Paying tribute. Viola Davis, Eric Braeden, Alice Hunter and more celebrities took to Twitter following the news of Young and the Restless star Kristoff St. John’s death. “The pain of grief and mental health should be addressed in the same realm as ‘physical’ ailments,” Davis tweeted on Monday, February 4, seemingly referring to St. John’s past struggle with his mental health. “No real words except….I hope you found peace. God bless those you loved who were left behind. With all my heart and empathy.” Braeden, who has appeared on The Young and the Restless since 1980, shared a photo with his late costar. “My good friend and colleague, MY BROTHA, KRISTOFF ST.JOHN, passed away! !” he wrote. “No words right now! !” My good friend and colleague, MY BROTHA, KRISTOFF ST.JOHN , passed away!! No words right now!! pic.twitter.com/um3RVtQYPh — Eric Braeden (@EBraeden) February 4, 2019 Hunter, who portrays Kerry Johnson on the soap, also posted a tribute via Twitter: “My heart is with the family and loved ones of Kristoff St. John. Sending you strength and healing. May he be met with the comforting arms of his beloved son and may their gentle souls rest together for eternity.” St. John played Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless for more than 25 years. CBS Daytime shared a statement via Twitter on Monday, calling his death “heartbreaking.” “He was a very tautened actor and an even better person,” a joint statement from CBS Television Network and Sony Pictures Television reads. “For those of us who were for fortunate enough to work with him on The Young and the Restless for the last 27 years, he was a beloved friend whose smile and infectious laugh made every day on set a joy and made audiences love him. On behalf of Y&R cast and crew, CBS and Sony Pictures Television, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones, especially his two daughters, Paris and Lola.” The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Us Weekly on Monday that St. John passed away at the age of 52. According to The Blast, the actor’s autopsy has been completed and officials are waiting on a toxicology report to determine his cause of death. St. John is survived by his fiancée, Kseniya Mikhaleva, and his daughters from past relationships, Paris and Lola. St. John’s son, Julian, whom he shared with ex-wife Mia St. John, died by suicide in November 2014. Following his son’s death, St. John was hospitalized after undergoing a psych evaluation in November 2017. Scroll through to see more tributes to St. John: No!!! This news has truly broken my heart. Kristoff was pure & so kind. I will never forget how wonderful he was to me and everyone else he came into contact with. He was just a good, good man. 💔 ‘Young & the Restless’ Star Kristoff St. John Dead at 52 https://t.co/7JCE8WcXWN — yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 4, 2019 Stunned and deeply saddened. Speechless. https://t.co/ZssqSHLApp — Kim Fields (@KimVFields) February 4, 2019 I cant do this justice; I think I’m still in shock. What are we all going to do without him? Without his talent, grace, kindness, wisdom, sincerity, humor, total command of whatever room he stepped into, on screen or off. This one is going to hurt. RIP, Kristoff. I’ll miss you. pic.twitter.com/zRjQNE4Hnu — Scott Clifton (@CliftonsNotes) February 4, 2019 So unbelievably heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend Kristoff St.John. I loved him so much! He was such a wonderful man! @kristoffstjohn1 I hope you are dancing with the angels… https://t.co/e7bOVTNAB2 — Adrienne Frantz (@adriennefrantz) February 4, 2019 Kristoff St. John was such a kind man and a very dear friend to me and so many at Y&R. My late husband Ron and Kristoff just adored each other too. He will be missed terribly. pic.twitter.com/9tQOpoRiNx — KATE LINDER (@KATELINDER) February 4, 2019<doc-sep>Refresh for updates Eric Braeden was among the costars, colleagues and admirers of Kristoff St. John expressing shock and sorrow over news that the actor, most famous for his long-running role on CBS’ The Young and the Restless, died Sunday at age 52. “No words right now,” tweeted a heartbroken Braeden, St. John’s long-running YATR co-star. “This news has truly broken my heart,” tweeted Yvette Nicole Brown. “Kristoff was pure & so kind. I will never forget how wonderful he was to me and everyone else he came into contact with. He was just a good, good man.” Young and the Restless actress Alice Hunter tweeted, “May he be met with the comforting arms of his beloved son and may their gentle souls rest together for eternity.” (Julian St. John, the actor’s son from a first marriage to boxer Mia St. John, died by suicide at age 24 in 2014). Actor Stan Shaw, who portrayed the grandfather of St. John’s character in 1979’s Roots: The Next Generation, wrote, “I love this kid. He was a wonder kid, a great actor and an awesome man.” St. John’s fiancee, model Kseniya Mikhaleva, tweeted, “You were everything to me.” Read those, and other tweets, below. Deadline will update this page as additional remembrances arrive… RIP, beautiful Kristoff. — Greg Rikaart (@gregrikaart) February 4, 2019 I met Kristoff St John and walked away encouraged by how generous and kind he was to me, a newcomer in Soaps. I can’t imagine the heaviness those close to him are experiencing. Grateful for his work and all the ways he shared his heart with us through it. #YR — Marci Miller (@MarciMiller) February 4, 2019 Im so saddened to hear this. Kristoff was such a generous, big hearted human being. And a marvelous actor who put his soul into his work. #Heartbreaking https://t.co/17I5sonQCB — Wally Kurth (@wallykurth) February 4, 2019 So saddened by this news 😔 sending my prayers and condolences to @kristoffstjohn1 family 🙏🏽 got to share some pretty good laughs with him this past year while working on @YandR_CBS and that’s how I’ll choose to remember him, with a smile on his face 💯❤️🙏🏽 Rest In Peace brother — Jason Canela (@jasoncanela) February 4, 2019 Remembering Kristoff ST. John 🙏 RIP, my friend. pic.twitter.com/91fr7r3j5a — sharon case (@sharonlcase) February 4, 2019 FAMILY FOREVER!! Not easy to find words but Kristoff was one of the sweetest, kindest, most talented men around. Always there for you. We had some special moments that I’ll treasure forever. I know we are all having a tough time. Love to his girls! @kristoffstjohn1 pic.twitter.com/0U4VRB0b4t — Lauralee Bell (@LauraleeB4real) February 4, 2019 Kristoff St. John was such a kind man and a very dear friend to me and so many at Y&R. My late husband Ron and Kristoff just adored each other too. He will be missed terribly. pic.twitter.com/9tQOpoRiNx — KATE LINDER (@KATELINDER) February 4, 2019 My good friend and colleague, MY BROTHA, KRISTOFF ST.JOHN , passed away!! No words right now!! pic.twitter.com/um3RVtQYPh — Eric Braeden (@EBraeden) February 4, 2019 I cant do this justice; I think I’m still in shock. What are we all going to do without him? Without his talent, grace, kindness, wisdom, sincerity, humor, total command of whatever room he stepped into, on screen or off. This one is going to hurt. RIP, Kristoff. I’ll miss you. pic.twitter.com/zRjQNE4Hnu — Scott Clifton (@CliftonsNotes) February 4, 2019 My heart is with the family and loved ones of Kristoff St. John. Sending you strength and healing. May he be met with the comforting arms of his beloved son and may their gentle souls rest together for eternity 🙏🏽 https://t.co/9ZistnNghK — Alice Hunter (@itsalicehunter) February 4, 2019 So unbelievably heartbroken by the passing of my dear friend Kristoff St.John. I loved him so much! He was such a wonderful man! @kristoffstjohn1 I hope you are dancing with the angels… https://t.co/e7bOVTNAB2 — Adrienne Frantz (@adriennefrantz) February 4, 2019 With the heaviest of hearts, we say goodbye to our friend and CBS Daytime family member, the incomparable, Kristoff St. John. @YandR_CBS #YR pic.twitter.com/htphXEzOHh — CBS Daytime (@CBSDaytime) February 4, 2019 No!!! This news has truly broken my heart. Kristoff was pure & so kind. I will never forget how wonderful he was to me and everyone else he came into contact with. He was just a good, good man. 💔 ‘Young & the Restless' Star Kristoff St. John Dead at 52 https://t.co/7JCE8WcXWN — yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 4, 2019 Kristoff St. John was one of the kindest most generous men I’ve ever known. I pray he’s found the peace he was seeking. R.I.P. This sweet prince was loved and he will be missed. #RIP @kristoffstjohn1 #KristoffStJohn pic.twitter.com/F9SSfx4cW1 — Jon Lindstrom (@thejonlindstrom) February 4, 2019 This Breaks my Heart: "Young and the Restless" Star Kristoff St. John Sadly Found Dead. Kristoff played my Grandson on Roots2, I love this kid. He was a wonder kid, a great actor and an awesome man. I'd spoken with him recently. I'm just devastated! #RIP Beautiful soul, miss you! pic.twitter.com/Vevsvqq38f — Stan Shaw (@StanShaw1) February 4, 2019 My heart aches for brother Kristoff St. John. Good laughs working together, great chats when our paths crossed even teased you about getting your Young and the Restless dressing room for a few days working the show last year. “Must be the Brothers room” Wishing u peace bro🙏🏾#RIP pic.twitter.com/oFHbn6FTUa — Kent Faulcon (@kentfaulcon) February 4, 2019 Stunned and deeply saddened. Speechless. https://t.co/ZssqSHLApp — Kim Fields (@KimVFields) February 4, 2019 I'm truly sad this morning. Shocked about my friend, actor Kristoff St John. My audition buddy. Our fathers would always chat about the business well after our auditions, so we'd chat about stuff too. Kid stuff. pic.twitter.com/4WEiLv9z2w — Shavar Ross (@shavar) February 4, 2019 Just hearing the news of the passing of Kristoff St John. I was honored to have been nominated alongside him years ago for an NAACP Image Award…an award he won that year. We didn’t know each other well but every time we spoke, your words were encouraging and kind. RIP 🙏🏼 — Erik Valdez (@erikvaldez) February 4, 2019 Please join me in sending love and prayers for comfort to the family and friends of Kristoff St. John. #RIP https://t.co/9N7ElZgJAV — Judge Greg Mathis (@JudgeGregMathis) February 4, 2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/BtdrBYjH8ab/<doc-sep>Many of Kristoff St. John’s friends and colleagues spoke out following the news of his unexpected death on Sunday. Now Shemar Moore, who played his brother Malcolm on The Young and the Restless, has broken his silence over the loss. Amid TMZ‘s new report that St. John had checked into UCLA Medical Center in January to treat depression related to his son’s suicide and had just been released within the last few days, Moore took to Instagram to pay tribute. “Mr. Kristoff St. John,” an emotional Moore began. “I lost my brother yesterday. I’ve never had a brother, but you were my brother. You showed me the way. You were my mentor. You were my inspiration. You showed me what true talent was. You showed me what humility was. I love you. I hate this. I love you. But I’m going to celebrate all your good. To my Y&R family: Kristoff St. John a.k.a. Neil Winters, celebrate this man. The most popular, iconic black man in soap opera daytime history. Give him that. He earned it.” Kristoff St. John, left, and Shemar Moore at the NAACP Awards in 2014. (Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP) Moore told St. John’s family members to “cry your tears. I’m crying right along with you.” He ended by telling St. John to “sleep, man” and “find your peace.” In the caption he promised, “I’ll finish what YOU started.” Moore shared several other photos, including a Soap Opera Digest cover of the fictional Winters family, the most prominent African-American family on daytime television. It also featured Victoria Rowell as Drucilla and Christel Khalil as Lily. He also posted photos of them as Neil and Malcolm. St. John joined the cast in 1991, while Moore came on three years later, leaving the show in 2005 for primetime opportunities. Story continues Rowell, who played St. John’s ex-wife on Y&R, also shared tributes to her former co-star. Khalil, who played St. John’s TV daughter (though there was paternity drama and Moore’s character ended up being the dad), also spoke out. She talked about the “deep pain” St. John was in that “no one could understand.” Many of St. John’s other co-stars, including Eric Braeden, acknowledged his heartbreak over the death of his son Julian by suicide in 2014. His heart was broken after his son’s death! He never got over it! — Eric Braeden (@EBraeden) February 4, 2019 Soap Opera Digest editorial director Stephanie Sloane said St. John “was able to overcome so many things, but the death of Julian was just a breaking point for him in a lot of ways.” In 2017, St. John underwent psychiatric treatment after allegedly threatening to kill himself. “I think that just proves that you never really can know someone’s pain — even though Kristoff actually shared a lot of his suffering with the world. He would be so brutally honest about the trials and tribulations he’d been through in his life and with his children.” St. John is survived by his fiancée, Kseniya Mikhaleva, as well as daughter Paris with first wife, Mia St. John, and daughter Lola with second wife, Allana Nadal. An autopsy of the soap star was completed Monday, but a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County medical examiner told People magazine that the cause of death has been deferred pending additional results. The Blast reported that these will include a toxicology report. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment<doc-sep>
Kristoff St. John's friends and family are devastated over the actor's death. St. John was best known for his role as Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless, winning two Daytime Emmy awards for his work on the beloved soap. On Monday, his attorney, Mark Geragos, confirmed his death to ET. The cause of death is currently unknown. He was 52 years old. CBS Television Network and Sony Pictures Television (which produces The Young and the Restless) sent out a statement about his death. “The news of Kristoff St. John’s passing is heartbreaking," the statement reads. "He was a very talented actor and an even better person. For those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him on ‘The Young and the Restless’ for the last 27 years, he was a beloved friend whose smile and infectious laugh made every day on set a joy and made audiences love him. On behalf of the Y&R cast and crew, CBS and Sony Pictures Television, we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones, especially his two daughters, Paris and Lola.” St. John's loved ones have taken to social media to mourn him, including his fiancee, model Kseniya Mikhaleva. "How did it happen??? How??? Why did you leave so early????" she wrote on Instagram. "And left me alone ..... I can’t believe ... you were everything to me .... you were a loving father, a loving man,.....how ...love?? We should doing a lot of things in future......." Vivica A. Fox also took to Instagram to share a photo of the two together, remembering working with St. John at the start of her career. "It is with a very heavy heart that I wake up this morning to hear about the passing of my good friend @KristoffStJohn who I started off my acting career with on the Soap Operas #Generations & #Young&TheRestless and recently #AChristmasCruise WOW!," she wrote. " Kristoff I will soo miss u my brotha! U were a true gentleman 4sho! #GONETOSOON #RESTINPARADISE my friend! #Blessed #Respect." St. John's Young and the Restless co-star, Alice Hunter, tweeted, "My heart is with the family and loved ones of Kristoff St. John. Sending you strength and healing. May he be met with the comforting arms of his beloved son and may their gentle souls rest together for eternity." My heart is with the family and loved ones of Kristoff St. John. Sending you strength and healing. May he be met with the comforting arms of his beloved son and may their gentle souls rest together for eternity 🙏🏽 https://t.co/9ZistnNghK — Alice Hunter (@itsalicehunter) February 4, 2019 Read on for more tributes to St. John: No!!! This news has truly broken my heart. Kristoff was pure & so kind. I will never forget how wonderful he was to me and everyone else he came into contact with. He was just a good, good man. 💔 ‘Young & the Restless' Star Kristoff St. John Dead at 52 https://t.co/7JCE8WcXWN — yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 4, 2019 This Breaks my Heart: "Young and the Restless" Star Kristoff St. John Sadly Found Dead. Kristoff played my Grandson on Roots2, I love this kid. He was a wonder kid, a great actor and an awesome man. I'd spoken with him recently. I'm just devastated! #RIP Beautiful soul, miss you! pic.twitter.com/Vevsvqq38f — Stan Shaw (@StanShaw1) February 4, 2019 My heart aches for brother Kristoff St. John. Good laughs working together, great chats when our paths crossed even teased you about getting your Young and the Restless dressing room for a few days working the show last year. “Must be the Brothers room” Wishing u peace bro🙏🏾#RIPpic.twitter.com/oFHbn6FTUa — Kent Faulcon (@kentfaulcon) February 4, 2019 I'm truly sad this morning. Shocked about my friend, actor Kristoff St John. My audition buddy. Our fathers would always chat about the business well after our auditions, so we'd chat about stuff too. Kid stuff. pic.twitter.com/4WEiLv9z2w — Shavar Ross (@shavar) February 4, 2019 Kristoff St. John was one of the kindest most generous men I’ve ever known. I pray he’s found the peace he was seeking. R.I.P. This sweet prince was loved and he will be missed. #RIP@kristoffstjohn1#KristoffStJohnpic.twitter.com/F9SSfx4cW1 — Jon Lindstrom (@thejonlindstrom) February 4, 2019 . @YRInsider has been my guilty pleasure for 20 years. This is just heartbreaking. Kristoff St. John’s character was so revolutionary because he & @victoriarowell represented the only black family on Y&R, the no. 1 soap. Kristoff is appreciated and will be sorely missed.