Beloved General Hospital actor dies "sitting on a horse" while filming
Veteran soap opera actor Jay Pickett, has died at age 60.
His wife, Elena Pickett, was the one to confirm his death.
Best known for his roles in General Hospital, Days of Our Lives and Port Charles, Pickett passed away while away from his family in Idaho.
News broke of the actor’s death on Friday when actor and film producer Jim Heffel shared a touching note about their friendship on Facebook.
“Yesterday I lost a good friend and the world lost a great person,” Heffel wrote.
“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 went on to say: “Jay wrote the story and starred in it. He was also coproducer with myself and Vernon Walker. He will be truly missed.
“Ride like the wind partner.”
He was filming a scene for his upcoming movie Treasure Valley when he passed, his film's director, Travis Mills went on to say in a touching post.
"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," Mills posted on the film's official Facebook page.
"Our hearts are broken, and we grieve for his family who are so devastated by this shocking tragedy."
"He was doing what he loved: acting, riding horses, making movies. And he was magnificent," he continued.
Mills said that while his death is not confirm, it seems he passed from “a heart attack.”
Mills added that everyone who was there did their best "to keep him alive."
He went on to describe Pickett as an “incredible man” who was “kind, sweet and generous.”
“He was one of the best actors I ever worked with and it was an honor to collaborate with him,” he continued. “Everyone who met him, even for the briefest moment, could feel his warmth, his wonderful spirit. It is difficult to find the words right now to say more. His closest friends have said that he was very happy making Treasure Valley and my hope is that he truly was.”
The director finished his devastating post with a touching note, writing, “He was doing what he loved: acting, riding horses, making movies. And he was magnificent.”
Jay is survived by his wife Elena, and their three children, Maegan, Michaela and Tyler.