The Tragic Demise of Actor John Dye ('Touched By An Angel'), His Last Name and 'The Angel of Death'

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It's been thirteen years since the tragic demise of actor John Dye, who was only 47 years old. When he died in 2011, the cause of his passing was not immediately determined, though his relatives at the time believed he had suffered an apparent heart attack. Since that time, the reason for his death has since been further detailed via a death certificate issued in May 2011. That document concluded that the beloved actor died from accidental "acute methamphetamine intoxication."

The Ironic Overtones of His Death

John Dye was best known for portraying the Angel of Death on TV's Touched By An Angel (CBS, 1995-2005), and his last name was "Dye." Both facts are tragic ironies, mostly because he was so young when he left this world.

A Closer Look

John Dye was born on January 31, 1963, in Amory, Mississippi, the son of Jim C. Dye, a furniture manufacturer, and Lynn Maree (Duvall), a homemaker. Dye and his two younger brothers, Jamey and Jerre, were raised as devout Methodists.

As a child, Dye's favorite TV show was the acclaimed animated series Jonny Quest (ABC, 1964-1965), and his favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz (1939).

An early career break arrived when he was cast in TV commercials for Taco Bell, wearing toy chickens across his jacket.

Off-screen, Dye wore a ring on his right hand; a family heirloom passed on down to him by his maternal grandfather, John Louis "Poppa" Duvall, of whom he was quite fond.

Beyond the Angel of Death

Beyond his performance as the Angel of Death on Touched By An Angel, John Dye appeared in movies like the martial arts classic The Best of the Best, and in other TV shows such as Murder, She Wrote.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dye resided at the Fontenoy Tower apartments in Hollywood, alongside neighbors Johnny Depp and Crispin Glover.

In his spare time, he enjoyed playing tennis and swimming. He never married or had children. His brother Jerre Dye, also an actor, is the artistic director of a local theatre group called Voices of the South.

Dye passed away in San Francisco, though his final resting place is Haughton Memorial Park in his hometown of Amory, Mississippi.