Family of the late actor John Callahan were restricted to seeing him in hospital after he suffered a stroke due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
The All My Children actor died suddenly on Saturday following a “huge stroke” and was aged 66 - leaving behind a 19-year-old daughter named Kaya from his former marriage to All My Children co-star Eva LaRue, 53.
TMZ reported that John had suffered a stroke while at home in Palm Desert, California, with paramedics rushing to the scene on Friday night.
The actor was put on life support in a hospital in Rancho Mirage - but passed away on Saturday.
“Callahan's rep says his death is NOT related to COVID-19,” TMZ reported as news of the death broke.
“Nonetheless, some of John's family members were only able to see him for a short while due to hospital restrictions currently in place all over the country because of the coronavirus,” they added.
Ex-wife Eva paid tribute to the actor and highlighted his parenting commitments and love for sport.
“We are extremely saddened and distraught over the loss of John,” she said in a statement.
"He was my great friend, co-parent and an amazing father to Kaya,” she continued.
“The absence of his bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. Words cannot express the shock and devastation we are feeling at this time. The Yankees just lost one of their greatest fans,” she added.
Meanwhile former All My Children co-star and Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon Sarah Michelle Gellar also paid tribute to the actor - sharing a string of throwback photos of him on social media.
"This is all too much, especially right now, but I want the world to know how much you meant to so many people. #RIPJohnCallahan,” the actress wrote online.
She highlighted a photo of him posing with her at her graduation, writing: "He stepped into a lot of moments in my life because I didn't have a father to be there."
