Soap Opera Vet Anthony Addabbo Passes Away at 56

The soap opera world is mourning the loss of Anthony Addabbo, who passed away Tuesday, Oct. 18, at age 56. The actor was hospitalized with an unknown medical condition and died of complications.

The sad news was shared on Facebook by Winsor Harmon (Thorne), his former co-star on The Bold and the Beautiful where Addabbo played Rush/Jonny. He also played Jason on Generations, briefly replaced Michael Nader as Dimitri on All My Children, and portrayed Jim Lemay on Guiding Light.

In the Prime
His most recent work was in three TV movies in 2012-2013 — Company Town, The Surgeon General, and Hornet’s Nest, while he also did guest spots on One Tree Hill and Homeland around the same time period. He also did six episodes of Red Shoe Diaries, in addition to many other shows over his career.

In the Beginning
The actor was born in Florida and raised in Virginia Beach. He attended Virginia Tech and planned to become a tree surgeon. He moved to New York at age 21 and began modeling. In 1987, he landed his first acting job in the western The Gunfighters. The following year he moved to Los Angles to pursue his career as an actor.

Addabbo had been living in Virginia Beach because he wanted to raise his 17-year-old son, Brandon, out of Los Angeles and also to care for his father. According to a family friend, he was all about family. He also loved his fans, always carrying a pen and willing to sign an autograph when asked. He had a passion for surfing ,which could be seen in is artwork, Natural Surf Art – Earthwaves, that he made and sold.

His GL co-star, Beth Chamberlin (ex-Beth) shared some words about her former onscreen love interest.

“Anthony was truly a good man and was always a pro on the set. Most importantly though, I will always remember how much he loved his son. His son was the love of his life and his guiding light. Anthony thought about and worried over every move he made where Brandon was concerned. I think that tells better than anything the goodness in Anthony. So, so sad. So hard to believe.”

Harmon had this to say about his friend:

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