Maurice Benard on Losing “General Hospital” Costar and Friend Tyler Christopher: ‘It Was Tragic’

“I got very close to him [during] his last year of living, and we had incredible talks and everything like that," Benard noted of Christopher

Maurice Benard says he had an ally in Tyler Christopher.

The General Hospital star, 60, revealed to PEOPLE at the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday that he and his costar had bonded over facing mental health challenges before Christopher’s death at the age of 50 last month.

“I got very close to him [during] his last year of living, and we had incredible talks and everything like that, and he was bipolar. Also alcoholism,” Benard said.

“But he was a beautiful man, very humble and incredibly talented. But at the end, it was tragic,” he added. “But that's what happens when it's hard to get [the issues] fixed. Even if you try and you try, sometimes you can't do it.”

Related: General Hospital Actor Tyler Christopher Dead at 50: 'A Sweet Soul and Wonderful Friend'

In November, Benard confirmed the actor’s death in his San Diego apartment “following a cardiac event” on Instagram, writing, "It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Tyler Christopher.”

He continued, "Tyler was a truly talented individual that lit up the screen in every scene he performed and relished bringing joy to his loyal fans through his acting. Tyler was a sweet soul and wonderful friend to all of those who knew him."

When asked how he pulls through the grief of losing a fellow costar, he noted to PEOPLE that he’s “lost so many people” in his life and has learned to deal with it in a certain way.

Related: General Hospital’s Maurice Benard Talks Living with — and Surviving — Bipolar Disorder (Exclusive)

“I always do what I think they would've wanted me to do, which is be happy,” he said. “I don't think of myself. I think of what would my dad [want] — because my dad died of Alzheimer's — and I know he would want me to be happy. I know my dad. So he wouldn't want me to be sad.”

“You go through your grieving process, but start thinking that way,” he explained. “What does the person who you love, who died, what would they want?”

Benard, who has been vocal about his struggles with bipolar disease in the past, noted that it can be difficult to turn one’s life around when facing these kinds of issues, but he’s been able to push through by focusing on doing “the right things.”

“If you go back to not trying to get [the issues] fixed, it may get worse,” he said. “But for me, I started a show called State of Mind on YouTube and that was like my therapy to me. Now I'm getting emotional. And that for three years has helped me out tremendously.”

The actor said at the current moment he is “doing the best,” explaining that in the past he had been “a bit intense, a bit dark, a bit [angry] inside.” Though, he noted that he has worked on that “since the pandemic.”

“And then, like I said, once you go through hell, you truly do see the light because life will somehow reward you,” he added.

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