Soap Star David Canary Dies at 77

His former co-stars like Kelly Ripa tweeted about the loss.

ByABC News
November 24, 2015, 6:29 PM

— -- Emmy-winning actor David Canary has died at the age of 77, according to his obituary in the Wilton Bulletin, the actor's local Connecticut paper.

The "All My Children" star died on Nov. 16 of natural causes, the obituary added. Canary played twins Adam and Stuart on the hit soap show, on which "Live with Kelly & Michael" host Kelly Ripa played his daughter. She tweeted her condolences shortly after the news broke.

"So sad to learn of the passing of the great David Canary. A incredibly talented actor. A wonderful man. I was lucky to know you," she wrote.

Another "AMC" co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar also tweeted about Canary.

"#rip #DavidCanary You were the epitome of class. It was a joy and an honor to call you a colleague. #AllMyChildren," she wrote.

The Indiana native was certainly more than just a soap star. He was featured in "Hombre" opposite Paul Newman in 1967 and in the hit series "Bonanza" in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

But it was his three-decade run on "All My Children," which began in the 1980's, that won him five Daytime Emmy Awards. Canary then retired from acting full-time in 2010.

Canary is survived by his wife Maureen, his son Christopher and his daughter Kathryn. The paper added that Canary and his wife were extremely active in the Wilton community and that the couple of more than 30 years was "named Distinguished Citizens of the Year by the Wilton YMCA" in 2005.

"His volunteer efforts included performing in a production of Love Letters to benefit A Better Chance (ABC) of Wilton and emceeing and singing in the Wilton Kiwanis Club’s annual holiday concert. He was also an active volunteer with the Friends of Wilton Library," his obituary noted.

A memorial tribute will be set for a later date, according to the Canary family via the Wilton Bulletin.