by ABC’s “General Hospital” is mourning one of its own when actress Sonya Eddy, who starred for 17 years on the long-running soap opera as nurse Epiphany Johnson, died Monday. She was 55 years old.
A representative for Eddy confirmed the actor’s death to The Times on Tuesday, but did not share any additional details, including the cause of death. In an Instagram post shared Tuesday, Octavia Spencer announced the death of her friend.
“My friend @sonyaeddy passed away last night,” the Oscar-winning actor’s post read. “The world lost another creative angel. She will be missed by her legions of @generalhospitalabc fans 💔🕊️ My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones, friends and fans!”
Shortly after Spencer’s tweet, tributes began arriving from Eddy’s family at “General Hospital.” “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini mourned Eddy in a statement shared with The Times.
“I really loved her not just as an actress, but as a friend. The lights in the center of the nurses station will now be a little dimmer, but her spirit and light will live on both in the show and on our set,” she said. “On behalf of the entire GH cast and crew, we send our deepest condolences to her family, friends, and fans. We will miss her very much.”
The Concord, California native joined the cast of “General Hospital” as Epiphany Johnson in 2006. Since then, she has appeared in more than 500 episodes. On Twitter, her co-stars remembered Eddy for her cheerful attitude.
“RIP Sonya, we will miss you so much. What a sense of humor she had. Very sad . @GeneralHospital will never be the same.” Kin Shriner tweeted.
Co-star Jon Lindstrom wrote that Eddy’s “smile could feed a reactor”.
“I loved the few times we worked together, but I REALLY loved the times we talked about life, meditation, acting.” added. “She was a gift and she is already missed. Condolences to your loved ones.”
In a February interview with “This Podcast Is Making Me Thirsty,” Eddy, who initially wanted to be a lawyer, said simply that she was just “an entertaining girl.”
Acting “is really something I feel like I was pushed into. … This was a God thing. This was not an election,” he said. “I didn’t want to be an actor. I tried not to be an actor. But something bigger had a better idea than me.”
Eddy’s television credits also include “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” “Those Who Can’t,” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” He also appeared on “A Black Lady Sketch Show”, “Pen15”, “Seinfeld” and “ER”.
