John Dye

Dead, John Carroll Dye on January 10, 2011 at the age of 48, he was an American film and television actor known for his role as Andrew in the television series Touched by an Angel.

Born in Amory, Mississippi on January 31, 1963, one of three sons, to James and Lynn Dye, a furniture manufacturer and homemaker, he was introduced to acting by playing the role of the youngest von Trapp child in a school production of The Sound of Music at Cleveland High School (CHS) in Cleveland, Tennessee.

He performed as a trombonist in the CHS band program. While performing at Tupelo High School as Friedrich von Trapp, the eldest son, again in The Sound of Music Dye found himself bitten by the acting bug.

In 1986 he starred alongside actresses Virginia Madsen and Cynthia Gibb in the comedy film Modern Girls.

In 1987 Dye got his first leading role, in the film Campus Man, as Todd Barrett.

That same year, he re-teamed with Nelson in the television miniseries Billionaire Boys Club.

In 1989, he starred alongside actors James Earl Jones and Eric Roberts in the martial-arts drama Best of the Best.

He was cast as Private Francis “Doc Hoc” Hockenbury in the last season of Tour of Duty.

When the series finished, he moved on to short-lived series such as Jack’s Place (1992) and Hotel Malibu (1994).

In 1994, he appeared as Andrew the “Angel of Death” on Touched by an Angel with Roma Downey & Della Reese.

Originally cast as a recurring character, by the third season he was made a regular cast member as his character quickly became popular.

The show ran for nine seasons before ending in April 2003.

The cause of death hasn’t been determined, according to medical examiner investigator Charles Cecil, but relatives said Dye suffered apparent heart failure.

The condition, also known as congestive heart failure, is a chronic condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

As the heart’s pumping ability declines, blood can back up in other areas of the body, damaging organs and causing fluid build-up in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and the arms and legs.

Heart failure often develops gradually in the aftermath of a heart attack, though it can also come on suddenly – sometimes the result of an infection.

As news of Dye’s death began to spread Thursday afternoon, his “Touched by an Angel” co-star Valerie Bertinelli posted a message to him on her Twitter account: “Dear, sweet John Dye, rest in peace.”