‘General Hospital’ Star Jay Pickett Dies At 60 While Filming Upcoming Movie

Veteran soap opera actor Jay Pickett died Friday while filming an upcoming movie in Idaho. He was 60.

The television star’s passing was confirmed by his co-stars via social media over the weekend. Pickett collapsed on the set of the upcoming Western drama “Treasure Valley” while preparing to film a scene.

“Many of you have already heard about the tragedy that happened two days ago. Jay Pickett, our leading man, writer, producer, and creator of this movie passed away suddenly while we were on location preparing to film a scene,” co-actor Travis Mills, who is also directing and producing the project, wrote on Facebook Sunday.

Mills added that while they have no official explanation on the cause of Pickett’s death, they believe that based on what they observed on the scene, he might have had a heart attack. He also noted that everyone on the set tried their best to keep Pickett alive.

“Our hearts are broken and we grieve for his family who are so devastated by this shocking tragedy,” Mills wrote before describing his late co-star as an “incredible man” who was “kind, sweet and generous.”

Pickett’s friend and fellow “Treasure Valley” star Jim Heffel also took to the same social media platform to pay tribute to him. He also revealed in his post that Pickett was actually on top of a horse ready to film a scene when he collapsed.

“Yesterday I lost a good friend and the world lost a great person. Jay Pickett decided to ride off into the Heavens. Jay died sitting on a horse ready to rope a steer in the movie Treasure Valley in Idaho. The way of a true cowboy. He will be truly missed. Ride like the wind partner,” Heffel wrote Saturday.

Pickett was best known for his roles on hit soap operas “General Hospital” and “Port Charles.” He played Frank Scanlon on “Port Charles” from its premiere in 1997 to its finale season in 2003. Meanwhile, he portrayed David Harper on “General Hospital” between 2006 and 2008, according to Entertainment Tonight.

His former “Port Charles” co-star Marie Wilson paid tribute to Pickett on Instagram after hearing about his passing. She shared a snap of an old magazine interview they did for the show before pouring her heart out in the caption.

“This is one of the most difficult posts I’ve done. My heart is broken to hear that this incredible person has passed. Words cannot describe how much you touched my life….your friendship, advice, and support made me feel so grateful and lucky,” she wrote.

The late actor also did a stint as Dr. Chip Lakin on “Days of Our Lives.” Through the years following his soap opera career, Pickett made guest appearances on a number of television shows, such as “Dexter,” “Queen Sugar,” “Dragnet,” “Matlock” and “NCIS: Los Angeles,” among others, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Pickett is survived by his wife of almost 35 years, Elena, and their three kids.