Kelly Monaco Honors Late General Hospital Star Billy Miller on His ‘Heavenly Birthday’: ‘A Gift That Keeps Giving’
General Hospital alum Kelly Monaco (ex-Sam McCall) paid tribute to her late co-star and friend, Billy Miller (ex-Drew Cain), on what would have been his 47th birthday. The actor died by suicide on September 15, 2023, two days shy of his birthday, at the age of 43.
Kelly Monaco Remembers Billy Miller
On Instagram, Monaco shared a photo of a typewritten note Miller penned in July 2019 after filming his final episode of GH, which had been his daytime home since 2014. Monaco wrote, “It’s Billy Millers Heavenly birthday. He sent me this a few years ago, after he left @generalhospitalabc wanting me to post it.. I didn’t. But… I know he wanted anyone who’s ever supported his work and or got to know him as a friend, to read this letter. He is a gift that keeps giving.”
Miller’s note reads: “Hello friends, With a slight air of sadness, it is time to ponder what ‘Goodbye’ means. However, instead of dwelling on what is gone and sure to be missed, there is another way. Maybe our goodbye is really a remembrance of love felt, an appreciation for lives shared, and the lifelong reminisces that come from embraces given and received. Maybe our goodbye is an earnest hope for the brightest path forward for us all. Maybe our goodbye is honoring growth and lessons learned. Now, instead of sadness, I am filled with gratitude for all your support, encouragement, and every emotion shared. I cherish the journey we have taken together. Thank you for allowing me into your homes and lives. With every ounce of myself, I thank you for being you. I would be remiss in this crazy, unpredictable world we all love so much if I did not hold out the possibility that maybe our GOODBYE is really….. UNTIL NEXT TIME. All My Love.”
The note was initially made public on July 28, 2019, via Miller’s longtime manager, Marnie Sparer, who posted it on her X (formerly Twitter) account.
During his years on GH, Miller and Monaco worked together closely as love interests, but they had actually crossed paths before becoming co-stars. When Miller and Monaco hosted a joint fan event, “Killy Live,” in 2019, the actor described first meeting Monaco through mutual friends, then reintroducing himself to her when they crossed paths in Las Vegas. He joked, “I thought she was absolutely stunning and gorgeous and she doesn’t remember me — so, so much for that fairy tale!”
At the same event, Monaco made her affection for Miller clear, declaring, “Your smile lights up the whole room. You are hysterical; you make me laugh. And especially when we have really brutal days at work and you have to be around someone 24/7, basically, I would, like, choose to be handcuffed to you.”
Miller’s final episode of GH aired on August 21, 2019. Monaco left the show in October 2024, when the show killed off her long-running character, Sam.
Prior to his run in Port Charles, Miller earned three Daytime Emmys for his portrayal of Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless, one for Outstanding Supporting Actor and two for Outstanding Lead Actor. He appeared on Y&R from 2008 until 2014.
Miller made his soap opera debut on All My Children, where he played Richie Novak from 2007 to 2008. In addition to his soap work, Miller appeared on primetime shows including Suits and Ray Donovan.
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