Billy Miller, ‘Young and the Restless’ Daytime Emmy Winner, Dies at 43

Billy Miller, the three-time Emmy winner for The Young and the Restless who also had long-running roles in All My Children and General Hospital, has died. He was 43.

The actor died Friday in Austin and was struggling with manic depression at the time, his manager told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, which would have marked Miller’s 44th birthday. His cause of death was not available.

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His mother, Patricia Miller, released a statement on Monday via her son’s manager, who posted the message on her Twitter. She began by thanking the fans and friends who have sent her and her family love, prayers and condolences after his passing.

“He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years,” Patricia Miller’s statement read. “He did everything he could to control the disease. He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life. The other causes of death being told are not true. I wish they were but they just aren’t. We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support.”

Miller broke out when he landed the role of Richie Novak on ABC’s All My Children. Shortly after he left the soap opera, he was cast as Billy Abbott on CBS’ The Young and the Restless. He portrayed the character to much critical acclaim on more than 700 episodes. The same year Miller left the CBS soap, he took on another long-running part as Jason Morgan/Drew Cain on ABC’s General Hospital.

Following three, long back-to-back stints on some of the biggest soap operas on cable, Miller moved on to recurring roles in drama series like Suits and Truth Be Told. He also appeared in Ray Donovan, Fatal Honeymoon, American Sniper, Ringer, Castle and Justified during his career.

William John Miller II was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sept. 17, 1979, and raised in Grand Prairie, Texas. He attended the University of Texas in Austin and studied production sequence. Upon graduating, he moved to Los Angeles and began working in the mailroom at an entertainment management/production company.

After some friends dared him to pursue a career as an actor, he did, and his first successes came from the commercials world, where he booked multiple national ads. In addition to acting, Miller also owned several Los Angeles restaurants and bars.

He is survived by his mother, Patricia; sister Megan; brother-in-law Ronnie; nephew Grayson; and niece Charley.

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