‘General Hospital’ Star Jay Pickett Dies At 60 While On Set Of New Movie

Jay Pickett, a veteran soap opera star best known for his roles on General Hospital, Days of Our Lives and Port Charles, died while preparing for a scene on the set of his newest film Treasure Valley on Friday at the age of 60.

The actor’s passing happened while he was on location in Idaho filming the upcoming western film according to the director and producer, Travis Mills. It is unclear yet the cause of his death but it is believed to be due to a heart attack according to Mills.

“Jay Pickett, our leading man, writer, producer, and creator of this movie passed away suddenly while we were on location preparing to film a scene,” Mills wrote on the film’s official Facebook page. “There is no official explanation for the cause of his death but it appears to have been a heart attack,” Mills wrote. “Everyone present tried as hard as they could to keep him alive. Our hearts are broken and we grieve for his family who are so devastated by this shocking tragedy.”

According to his co-star of Treasure Valley actor Jim Heffel, Pickett died while on a horse waiting to film his next scene.

“Yesterday I lost a good friend and the world lost a great person. Jay Pickett decided to ride off into the Heavens,” Heffel wrote in a Facebook post announcing Pickett’s death. “Jay died sitting on a horse ready to rope a steer in the movie Treasure Valley in Idaho. The way of a true cowboy.”

Many of Pickett’s fellow co-stars took to social media to honor the late actor. Port Charles star Marie Wilson, whose Karen Wexler had an on screen-relationship with Pickett’s character Frank Scanlon, shared an emotional tribute to Instagram.

“This is one of the most difficult posts I’ve done,” the soap actress began. “My heart is broken to hear that this incredible person has passed. Words cannot describe how much you touched my life…. your friendship, advice, and support made me feel so grateful and lucky.” Wilson recalled her first time on set with Pickett expressing, “so happy to have shared all those moments with you. I will miss you my friend🥺💔💔💔.”

Kelly Monaco, a General Hospital co-star, expressed her sorrow in an Instagram post towards her fellow actor with a photo of the actor dressed as a cowboy.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of Jay Pickett. If you knew him, you loved him. Words can’t describe… 😇🙏🏻”

The post caught the attention of fellow General Hospital star Michelle Stafford who commented, “A LOVELY man😢.”

Jon Lindstrom and Kin Shriner, who both starred alongside Pickett on General Hospital and Port Charles, remembered the late actor posting photos to Twitter.

“The sudden passing of my pal Jay Pickett is very sad,” Shriner wrote on Twitter. “He loved acting and Westerns, and when we got together we laughed a lot. R.I.P. Jay.”

 

Pickett began his long-running soap opera career playing Dr. Chip Lakin on Days of Our Lives in the early 90’s and later portrayed Det. David Harper on General Hospital. His most notable role was Frank Scanlon on the ABC soap Port Charles, a General Hospital spinoff, appearing in over 700 episodes. Pickett also appeared in guest-starring roles on Desperate Housewives, Dexter, The Mentalist, Rosewood and NCIS: Los Angeles.

Pickett is survived by his wife Elena of 35 years and their three children.