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Billy Miller (actor)

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Billy Miller
Miller at the 37th Daytime Emmy Awards in 2010
Born
William John Miller II

(1979-09-17)September 17, 1979
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedSeptember 15, 2023(2023-09-15) (aged 43)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Other names
  • Billy J. Miller
  • B.J. Miller
EducationUniversity of Texas (B.A.)
OccupationActor
Years active2006–2022
AwardsSee below

William John Miller II (September 17, 1979 – September 15, 2023) was an American actor. He was recognized for his work on American soap operas, including his award-winning work as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless and his dual portrayals of Jason Morgan and Drew Cain on General Hospital.

Early life and education

[edit]

William John Miller II[1] was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas.[1][2] As a child, Miller spent five years as a patient of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, an organization he also supported.[3][4]

Miller attended Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas,[5] and the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he received a communications degree and was one of only twenty students in the film department's intensive Production Sequence.[4]

Career

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After graduating from college, Miller moved out to Los Angeles where he began working in the mail room of Industry Entertainment.[6][7][8] His first break into acting came after he signed on with the Wilhelmina modeling agency.[7] He appeared in six commercials, including two for Electronic Arts' The Sims.[9][10] He also did commercials for JCPenney, Pizza Hut and pokerparty.com.[8]

At the age of 24, Miller screen-tested for As the World Turns, a soap opera on the CBS network; he lost the audition, citing bad management, and subsequently parted ways with his agency and management company.[3] He took a two-year hiatus from acting after that experience.[8]

In 2006, Miller returned to acting, starring in an episode of CSI: NY. A year later, he landed the role of Richie Novak, the murdering and blackmailing brother of Annie Lavery on All My Children, a soap opera on ABC. His first appearance was August 30, 2007. When news of the character's demise broke in August 2008, Miller began the audition process again. Barbara Bloom (Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS Entertainment), Julie Hanan Carruthers (Executive Producer, All My Children), Marla Kanelos (former script writer, All My Children, now Associate Head Writer, The Young and the Restless) and, screen-test partners Peter Bergman and Elizabeth Hendrickson, were instrumental in his casting at The Young and the Restless,[11] where he was cast in the role of Billy Abbott.[12] Miller, who submitted the longest Emmy reel among all nominated performers (over 32 minutes long—an entire episode), was awarded for his work in an It's A Wonderful Life-styled episode of The Young and the Restless with his first nomination and win as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series on June 27, 2010 as well as June 14, 2013.[13]

In 2011, he was nominated a second time in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for the same role. Miller also appears, as himself, in an independent film titled Remembering Nigel, which premiered at the Paso Robles Digital Film Festival on November 25, 2009.[citation needed]

In August 2012, it was announced Miller would be appearing in primetime as a recurring cast member on The CW's Ringer.[14] Miller was also cast as Gabe Watson in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie Fatal Honeymoon.[15] In November 2013, it was announced Miller would depart the role of Billy;[16] Miller's predecessor David Tom was named as his successor in the role. Miller called his decision to leave the role the "hardest thing" he had ever done.[17]

On September 2, 2014, General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini announced on Twitter that Miller would join the cast as Jason Morgan.[18][19][20] In March 2018, for his portrayal of Jason, Miller earned a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor.[21] In 2017, with the return of Steve Burton to the role of Jason, Miller's casting was retconned to that of his twin, Drew Cain.[22][23] In July 2019, Miller announced his exit from the soap.[24]

Death

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Miller died in Austin, Texas, on September 15, 2023.[25][26][27][28][29] In a statement, Miller's mother, Patricia, revealed his death was due to suicide following his battles with bipolar depression:

"He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease. He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life."[30][31]

The final autopsy report, conducted in November 2023 and released in the following month, concluded that Miller's death was a suicide resulting from "gunshot wound of head". Toxicology reports found the presence of "ethanol, cocaine, and its metabolites, diphenhydramine, and amphetamine". The report further detailed Miller had been found "with an apparent gunshot wound to the head", as well as "[M]ultiple letters indicating suicidal intent and instructions for others were found at the scene. A revolver chambered for .410 shotgun shells was found in the decedent's right hand."[32]

Filmography

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Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2006 CSI: NY Will Graham Episode: "Live or Let Die"
2007–2008 All My Children Richie Novak Series regular
2008–2014 The Young and the Restless Billy Abbott Series regular
2011 Justified James Earl Dean Episode: "The Moonshine War"
2011–2012 Ringer John Delario Recurring role
2012 Fatal Honeymoon Gabe Watson Television film (Lifetime)
2013 Castle Mickey Gerhardt Episode: "Number One Fan"
2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Officer Robert Dolan Episode: "The Fallen"
2014–2019 General Hospital Jason Morgan Series regular
Drew Cain
2014 Major Crimes Anthony Hunt Episode: "Down the Drain"
2015–2019 Suits Marcus Specter Four episodes
2017 Ray Donovan Todd Doherty Three episodes
2019–2020 Truth Be Told Alex Dunn Recurring role
2022 NCIS[33] Ezra Moretti Episode: "Unearth"

Final performance


Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2009
 Remembering Nigel Himself
2011
 Ripper Edward 3D short film
2014 Bad Blood Garret Church
American Sniper Naval Recruiter

Awards and nominations

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List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
2010
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series The Young and the Restless Won
[34]
2011
 Nominated
[35]
2013
 Won
[36]
2014
 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Won
[37]
2015
 Nominated
[38]
2018
 General Hospital Nominated
[39]

References

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  1. ^ a b "GH HUGE SPOILER ALERTS!" Soap Opera Digest June 10, 2013 (Vol. 38, No. 23). p. 39.
  2. ^ Martindale, David. "Arlington Lamar grad Billy Miller makes a name for himself on Y&R" Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Fort Worth Star Telegram. January 7, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  3. ^ a b AST: Let's Talk Lane. "AST: Let's Talk Lane". BlogTalk Radio. April 11, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  4. ^ a b CBS Entertainment. "Billy Miller: The Young and the Restless on CBS". CBS
  5. ^ Martindale, David. "Arlington Lamar grad Billy Miller makes a name for himself on Y&R" Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Fort Worth Star Telegram. January 7, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.Lamar High School (Arlington, Texas)#Notable alumni
  6. ^ Peck, Amanda. "Fear No Evil" Archived January 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Soaptown USA. June 1, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  7. ^ a b BuzzWorthy Radio."BuzzWorthy Radio – Daniel Goddard & Billy Miller". BlogTalk Radio. May 7, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c Soap Opera Digest. "Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R) Soap Star Stats". Soap Opera Digest
  9. ^ celesta920. "The Sims Makin' Magic Commercial". YouTube. October 17, 2003. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
  10. ^ DivaRomas2006. "Billy Miller – Richie Novak on "All My Children"". YouTube. March 6, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
  11. ^ BuzzWorthy Radio. "BuzzWorthy Radio – Billy Miller"[permanent dead link]. BlogTalk Radio. June 18, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
  12. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (August 7, 2008). "Y&R snags ousted AMC star as its new Billy Abbott". Soapcentral.com. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Kroll, Dan J. "Miller, Pinson pick up their first Daytime Emmys". SoapCentral. June 27, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  14. ^ Abrams, Natalie. "Exclusive: Soap Star Billy Miller Heading to CW's "Ringer"". TVGuide.com. August 24, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  15. ^ "Lifetime movie Fatal Honeymoon takes on story of Gabe and Tina Watson (video)".
  16. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (November 18, 2013). "Billy Miller out, David Tom returning as Y&R's Billy". Soapcentral.com. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  17. ^ SOD (December 20, 2013). "Digest Exclusive: Billy Miller Speaks!". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584.
  18. ^ SOD (September 2, 2014). "BILLY MILLER JOINS GH!". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  19. ^ Simms, Richard M. (September 2, 2014). "Billy Miller Is GH's New Jason!". ABC Soap In Depth. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  20. ^ Fairman, Michael (September 2, 2014). "CONFIRMED: Billy Miller is Joining The Cast Of General Hospital As Jason Morgan!". On Air, On Soaps. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  21. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (March 21, 2018). "Daytime Emmy Nominations: GH Leads Soap Opera Pack (by Slim Margin!)". TVLine. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  22. ^ Webb Mitovich, Matt (June 28, 2017). "General Hospital: Steve Burton's Return Is Confirmed — Playing Jason...?". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  23. ^ Shelly Altman and Chris Van Etten (Head writers); Frank Valentini (Executive producer) (December 1, 2017). General Hospital. American Broadcasting Company.
  24. ^ Bowe, Jillian (July 29, 2019). "Billy Miller OUT at GH". Daytime Confidential. United States: Confidential Media, Inc. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  25. ^ Fairman, Michael (September 17, 2023). "Billy Miller, Three-time Daytime Emmy Winner, and GH, Y&R and AMC Alum, Dead at 43". Michael Fairman TV. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  26. ^ Haring, Bruce (September 17, 2023). "Billy Miller Dies: The Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy Winner Was 43". Deadline Hollywood. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  27. ^ Ausiello, Michael (September 17, 2023). "Billy Miller, Daytime Emmy-Winning Y&R and GH Vet, Dead at 43". TVLine. United States. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  28. ^ Franklin, McKinley (September 17, 2023). "Billy Miller, The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actor, Dies at 43". Variety. United States. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 810134503. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  29. ^ Piña, Christy (September 17, 2023). "Billy Miller, Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy Winner, Dies at 43". The Hollywood Reporter. United States. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  30. ^ Beckley, Bryan (September 18, 2023). "Billy Miller's Mother Speaks Out On His Passing". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Ausiello, Michael (September 18, 2023). "Billy Miller's Mother Confirms Actor's Cause of Death in Heartbreaking Statement". TVLine. United States. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  32. ^ Lewis, Errol (December 5, 2023). "Billy Miller's Official Cause of Death Report Released by Travis County Medical Examiner". Soap Opera Network. United States. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  33. ^ Lewis, Errol (September 30, 2022). "Billy Miller To Guest Star on NCIS". SoapOperaNetwork. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  34. ^ "'As the World Turns' tops Daytime Emmys". The Hollywood Reporter. New York City: Prometheus Global Media. Associated Press. June 27, 2010. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  35. ^ "The 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  36. ^ "The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. June 16, 2013. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  37. ^ "The 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. June 16, 2013. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  38. ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 31, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  39. ^ "Daytime Emmy Nominations: 'General Hospital' Leads Programs & CBS Tops Networks". Deadline Hollywood. March 21, 2018.
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