The soap world was devastated on Sunday when news of John Reilly’s death broke. Best known as WSB agent, Sean Donely, on General Hospital for well over a decade, the actor passed away this weekend at the age of 84.
Remembering John Reilly
General Hospital stars and other co-stars took to social media and send their condolences to his family and share their memories of their friend and consummate actor. Read on for some amazing tributes to Reilly.
“Darling John Reilly. One of the first days I walked on the GH set this tall, handsome man in a leather jacket sauntered towards me. In his deep, all-American growl he welcomed me to the show and told me he would be there for me should I ever need anything. Boy was he true to his word,” Finola Hughes (Anna) posted to Instagram.
“A consummate professional, I would run lines with him each day we worked (we worked a ton). His dressing room was two doors from mine. Many the day I would lounge on the floor in the hallway (don’t ask me why) and we would break down scenes. The three of us (Tristan, John & me) would tear things apart until we were happy with the result and then go on set and perform.
“At the end of each scene, John would do one of two things. He would either bellow his contagious laugh or he would get a quizzical expression on his face and ask ‘Was that it? Did we get it?’ Brilliantly intuitive, yet he was always concerned with the outcome. John’s sensitivity and kindness were most apparent with his family and friends. His love of his wife Liz and their gorgeous daughters was legion. I am so happy I got to experience and see that love firsthand. One of a kind. Fellow Irishman, God speed. Love you.”
Kimberly McCullough (Robin), who grew up working with Reilly tweeted: “Oh no! An incredibly talented and warm human I had the pleasure of working with as a young actor. All my love to John’s family. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Kin Shriner (Scott) tweeted a photo of Reilly with other cast members back in the 1990s and wrote: “R.I.P. John Reilly, u were always the life of the party!”
“I have been thinking about #JohnReilly all day,” wrote Ian Buchanan, who just made a return appearance on GH as Duke’s ghost. “Actually for quite some time. And always with John the great ladies in his life and his enormous love and support of them. His mother, Liz, and his wonderful daughters. A gentleman and a hugely generous mentor. I love you.”
“Thinking lovely thoughts about my fellow @GeneralHospital thespian and charming, lovely gent #JohnReilly,” tweeted Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis).
Tristan Rogers (Robert) weighed in with this tweet. “My good bud John Reilly is gone. I’ll never have the pleasure of enjoying a cocktail while just “shootin’ the shit” and listening to his comments on past times. RIP my friend, know you’re missed.”
Reilly also spent several years playing Alistair Crane on the NBC soap, Passions. His on-screen daughter, McKenzie Westmore, sent this tweet. “Heartbroken at the passing of my onscreen dad – John Reilly. May he Rest In Peace.”
Finally, there’s this short tribute from Galen Gering, who also appeared on Passions and is now Rafe Hernandez on Days of Our Lives. “Rip John-Always loved working with you and the chats we had. The world lost a great one.
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R.I.P. John Reilly u were always the life of the party ! @GeneralHospital pic.twitter.com/W8APwCVAoo
— Kin Shriner (@kinshriner) January 10, 2021
I have been thinking about #JohnReilly all day. Actually for quite some time. And always with John the great ladies in his life and his enormous love and support of them. His mother, Liz and his wonderful daughters. A gentleman and a hugely generous mentor. I love you.
— Ian Buchanan (@KilttripUSA) January 11, 2021
Thinking lovely thoughts about my fellow @GeneralHospital thespian and charming, lovely gent #JohnReilly.
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) January 11, 2021
My good bud John Reilly is gone. I’ll never have the pleasure of enjoying a cocktail while just “shootin’ the shit” and listening to his comments on past times. RIP my friend, know your missed.
— tristanrogers (@tristanrogers) January 11, 2021
Heartbroken at the passing of my onscreen dad – John Reilly. May he Rest In Peace 😢🙏🏼💔 pic.twitter.com/S71KFkQsdK
— McKenzie Westmore (@mckenziewestmor) January 10, 2021
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