Celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 10:51 21 Dec 2022 GMT
General Hospital star Sonya Eddy has passed away at the age of 55.
The actress, who played Epiphany Johnson in the long-running soap opera, died on Monday night (December 19), with actress Octavia Spencer announcing the news on social media.
"My friend @sonyaeddy passed away last night," the 52-year-old wrote on Instagram beside a photo of Eddy. "The world lost another creative angel. Her legions of @generalhospitalabc fans will miss her."
As reported by TMZ, Eddy's close friend, Tyler Ford, told the outlet that she had surgery on December 9. However, when she was released from the hospital on the 11th she felt unwell so she went back on the 15th.
Afterward, doctors learned that she'd developed a serious infection so they placed her on life support on Monday morning before her death.
General Hospital's executive producer Frank Valentini took to his Twitter page to pay tribute to the beloved 55-year-old actress after news of her tragic death.
"I am heartbroken about the loss of the incredible @TheRealSonyaEd. I truly loved her not only as [an] actress but as a friend," he wrote. "The lights in the hub of the nurse’s station will now be a little dimmer, but her spirit and light will live on in both the show and our set."
"On behalf of the entire #GH cast and crew, we send our deepest sympathy to her family, friends, and fans. She will be very missed," he added.
Many fans of Eddy also shared their condolences on the social media platform and posted their favorite on-screen memories of the late actress.
One user wrote: "Sonya Eddy had a beautiful voice and was given the chance to showcase it through her role as Epiphany Johnson. Here is one of my favorites 'Live On' which was performed during Kiki’s homegoing in 2018. #GH #SonyaEddy."
Another shared: "I’ll always remember this pivotal scene between Epiphany & Patrick after Robin’s death. She made me cry. It feels like one of the family is gone. She will be missed. #gh #RIP."
A third commented: "The Nurses Ball will never be the same anymore. The way Epiphany/Sonya took control over those episodes made them worth watching. She was such a powerful force on the screen and so damn funny. Rest in peace Sonya Eddy."
Eddy began her career on the stage in the early 90s, before making her way onto the small screen in 1995. She has since appeared in Married… With Children, Gilmore Girls, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Mike & Molly, and Beverly Hills, 90210.
The actress became a staple on the ABC soap, making her debut as the nurse in March 2006 until her last episode in November 2020. She appeared in more than 500 episodes - before reprising her role for the spin-off, General Hospital: Night Shift.
With a career that spanned film and television, Eddy's TV credits include recurring roles on ER, The Drew Carey Show, Glee, Seinfeld, and Joan of Arcadia.
Aside from acting, the star had trained as a licensed vocational nurse and constantly used her social media page to generate support for healthcare professionals.
In February, she shared a post announcing that she would be leading a new campaign to provide scholarships to nurses, to help create a new generation and give those already in the field a "well, well-deserved break".
Our thoughts are with Eddy's family, friends, and fans at this time.
