The Young and the Restless officially aired Kristoff St. John‘s final episode, and his character, Neil Winters, got to shine one last time.
The late 52-year-old’s final appearance centered around 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,” St. John’s character, Neil, tells fictional adopted son Devon in one of his 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 was found dead Sunday in his home in the San Fernando Valley.
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.”
St. John’s memory is being kept alive by his co-stars, particularly Shemar Moore, who referred to the late actor as his “brother.”
“I’m raised an only child, but Kristoff is truly the closest thing to a brother and a brother’s love and a brother’s mentorship that I’ve ever known,” Moore told PEOPLE.
And James, who shared some of St. John’s final scenes, remembered his TV dad in a statement: “There are no words for my devastation. For the last 15 years, Kristoff St. John has been my other father, my friend and in the beginning, my reason for feeling as though I belonged in the Y&R family. He was an unbelievable example of strength, given what he endured over the course of his life. But most importantly, he taught us all every single day how to choose to have fun with life no matter what. I will miss him forever… His daughters Lola and Paris will always have me as family.”
The Young and the Restless will air a special tribute to St. John during Friday’s episode on CBS at 12:30 ET.
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