The 86-year-old star of daytime dramas death was announced by his daughter.
John Reilly was a veteran actor who starred in several soap operas including General Hospital, Sunset Beach, and Passions.
He was born in Chicago on November 11, 1934, and began acting in the 1960s with roles on Apple's Way and Gunsmoke.
Darling #JohnReilly 1st day at GH a tall handsome man in a leather jacket sauntered towards me & welcomed me to the show, claimed me as a fellow ‘Irish’ & assured me he’d take care of me no matter what. A kind, true friend who loved his family above all else #ripJohnReilly ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AOdNjASbbe
— Finola Hughes (@finolahughes) January 10, 2021
In 1983, Reilly got a recurring role on the wildly popular Dallas. The following year, he was cast as WSB agent Sean Donely on General Hospital. He stayed with the series until November 1994 when he opted not to renew his contract due to pay.
His daughter broke the news of his death on Instagram saying:
John Henry Matthew Reilly AKA Jack. The brightest light in the world has gone out. Imagine the best person in the world. Now imagine that person being your dad. I’m so grateful he was mine. I’m so grateful I got to love him. I’m so grateful I made it in time to hold him and say goodbye. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know he’ll be with me. I love you forever Daddy.
The Twitter account for General Hospital also posted a tribute to the late actor, saying: “heartbroken to hear of John Reilly’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones. Rest in peace”.
The entire GH family mourns the passing of John Reilly #GH @GeneralHospital Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) January 10, 2021
To this day, I can still hear Sean Donely’s voice when he said “Who?”during his wedding to Tiffany when the priest says “Elsie May Krumholtz”
— Michael Cipes (@PopCultureBlitz) January 10, 2021
RIP John Reilly 💔😢🙏🏻@GeneralHospital #GH pic.twitter.com/qkJ2mEDHd8
Reilly's career continues as he voiced the archer Hawkeye on the animated “Iron Man” series from 1994 to 1996. He appeared as Bill Taylor, the father to Kelly Taylor (actress Jennie Garth), on “Beverly Hills, 90210” from 1996 to 1998 and Del Douglas on “Sunset Beach” from 1997 to 1999.
On the NBC soap opera “Passions,” Reilly starred as Alistair Crane from 2000 to 2008.
Reilly is survived by his wife Liz and three daughters. His cause of death has not been released.
Disclaimer : This is based on sources and we have been unable to verify this information independently.
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