The “General Hospital” star, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 50, reflected on his battle with addiction during a podcast episode in March 2022. This discussion happened roughly a year prior to Tyler Christopher’s untimely death. In an episode of Maurice Benard’s “State of Mind,” a show hosted by his past co-star and enduring friend, Christopher shared his personal narrative about his long-standing struggle with addiction that started in his early years.
Christopher recounted his addiction journey on the podcast, tracing the problem back to his first encounter with alcohol at nine years old. He spoke candidly about the life-threatening grip of addiction, admitting for the first time to the public that it had nearly claimed his life on three occasions.
During his tenure of more than two decades on “General Hospital,” he faced challenges related to his bipolar disorder, which made his work on the set difficult. He would often sit in his dressing room after filming, mentally beating himself up over his performances and desiring to redo them.
The end of his tenure on the show was a devastating blow for Christopher. He recounted feeling as if a part of himself had been lost, acknowledging that the loss was due to his own actions, which made the exit even more surreal.
Christopher also dealt with a traumatic brain injury caused by a fall in 2019, which he ascribed to the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. He offered a harrowing account of the incident, detailing how he was found alone and how the injury was severe enough to crack his skull.
After surviving brain surgery that his family feared he might not pull through, Christopher was determined to triumph over his injury. He recalled how his doctor cautioned him about the high risk of returning to drinking after his operation, especially since he was already dealing with addiction and bipolar disorder.
Post-surgery, he was placed into the care of his sister under a conservatorship arrangement, and he spent two years with her in Ohio. Citing solitude as a trigger for his mental health issues, he attempted to rekindle his acting career in Los Angeles. However, upon his arrival, he was met with a sudden setback when the person he expected to stay with turned him away. This left him stranded and disconnected from several of his friends who had become distant after his accident.
Without a home or support network, he endured several weeks on the streets until, as he believed, a providential moment led an old friend to discover him asleep on a bench.
At the start of the podcast, Benard paid tribute to Christopher, echoing the affection and esteem from fans and colleagues alike. He highlighted the strong sentiments shared by individuals like Finola Hughes, Laura Wright, Frank Valentini, and Maura West, noting their admiration for Christopher and underscoring his fight against his personal struggles.
