RIP Billy Miller

 

Daytime Emmy Winner Billy Miller Dead at 43

Just a couple days shy of his 44th birthday, Miller has passed away.

Soap Hub

By Miachael Maloney

September 17, 2023

 

Billy Miller who burst onto the daytime scene in 2007 as Richie Novak on All My Children and later went on to play Billy Abbott on Young and the Restless and Drew Cain on General Hospital has died. He reportedly passed away on Friday, September 15 just two days shy of his 44th birthday, which is today.

Michael Fairman TV first reported the news of Miller’s death. No cause of death has been announced. According to Michael Fairman, Miller’s death was confirmed by someone at The Belmont, a Los Angeles restaurant bar that Miller co-owned.

Miller was born on September 17, 1979, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Upon graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in communications, he relocated to Los Angeles and found employment in the mailroom of Industry Entertainment. Soon, he began auditioning for acting roles.

After signing with the Wilhelmina modeling agency, Miller obtained his first big break – a contract to appear in six commercials (including two for Electronic Arts’ The Sims). A subsequent screen test for As the World Turns resulted in an offer of employment, but due to bad management Miller lost the role and his interest in the profession.

Miller received another opportunity to work in daytime after he was cast in 2007 as bad boy Richie on AMC who terrorized his sister Annie (Melissa Claire Egan, who now plays Chelsea on Y&R). In 2008, the actor traveled to the West Coast to assume the role of Billy Abbott on Y&R. He played the part until 2014 and won three Daytime Emmys for his work in Genoa City. Miller won statuettes for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Drama Series in 2010 and in 2013. In 2014, Miller took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

After renegotiation talks came to an impasse, Miller left Y&R; (his character) Billy was in a car accident that presumably took the life of Adam Newman. Later that same year, Miller was scooped up by GH to play Jason Morgan, the role vacated by Steve Burton (Harris, Days of our Lives). After Burton rejoined the show, the GH scribes retconned Miller’s character, revealing that he was, in reality, Drew Cain, Jason’s twin. Miller stayed with GH until 2019.

Miller amassed many credits outside of soaps. He appeared in the Bradley Cooper 2014 film American Sniper, TV Movie Urban Cowboy, Fatal Honeymoon, and Bad Blood. He had roles in the TV series CSI: New York, Justified, Ringer, Suits, Ray Donovan, Castle, The Rookie, Major Crimes, Truth Be Told, and NCIS.

Soap Hub extends sincere condolences to Miller’s family, colleagues, and loved ones at this difficult time.

MILLER, Billy (William Dean Miller)

Born: 9/17/1979, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Died: 9/15/2023, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

 

Billy Miller’s western – actor:

Justified (TV) 2011 (James Earl Dean)