Thom Christopher Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
Daytime Emmy winner Thom Christopher, who played mob boss Carlo Hesser and his twin brother Mortimer Bern on the soap opera One Life to Live, has died at the age of 84.
His death was confirmed in a social media post by his former TV son, Anthony Crivello.
“My dear friend of many years, actor #ThomChristopher passed today,” Crivello, 69, wrote via Facebook on Thursday, December 5. “He was always a gentleman, always supportive, and he and his wife Judith who [preceded] him in death, were always gracious to me and welcoming.”
While sharing throwback photos with his former costar, Crivello recalled just some of his favorite memories with the actor.
Hollywood mourned many celebrities in 2024. Speed Racer star Christian Oliver (born Christian Klepser) died at the age of 51 during a fatal plane crash on January 5. Oliver was traveling home from a Caribbean vacation with his two daughters — Madita and Annik, whom he shared with wife Jessica Klepser — on January 4. […]
“Thom and I worked together on the #abc daytime series #onelifetolive in the 1990s,” he shared with pictures. “We’re seen here with the lovely #audrylanders who played my sister, and Thom my father. It was a wonderful time, difficult hours and long days, but joyful each minute. May Thom fly on Wings of Angels to be beside his beloved Judith, and may they enjoy each other’s company once again, beside the ‘Pearly Gates’ of heaven.”
The actor’s cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Thom Christopher Walter McBride/INFphoto.com
Christopher’s friend and celebrity photographer Steven Bergman also confirmed the news via Facebook, writing, “Thom has been sick for quite awhile now and fought through it all like a champ. We spoke 2-3 times a month and always had great long conversations. He was such a smart man who gave great advice and told such fantastic stories.”
Christopher got his start in soap operas during the ‘50s by playing Noel Douglas on The Edge of Night. He went on to become a journeyman actor in TV with roles in Cannon, Kojak, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Murder, She Wrote and Simon & Simon.
In 1990, he joined the cast of ABC’s One Life to Live as mobster Carlo Hessler. The role earned him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1992.
“This is absolutely incredible,” he shared in his acceptance speech. “It’s an incredible group of people. I’m so proud to be with the actors of One Life to Live and I thank you very much.”
Getty Images(2);Barry King The soap opera world has mourned the loss of several stars through the years who have died too soon. Actors like Alec Musser, David Gail and Billy Miller left fans shocked after their unexpected deaths. When news of Miller’s death broke in September 2023, several celebrities took to social media to pay […]
Christopher also gave thanks to the writers and producers for “pushing my character to the nth degree.”
While his character was killed off after two years, his work in soap operas didn’t end.
Instead, he began playing Mortimer Bern, Carlo’s twin, on and off between 1996 and 2008. He also was able to guest star on shows like Law & Order and Guiding Light.
