News
Hunter Tylo Reflects on Son Mickey’s Tragic Death, and Refusing to Play Trauma Surrounding Phoebe’s Death on B&B; “My Pain is Not for Sale”
The original Taylor Hayes of The Bold and the Beautiful, Hunter Tylo, recently made two surprise livestream appearances. It is the first time in several years that anyone had heard publicly from Tylo herself. As previously reported, she showed up as a guest on the Unexpected Cosmology You Tube Channel.
One of the more emotional and heated moments came when Hunter was asked about getting a start in show business as an actor. In her response, and to make a point, she recalled some of the harrowing moments that led to her beloved then 19-year old son, Mickey Tylo, falling into the family pool after having an epileptic seizure and dying back in October of 2007. Meanwhile, on-screen, Taylor’s daughter, Phoebe Forrester (MacKenzie Mauzy) died in a car crash on an episode that aired in December of 2008.
In the story, Phoebe came back to town and she was mortified to find Rick (then, Kyle Lowder) in bed with her mother! Later in 2008, Phoebe learned Rick kissed her fraternal twin-sister Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) against her will. When Phoebe confronted Rick at his office about it, he tried to get away. She followed him to his car and got in with him. As he drove, she became physical, hitting him. Rick lost control of the vehicle and then crashed. While Rick survived, Phoebe died in her father, Ridge’s (then Ronn Moss) arms.
Photo: JPI
While Hunter seemed a bit off on her dates; as to when her son passed away and then having to play the reaction to Phoebe’s death as Taylor on The Bold and the Beautiful; she explained how being an actor on a soap, or in film or primetime, can be difficult, and how she has gotten a “reputation” over the years for standing up for herself.
Hunter explained, “I don’t think people understand what they’re getting into by wanting to be an actor or an actress. I have, in the past, temperamentally walked off off of a set. I have refused to say things or do things because either they didn’t jive with what I believe in, or I could just see how flat out wrong it was.” Next, Tylo began to illustrate how sometimes soap writers may use actors real-life experiences and write it to their storylines.
MICKEY TYLO’S DEATH
Hunter added,“They (the writers) will start taking your real life and then they’ll write it into the story. So, you get to live it twice. In real life, my 19-year-old son, used to go to all these concerts. He wanted to be a DJ. We were living near Vegas. I used to commute to L.A, because I hated L.A. He would go to all these concerts. He was hanging out with “Panic at the Disco, and all these guys who were just getting started in Vegas. They were making him their promoter. Mickey was getting overstimulated by all of the flashing lights and probably the grinding crazy music that also scrambles your brain with death tone frequencies. He ended up getting epilepsy from it, and by time he was 19 1/2, it killed him, because he went outside to get phone reception at our house in Vegas and he had a seizure at that moment. He fell in the pool and no one was there. Unfortunately, his brother had to find him.”
Photo: JPI
REFUSING TO PLAY SCENES FOLLOWING PHOEBE’S DEATH ON THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
“The next thing I know in the script, one of my daughters dies. She gets hit and killed in a car wreck,” recounted Hunter. “I’m like, ‘What? I can’t do that. I can’t do this!’ This only happened like three weeks ago or two or whatever, however long it was. I don’t know. Each day (I was supposed to show up for work) I noticed I was getting later and later coming to the set. My body was saying, ‘Don’t do this. Do not relive this because you’re going to have to use real life to get the tears to flow. You’re going have a meltdown or something.’ There were a lot of people talking who were bad mouthing me (saying), “Look at her. She’s late to the set all the time. Look at her. She’s just acting like a drama queen.”
Photo: JPI
Hunter recalled the time she refused to perform a key moment in the story: “They wrote a scene where I’m supposed to go to the morgue to identify my daughter, which everybody knows what a parent would really have to do. I did have to go through that, and they wanted me to reenact it, live it, and do this whole thing of grieving and holding her body and her toes and her hands, and kissing their head like you do. I wasn’t going to do that. I said, ‘I don’t care. Fire me. Goodbye. This ain’t happening. I mean, it’s not for sale. My pain is not for sale, okay?”‘
UNDERSTANDING THE STRESS OF BEING AN ACTOR
As she finished her recollections, Tylo ended with, “So, that’s why I say to anybody who wants to be an actor know what you’re getting into. You don’t understand the stress. It’s not all roses. It’s not all flashy cars and limos and gowns and red carpets and lights are flashing and everybody loves you. It’s not. Sometimes people hate your guts and sometimes you’re doing stuff that is extremely traumatizing to yourself. So that’s my two- cents.”
You can check out the moment during her livestream conversation where Hunter brings up her son’s tragic death and Phoebe’s on-screen death on The Bold and the Beautiful below.
Now, let us know, what are your thoughts on an actor having to relive something close to a real-life tragedy that impacted them significantly? Do you remember Phoebe’s death on B&B? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Hunter Tylo tells how three weeks after her son’s tragic death, writers wanted her to film the scenes with Phoebe’s death on the show and she refused. #BoldandBeautiful pic.twitter.com/aW1Kpspfbv
— Tridge Family – Bold and Beautiful (@DrTaylorHayesBB) August 9, 2025
I admire Hunter for refusing to do a storyline while she was grieving the loss of her son. Brad bell was wrong to even write a storyline so personal.
Hunter Tylo always seemed to be the class of B&B even dealing with such stupid stories. Just reread the recap of the lead-up to Phoebe’s death, for example. Ridge’s step/half brother and/or stepson Rick (depending on who is married to whom when) — son of his dad (Eric, who raised him) and his true love Brooke — was in bed with Taylor, his step/half brother and/or stepfather’s on-again/off-again wife, and mother of his children, twins Phoebe and Steffy, at times Rick’s stepsisters, or first cousins once removed. And Rick romanced both of them and their mother, his step sister-in-law.
Well, that’s an actor’s job. It was a year later. I do agree having to do the morgue scene would be tough. Hopefully she could talk to the writers, etc. and explain.
I don’t think epilepsy is brought on by being around flashing lights.
Agreed on both points. Perhaps the writers could have been a lot more sensitive Tylo’s emotions in writing elements of that story, given the loss of her son the prior year. That said, she returned to her *job* as an actress *on a soap opera* and surely had to expect that she would be asked to portray sadness and grief again eventually. Grief does weird things, so I won’t judge her for it *feeling like* it was weeks after her son passed away — that truly would have been unspeakably cruel — but it really wasn’t.
On your latter point, yes and no — while flashing lights/sensory overload can absolutely set off epileptic seizure episodes for those who already have the condition, you are correct: you can’t actually acquire the condition itself that way. While they don’t know the exact cause for people to get the condition itself, it’s usually related to genetics or a brain/head trauma issue. There’s no valid research to suggest that someone can get it by being around things that trigger episodes in people who already have it. Doesn’t mean he didn’t have epilepsy or that it didn’t contribute to his death, but it’s odd that she’d blame it on him being around the music scene.
Still don’t know why Brad brought her back one year later just to destroy her character. She was on Larry King after her son died I believe she did sue the doctor for malpractice but nothing came of it she has had a tragic life ups and downs but to me she was the only Taylor. Hope she comes to peace and moves on Brad destroyed the character so I’m happy for her not to come back .
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!
Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.
The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”
Photo; Kensington Books
CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE
The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds, “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill Abbott. Two Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”
“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”
“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”
WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?
Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.
This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.
So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Song ‘Pray’ Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms with Music Video Forthcoming
‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
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