The soap star revealed he was diagnosed with a “rare, aggressive and incurable cancer” in his 2023 memoir.The soap star revealed he was diagnosed with a “rare, aggressive and incurable cancer” in his 2023 memoir.
“All My Children” alum Alan Dysert died on Friday. He was 75.
Alan’s wife, Michele, said on Facebook that she’s “heartbroken” over the soap star’s death.
“While I am struggling to imagine life without him, I am forever grateful to have experienced what so many people spend their lives searching for — the love of a lifetime,” she wrote.
Michele didn’t confirm Alan’s cause of death, but she said he “faced more than his share of health challenges over the years, yet he continued to approach life with determination, humor, and gratitude.”
“He fought hard for the life he loved,” Michele continued, “and I was honored to stand beside him through it all.”
Alan previously revealed in his 2023 memoir, “Lights, Camera, Cancer!,” that he was diagnosed with a “rare, aggressive and incurable cancer.”
He wrote in the book that his treatment included four major cancer-related surgeries, a recurrence, chemotherapy and 29 CT scans.
In her tribute to Alan, Michele recognized his “extraordinary life,” from his “humble beginnings” growing up in Illinois, to becoming “an actor, musician, writer, filmmaker, producer, and beloved acting teacher.”
Michele said that while most people knew Alan for his role as Sean Cudahy on “All My Children” in the 1980s, others knew him “as the teacher and mentor who encouraged them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.”
She also celebrated that Alan “had an incredible gift for storytelling, a wonderful sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, and a personality that could fill any room.”
Later in her message, Michele said the couple “shared a love that was truly special” and “loved traveling and laughing together.”
“He never needed a room full of people or an elaborate plan to enjoy ourselves,” she penned. “We genuinely loved each other’s company. Even after all our years together, life with Alan was never boring.”
At the end of her tribute, Michele called on Alan’s loved ones — including his two sons, Cody and Cooper — and “everyone whose life he touched” to remember him “with a smile, share a favorite story, and celebrate the joy he brought into this world.”
“My heart is broken, but I am so thankful for the love of a lifetime. I will love you always,” she concluded.
Alan grew up on a farm in rural Illinois, and pursued acting after he studied television at the University of Illinois.
He was best known for playing a con man in 79 episodes of “All My Children” from 1980 to 1990.
