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
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<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)
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<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>
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<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
