Black actor from Young and the Restless that died

Kristoff St. John, an Emmy-winning actor on the long-running soap opera "The Young and the Restless," was found dead at his Los Angeles home over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

He was 52.

Attorney Mark Geragos told NBC News, "sadly yes," in confirming his client's death.

"Few men had the unique strength, courage & sensitivity that @kristoffstjohn1 lived every single minute of every day," the lawyer later tweeted. "He impacted everyone he met and millions who he inspired and in turn admired him."

Police said that officers responded to the star's home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood at 2:05 p.m. Sunday and found him unresponsive from a possible alcohol overdose.

Paramedics could not revive him and the actor was pronounced dead at the scene, L.A. firefighters said.

Police have declined to open a criminal investigation and have passed the case on to the L.A. County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday, but results from toxicology tests won't be known for weeks, officials said.

“The news of Kristoff St. John’s passing is heartbreaking. He was a very talented actor and an even better person," according to a joint statement by CBS, which airs the soap opera and show producer Sony Pictures Television.

"For those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him on ‘The Young and the Restless’ for the last 27 years, he was a beloved friend whose smile and infectious laugh made every day on set a joy and made audiences love him."

St. John was engaged to model Kseniya Olegovna Mikhaleva. He announced their engagement on Instagram in September with a picture of the ring he got her.

Mikhaleva took to social media on Monday and expressed her grief.

"How did it happen ??? How ??? Why did you leave so early ???? and left me alone," she wrote on Instagram.

St. John joined the "Young" cast in 1991, playing the role of Neil Winters. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for best supporting actor in 2008. He'd also been nominated for that award in 1993, 1999, 2000, 2007 and 2015, according to his CBS biography.

He appeared in an online promotion for Sunday's CBS coverage of the Super Bowl.

"It's game time!" St. John joyfully proclaimed in kicking off the minute-long spot.

Friends and fans said Monday they could not believe the sad news.

"Stunned and deeply saddened. Speechless," actress Kim Fields tweeted.

Former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill lauded St. John who, along with costar Victoria Rowell from 2000 to 2007, had played the only African-American family on daytime soaps.

"This is just heartbreaking," Hill wrote. "Kristoff is appreciated and will be sorely missed."

The actor and his ex-wife — famed boxer Mia St. John — lost their 24-year-old son, Julian, to suicide in 2014, it was widely reported.

He's survived by daughters, Paris and Lola, according to CBS and Sony.

Andrew Blankstein is an investigative reporter for NBC News. He covers the Western U.S., specializing in crime, courts and homeland security. 

David K. Li is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.

"The Young and the Restless" star Kristoff St. John died of hypertrophic heart disease, according to an autopsy report obtained by Fox News.

Other contributing factors included "myocardial bridging of left anterior descending coronary artery and the effects of ethanol." The Los Angeles county coroner officially ruled St John's death an accident.

‘YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS' STAR KRISTOFF ST. JOHN'S DEATH AT 52 DEVASTATES SOAP OPERA COMMUNITY

The 52-year-old, best known for his role as Neil Winters on the long-running soap opera, died on Feb. 3 in California.

TMZ said police responded to a call from friends who'd found the two-time Emmy winner dead at his San Fernando Valley home.

According to the gossip site, St. John was pronounced dead at the scene.

In this June 20, 2008, file photo, Kristoff St. John accepts the award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for his work on "The Young and the Restless" at the 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.  (AP, File)

In 2014, St. John's personal life was marked by tragedy when his son with ex-wife and boxer Mia St. John, Julian, committed suicide while receiving treatment at a mental health facility. The family later sued the treatment center, alleging negligence, and the suit was settled, according to TMZ.

KRISTOFF ST. JOHN'S EX-WIFE MIA ST. JOHN RECALLS LATE ACTOR'S BATTLE WITH DEPRESSION 

Per the site, St. John was placed under a 72-hour psychiatric hold in 2017 after attempting suicide around the anniversary of his son's death. At the time, Mia said reporting about her ex-husband's "incident" were "inaccurate."

"No parent should ever have to bury their child, and for those who do, it is a nightmare that haunts you forever. The death of our beloved son, Julian, has taken a toll on both of us. He is an actor and while he may appear whole on the outside, his heart is broken," she told Entertainment Tonight at the time. She added, "Last week, an incident occurred, that pushed him to the breaking point, but was not accurately reported."

She did not elaborate further but asked fans for prayers and support.

St. John is survived by his daughter Paris Nicole, whom he shared with Mia St. John. He is also survived by another daughter, Lola, who was born in 2003 while he was married to his second wife, Allana Nadal. The couple divorced in 2007 and he became engaged to Russian model Kseniya Olegovna Mikhaleva in September.

 Fox News' Sasha Savitsky contributed to this report. 

Mariah Haas is a senior entertainment editor for Fox News Digital.

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