Soap opera actor Billy Miller tragically passed away last week and his mother just released a heartbreaking statement in which she confirmed his cause of death.

It was previously reported that Billy died on Friday (September 15) at the age of 43 following a battle with manic depression.

Billy was a three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner, best known for his role as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless and his work on General Hospital.

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Patricia Miller released a statement to Soap Opera Digest on Monday to respond to false narratives surrounding Billy‘s death. She confirmed he died by suicide.

“I would like to share the following thoughts,” Patricia said. “I want to personally thank the many fans & personal friends for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers & condolences sent to me and my family on the devastating death of my beautiful son BJ — Billy Miller. He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease. He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life. The other causes of death being told are not true. I wish they were but they just aren’t. We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss. I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support.”

Our thoughts continue to be with Billy Miller‘s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.