The Young & the Restless Reveals Late Star Kristoff St. John's Character's Cause of Death
Three months after Kristoff St. John‘s sudden and shocking death, The Young & the Restless has revealed the cause of death for his beloved character, Neil Winters.
After viewers learned of Winters’ death during Tuesday’s episode, Dr. Nate Hastings (played by Sean Dominic) determined the cause during Wednesday’s episode.
“From everything I’ve seen and heard, it sounds like a massive stroke,” Dr. Hastings told Winters’ daughter, Lili Winters (played by Christel Khalil). “It’s possible he had high blood pressure and never even knew. That’s why they call it the silent killer.”
During Tuesday’s episode, Neil was found by his son Devon Hamilton, portrayed by Bryton James. The conclusion that he died was drawn after Devon came down the stairs crying.
Toward the end of the episode, Devon revealed the sad news to his sister, Lili — but fans weren’t able to hear the dialogue between them. As somber music began to play, more cast members were notified and hugged one another in solace.
PEOPLE previously announced that during an upcoming episode of Y&R, the characters will gather to remember one of their own after Neil (played by St. John since 1991) died unexpectedly. Neil’s family and friends will come from near and far to pay their respects and remember their beloved father, colleague, brother and friend.
Shemar Moore will reprise his role of Neil’s brother, Malcolm Winters, for two episodes airing Thursday and Friday.
On Monday, Y&R will air a special tribute episode for St. John that will include cast members sharing memories of their dear friend and colleague, along with favorite Neil Winters clips spanning his 27 years on the show. Moore and Victoria Rowell (who played Neil’s longtime love, Drucilla Winters) will participate.
Following St. John’s death, Moore spoke out about the loss of his dear friend.
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“I’m raised an only child, but Kristoff is truly the closest thing to a brother and a brother’s love and a brother’s mentorship that I’ve ever known,” Moore, 48, told PEOPLE about St. John.
“He didn’t have to embrace me the way he did. When I came in and was trying to find my way and he saw how scared I was, he saw how nervous I was,” Moore said. “He saw my six pack and all that, but he just saw me and he embraced me like a brother. If he hadn’t embraced me, I would have never got my sure footing in the beginning days.”
Said Moore, “He was the sexiest black man on television from what my aunties and grandmothers told me before I’d ever knew that I was ever going to share the stage with him on The Young & the Restless.”
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Last month, PEOPLE confirmed that St. John died because of heart disease, which was exacerbated by alcohol use. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office listed his cause of death of “hypertrophic heart disease … and effects of ethanol.” His death was officially ruled an accident.
In early March, he was laid to rest next to the grave of his son Julian St. John, who died by suicide in 2014. Friends and family gathered at the Calvary Community Church in Westlake, California, where he was buried, to celebrate his life.
