How did Sonya Eddy die? ‘General Hospital’ actress, 55, was on life support
Sonya Eddy died at the age of 55 on Tuesday, December 20. Her close friend Octavia Spencer broke the news via an Instagram post writing, "My friend @sonyaeddy passed away last night. The world lost another creative angel." While the reason for her death was not clarified then by Spencer, it has been revealed that the late soap opera actor suffered a post-surgery complication merely two weeks before her death.
Fondly known as Epiphany Johnson, the 'General Hospital' star majored in theatre and dance at the University of California and was a real-life licensed vocational nurse. After gaining quick recognition, she was seen in several shows and movies like 'Seinfeld', 'Patch Adams', 'Reba', 'Monk', 'Joan of Arcadia', 'CSI', 'Glee', 'Castle' and 'Fresh Off The Boat'. The 'GH' veteran was remembered by her colleagues and Frank Valentini, the executive producer of the show, tweeted, "I am heartbroken about the loss of the incredible @TheRealSonyaEd. I truly loved her not only as actress, but as a friend. The lights in the hub of the nurse’s station will now be a little dimmer, but her spirit and light will live on in both the show and our set." he also uploaded a picture with Eddy with a caption reading, "Heartbroken @GeneralHospital"
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I am heartbroken about the loss of the incredible @TheRealSonyaEd. I truly loved her not only as actress, but as a friend. The lights in the hub of the nurse’s station will now be a little dimmer, but her spirit and light will live on in both the show and our set.
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) December 20, 2022
Heartbroken 💔 @GeneralHospital pic.twitter.com/mU1d8XR649
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) December 20, 2022
Sonya Eddy's cause of death revealed
TMZ got in touch with Sonya Eddy's producing partner and close friend, Tyler Ford, who revealed that her health complications began after a scheduled surgery on December 9 which was not an emergency. After being released on December 11, Eddy started feeling sick again only to be admitted again on December 15 which is when the doctors identified a growing post-surgery infection. Ford explained that the doctors could not contain the infection and that on Monday morning Eddy has been placed on life support. The same night, she tragically died.
In a statement to USA Today, Tyler Ford said, "It with the heaviest heart that I have to announce the sudden passing of my business partner, creative soulmate, and best friend Sonya Eddy. She left an indelible imprint in every person that she touched, through the screen and off." Eddy was not only a real-life licensed vocational nurse but she was also a veteran of the show as she appeared in 543 episodes of the long-running soap opera as the no-nonsense nurse that was the mother of the late Stan Johnson. Eddy debuted in 'The Drew Carey Show' back in 1995.