Young & the Restless to Feature Storyline Paying Tribute to Kristoff St. John, Neil Winters
The Young and the Restless will be honoring the lives of both Kristoff St. John and his beloved character Neil Winters.
CBS announced on Thursday that the long-running soap will pay tribute to St. John, who unexpectedly died on Sunday at age 52, and his character Neil Winters in a storyline that will air this spring.
“The Young and the Restless will forever value the legacy of Kristoff St. John in his portrayal of Neil Winters,” the network said in a statement.
“Beginning in late April, Y&R will feature a storyline that pays tribute to both Kristoff and his character,” CBS said.
On Wednesday, St. John’s final episode aired. It centered on his character’s adoptive son, Devon, played by Bryton James, planning an event that Neil attended. When the entertainment for the event does not show up, St. John’s character saves the day by convincing Ana Hamilton, portrayed by Jamia Simone Nash, to step up and sing.
“I’m glad I’m here to witness this next chapter in your life,” Neil tells Devon in one of St. John’s final scenes.
The episode concluded with a tribute to St. John, saying “In Loving Memory of Our Dear Friend” with an image of the late actor.
The two-time Emmy Award-winning actor, who played Neil Winters since 1991, was found dead Sunday in his home in the San Fernando Valley.
RELATED: Kristoff St. John’s Fiancée Says Her ‘Heart Bleeds with Pain’ as She Grieves Over His Death
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a death investigation took place at around 2:05 p.m. for a possible alcohol overdose at the 2300 block of Morea Way. According to TMZ, which first reported the news, the actor’s body was found after one of his friends went to check on him at his home.
St. John’s death came two weeks after he mourned the loss of his son Julian with ex-wife Mia St. John. Julian, who struggled with mental illness, died by suicide four years ago at age 24. On Jan. 21, St. John retweeted someone’s post about losing a child that reads, “Grieving the loss of a child is a process. It begins on the day your child passes, and ends the day the parent joins them.”
“Never a truer word was spoke,” tweeted St. John, who is survived by his fiancée, Kseniya Mikhaleva, daughter Paris (with Mia), and daughter Lola (with ex-wife Allana Nadal). “Thanks for posting this.”
Despite the heartbreak that St. John experienced over the loss of his son, his former Young & the Restless costar Shemar Moore remembers his castmate as being “silly” and “goofy.”
“He’s clearly been through a s— ton of adversity. He lost his son — you don’t wish that on your worst enemy. He had his issues, but he was strong, he persevered,” he told PEOPLE.
“I think yesterday, he was tired — he was just really tired and I’m sorry I couldn’t have been there more,” he said, referring to St. John’s death. “It’s not my fault, it’s not anybody’s fault. But as sad as it is, and it’s f—— sad, like I said, it hasn’t sat with me. But his heart was undeniable. He’s a goofy motherf—–, he’s a silly goofy motherf—–. He’s so goofy. … He’s a silly dude, but he’s so talented.”
The Young and the Restless will air a special tribute to St. John during Friday’s episode on CBS at 12:30 p.m. ET.
