Former Degrassi star Neil Hope reported dead 4.5 years later
Posted February 16, 2012 2:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
News of the death of Neil Hope, who starred as the character Wheels in the popular Degrassi series that ran through the 1980s, has come more than four years after the actor passed away.
Hope apparently died of natural causes in Hamilton at the age of 35 in November 2007, according to a Facebook memorial page. There was no public announcement at the time.
On Thursday afternoon, Stephen Stohn, president of Epitome Pictures, the company that created and produced the old Degrassi series as well as its newest incarnation Degrassi: The Next Generation, posted a statement online.
“Neil and his character Wheels in the early Degrassi deeply touched many lives,” he posted on Twitter.
“We have respected the privacy of the family by not saying anything until now, but our entire team is very emotional about his passing.”
Degrassi creator Linda Schuyler said Hope made an important contribution to the lives of those involved with the show and to fans around the world.
A spokeswoman for Epitome Pictures said the company had lost contract with Hope over the past several years. Hope starred in The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High and Degrassi: The Next Generation.
His character Wheels, who was best friends with Joey Jeremiah and Snake, struggled with alcoholism on the show. Hope also publicly shared his own and his parents’ struggles with alcohol.
