SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: ‘General Hospital’ star Tyler Christopher Baker had tragically passed away at 50 following a cardiac event in his San Diego apartment on Tuesday, October 31. Christopher’s former co-star, Maurice Benard confirmed his death on Instagram.
Christopher gained immense popularity for his portrayal of Nikolas Cassadine on the long-running series ‘General Hospital’ which also earned him multiple Daytime Emmy nominations.
In July, Christopher, who had been under the guardianship of his sister, Susan Asmo Baker, since 2019, shared his journey towards reclaiming control of his life in an interview with Bloomberg.
He said, “I never thought in a million years that I would be taken advantage of by a family member.”
This came after Christopher's guardianship under his sister, Susan Asmo Baker, began when he experienced severe alcohol withdrawal. He had a fall that resulted in a head injury, leading to life-saving surgery due to internal bleeding.
In 2008, Christopher tied the knot with former ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo. They were reported to have divorced in 2021. Together, they have two children named Greysun James Christopher and Boheme Christopher.
Prior to his marriage with Brienne, he was married to Eva Longoria, known for her role in ‘Desperate Housewives.’
Who are Tyler Christopher’s exes?
Before getting married to Brienne Pedigo, ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ star Tyler Christopher got married to ‘Desperate Housewives’ star Eva Longoria. The couple reportedly married in 2002, however, their marriage ended in 2004.
In 2008, Christopher found love again and tied the knot with former ESPN reporter Brienne Pedigo. The couple later became parents to two children, Greysun James Christopher and Boheme Christopher. Their marriage reportedly ended in 2021 after Pedigo filed for divorce in 2019.
It was also reported that Christopher was previously engaged with ‘General Hospital’ co-star Vanessa Marcil and dated Natalia Livingston. However, it didn’t work out.
Tyler Christopher and Eva Longoria’s short-lived marriage
Eva Longoria, a prominent figure in today's entertainment world, initially made her mark in the daytime television realm through her role on ‘The Young and the Restless.’ During this time, she also found love with another soap opera star, Tyler Christopher, known for his appearances on ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives.’
In the early 2000s, Christopher was a soap opera heartthrob, most notably for his portrayal of Nikolas Cassadine on ABC's hit soap.
Christopher's attachment to the role was evident in a 2017 interview with Soap Opera Digest, where he expressed that a recast of Nikolas Cassadine “would sting a little bit."
He said at the time, "If they feel like they need Nikolas Cassadine on the canvas, of course I would be upset, but I wish whoever it is I wish them well and I hope they give the character as much of themselves as I gave to him."
Yet, it was the off-screen romance between Christopher and Longoria that captured the public's attention. Their initial meeting was orchestrated by Christopher’s co-star Vanessa Marcil, whom he had once been engaged to.
Longoria temporarily stepped in for Marcil, leading to months of on-and-off dating. In 2002, Christopher and Longoria tied the knot in Las Vegas, with Hollywood actors Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar as witnesses.
However, their marriage endured only two years. Longoria, reflecting on her early union with Christopher, admitted to feeling like a "terrible wife", as per Digital Spy.
She said, “He was a lovely man, but I was very young. I didn't know who I was, and I was still struggling as an actor. I was a terrible wife.”
Following their divorce, Longoria married NBA star Tony Parker in 2007, but their marriage concluded in 2011.
In contrast, Christopher wed Brienne Pedigo, a reporter associated with ESPN and Motor Racing Network, in 2008, but the couple quietly parted ways in 2021.
