BIOGRAPHY AND WIKIPEDIA: General Hospital actress, Sonya Eddy, has died

Sonya Eddy’s producing partner and close friend, Tyler Ford, tells us she had a scheduled surgery on December 9 — it wasn’t an emergency. 

He says she was released from the hospital on the 11th, but started to feel ill again, and went back to the hospital on the 15th … when doctors discovered she’d developed a serious infection.

Tyler tells us the infection was uncontainable, and doctors told him Monday morning she’d been placed on life support … she died Monday night. Sonya Eddy’s producing partner and close friend, Tyler Ford, tells us she had a scheduled surgery on December 9 — it wasn’t an emergency. He says she was released from the hospital on the 11th, but started to feel ill again, and went back to the hospital on the 15th … when doctors discovered she’d developed a serious infection.

Tyler tells us the infection was uncontainable, and doctors told him Monday morning she’d been placed on life support … she died Monday night.

Sonya Eddy’s producing partner and close friend, Tyler Ford, tells us she had a scheduled surgery on December 9 — it wasn’t an emergency. He says she was released from the hospital on the 11th, but started to feel ill again, and went back to the hospital on the 15th … when doctors discovered she’d developed a serious infection.

Tyler tells us the infection was uncontainable, and doctors told him Monday morning she’d been placed on life support … she died Monday night.

Sonya Eddy, known for her work on “General Hospital,” has died … according to her close friend Octavia Spencer.

Octavia shared the sad news on social media Tuesday … telling the world her friend passed away the night before. She says, “The world lost another creative angel” … noting her “legions” of fans will truly miss her. The cause of her death is unclear.

Apart from the soap, Sonya’s been working in the industry for decades — starting in 1995 on “The Drew Carey Show,” and going on to appear in projects like “Seinfeld,” “Patch Adams,” “Reba,” “Monk,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “CSI,” “Glee,” “Castle,” and “Fresh Off The Boat.”

Eddy joined the long-running hospital drama in 2006 as the frank, no-nonsense nurse, and played the role for 543 episodes, appearing as recently as this past October. The character served as head nurse, and was the mother to Stan Johnson (played by Kiko Ellsworth) who was killed off from the show in 2007 following a mob hit. In real life, Eddy was also a licensed vocational nurse.

“She left an indelible imprint in every person that she touched, through the screen and off,” Tyler Ford, her producing partner at Eddy Ford Entertainment, said in a statement.

She was born in Concord, Calif., on June 17, 1967, and began her foray into acting in college, studying theatre and dance at the University of California, Davis. She received her bachelors of arts degree in 1992, but began her acting career with Ruby Dee’s play “Zora Is My Name” in 1990. Eddy’s additional stage credits include “The Comedy of Errors,” portraying The Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and playing Bloody Mary in “South Pacific.”

Her career in television spans roles on shows such as “Married…With Children,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Murphy Brown,” “Seinfeld,” “Home Improvement” and a recurring role in “Joan of Arcadia.” In addition to her tenured role as Epiphany Johnson on “General Hospital,” Eddy also played the character in the show’s primetime spinoff series, “General Hospital: Night Shift,” and was upped to a main cast member on the short-lived series.

“The world lost another creative angel,” Eddy’s friend and fellow actor Octavia Spencer wrote on Instagram. “Her legions of ‘General Hospital’ fans will miss her.”

In honor of Eddy’s memory, donations can be made to The Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association Inc.

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ‘My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones, friends, and fans!

The cause of death is currently unknown. 

Parks and Recreation star Retta commented: ‘Oh noooo. So sorry Octavia.’

Eric Stonestreet commented two heart emoji, while Ant Anstead penned: ‘I’m so sorry x x.’

Eddy was born in Concord, California. She majored in Theatre and Dance at University of California, Davis and received her B.A. in 1992.

She made her acting debut in the Ruby Dee’s play Zora Is My Name in 1990. She also appeared on stage in productions such as The Comedy of Errors and Bloody Mary in South Pacific.

She moved to Los Angeles to further her acting career and has appeared in shows including Married… with Children, Seinfeld and Home Improvement, Joan of Arcadia., Those Who Can’t, Glee, 2 Broke Girls and Fresh Off the Boat.  

General Hospital Executive Producer Frank Valentini paid tribute to the star, saying: ‘I am heartbroken about the loss of the incredible Sonya Eddy. I truly loved her not only as an actress but as a friend. 

‘The lights in the hub of the nurses’ station will now be a bit dimmer, but her spirit and light will live on in both the show and our set. On behalf of the entire GH cast and crew, we send our deepest sympathy to her family, friends, and fans. She will be very missed.’