Eva LaRue and Soap Opera Community Mourn the Passing of John Callahan

The daytime world was sent reeling when news broke that soap veteran John Callahan died on Saturday following a stroke at his home in Palm Desert, Calif. Now, friends and family of the actor are speaking out on social media in memory of the performer.

RIP John Callahan

Although they were divorced, Callahan and his ex-wife, Eva LaRue (ex-Maria, All My Children; CSI: Miami) were on good terms and co-parented their daughter Kaya together. They were able to see Callahan on Friday in the hospital before he passed away.

“May Flights of Angels Wing You to Your Rest my Dear Friend,” LaRue posted on Instagram. “Your bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. We are devastated-My great friend, co parent partner, and loving father to Kaya. That big belly laugh, bear hugs, bad puns, ability to harmonize to any song, great kitchen table singing-fests, and two steppin bad ass! ‘Johnny Numbers’, my All My Children soap stud, the great time keeper, Beatles fanatic ( I wish to God we could go back to ‘Yesterday’)…

“Kaya and I are beyond broken hearted, so stunned, sorry that my thoughts are a mess. You gave the best most beautifully written tributes, and I am at a complete loss for words right now for you. I hope Heaven has baseball and that your team always wins! The Yankees has just lost their biggest Fan.”

Former AMC star Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley; Live With Kelly and Ryan) posted on Instagram: “Because there are no words, all i can muster is Rest In Peace #johncallahan My heart breaks for you @evalarue and @kaya_callahan 💔💔💔💔💔.”

“My heart just broke😔,” Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan, AMC) posted on LaRue’s Instagram remembrance of her former husband. “I love you John. It was an absolute honor working with you, playing golf with you, and just knowing you🙏🏼 You will be missed by so many❤️.”

Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital) shared screen time with Callahan during her stay in Pine Valley. “Very sorry to hear about the passing of my scene partner #johncallahan from back on #AMC,” Hughes tweeted. “Always ready with a fun story or joke, a true Irishman. Sending love to #evalarue & his beautiful daughter Kaya rip #johncallahan.”

Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless) reached out to her pal LaRue on Twitter: “Thinking of you and your baby girl❤️.”

“So beautiful.. love to you and your family…,” wrote Lisa LoCicero (Olivia) in a tweet that LaRue posted.

In addition to his work on soaps in daytime and primetime, Callahan also dipped his toes into the web serial world courtesy of his run on The Bay. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of Mr. #JohnCallahan (ex-Mackenzie Johnson), a talented cast member from the original cast of The Bay,” the Emmy-winning web serial’s Instagram account shared.

“So so sorry Eva,” tweeted Chrishell Stause (ex-Amanda, AMC). “Please know I am praying for healing for you and your family. It’s not fair. Sending you so much love.” Soap Hub extends sincere sympathies to LaRue and her daughter, Kaya, at this difficult time.