Ben Hider/Getty ImagesMatthew Cowles passed away at home Thursday. He was 69.
Cowles played All My Children villain Billy Clyde Tuggle when the show aired on ABC, and he reprised the role for its online reboot. The two-time Daytime Emmy nominee is survived by his wife of 30 years, Christine Baranski, and their daughters, Isabel and Lily. Former All My Children writer Jean Passanante tweeted her condolences Sunday, calling Cowles "a sweet man and a uniquely talented actor."
The late actor's manager, Tsu Tsu Stanton, confirmed his death via Twitter Friday. "He was a very gifted and kind man who loved life and everyone," she said of Cowles, a born-and-raised New Yorker.
Cady McClain, Cowles' former All My Children co-star, called his passing "so sad" on Twitter. The soap opera actress told her followers, "What a lovely man... I adored working with him last year. So kind."
Cowles was born on Sept. 28, 1944, and his career spanned both the stage and screen. His Broadway roles include Malcolm (1966), The Time of Your Life (1969) and Sweet Bird of Youth (1975). His movie credits include Slap Shot (1977), Stars and Bars (1988), The Juror (1996), American Loser (2007), Shutter Island (2010), and many more. His most recent short film, Family on Board (2014), is currently in post-production. His televisions credits include The Bold and Beautiful, Oz, Life on Mars and more.
He also wrote three plays: Mexican Standoff at Fat Squaw Springs, Our Daily Bread and Noblesse Oblige.