All My Children star Paul Avery and his wife Sheila have died at their home in Blairstown, New Jersey, after a fire broke out.
The couple were found unconscious and removed from the building by firefighters on Tuesday shortly after midnight but died from their injuries not long after.
Avery was 81 and best known for his role in the American soap All My Children, starring as Hughie the bartender for 12 years.
The couple’s daughter, Kyle Avery, said in a Facebook post: ‘I’m devastated to share that our parents, Paul and Sheila Garry Avery, passed away early this morning.
‘We loved them so much, and they loved us so much, and nobody ever had to wonder if that was so. We’re grateful to the Blairstown Fire Department for their efforts. Service plans to follow.’
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which was brought under control by 1am, according to local paper, Ridge View Echo.
As well as All My Children, Hughie appeared in shows such as Superman, Three’s Company and Tales from the Darkside over his 20-year acting career.
He moved to work as a journalist and editor in later life, writing film reviews and working across several papers before founding the Ridge View Echo.
In 2018, Sheila suffered a stroke, with her husband stepping down from some public responsibilities to become her full-time carer.
Avery, an active member of the Blairstown community, once wrote in his paper: ‘The great thing about living in a small town is that you can actively participate in it.’
Ridge View Echo employee Joe Phalon paid tribute to the late star, telling WFMZ: ‘I got a call saying what happened, and I just couldn’t believe it. I always like to call Paul the most interesting man in the world, because he was when you consider everything he’s done in his life. Acting, skydiving, Vietnam veteran, started a newspaper.’
He continued: ‘His death is going to leave a real void in this community. Not just Blairstown, but the towns around as well. I think we’ll really miss him, and I think it’s going to become more apparent over time.’