We seem to be mourning the young this week. The NY Times reports today on the death of a young man who had roles on some TV shows before dying an early death at the age of 35. If you think your life is tough, well, read on.

Neil Hope "grew up in the 1980s before an audience of millions as a star in a pair of gritty Canadian television dramas, “Degrassi Junior High” and its sequel, “Degrassi High.”

"Mr. Hope had few secrets left after his five years in the role of the troubled teenage character Derek (Wheels) Wheeler. The show’s producers admitted all along that the story of Wheels, a boy who stumbles through misfortunes before drifting into alcoholism, drew broadly on the life of Mr. Hope, who never had formal acting training."

And in 2007, Mr. Hope died, so alone that his death has just now been learned about by his family. The article linked here is worth reading, as the tale of a young man who plays on TV for five years and ends up dead at 35 is thankfully an unusual story: He Died Five Years Ago

Kind of reminds me of another recent death of minor TV actor...

And in 2007, Mr. Hope died, so alone that his death has just now been learned about by his family. The article linked here is worth reading, as the tale of a young man who plays on TV for five years and ends up dead at 35 is thankfully an unusual story: He Died Five Years Ago

A sad but fascinating article to read.