(L-R) Kristoff St. John and Mia St. John were pictured attending the 20th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on May 26, 1993 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.Photo:Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Kristoff St. John’s former wife is looking back on their time together, both the highs and the lows.
During an appearance onTamron Hall, the late actor’s ex Mia St. Johnopened up about how the pair met— and how she knew instantly she wanted to pursue him.
“Kristoff and I met at an AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] meeting, and he was fresh out of rehab. I had only [been] days sober, but the funny thing is when I saw him at the meeting and I recognized him, I used to watch him every week on a show calledCharlie & Co.withGladys Knightand Flip Wilson and so I thought, ‘How am I going to get his attention? I want to go out with this guy, I’m in love with him,'" she recalled.
Mia St. John i pictured on ‘Tamron Hall’.ABC/Jeff Neira
ABC/Jeff Neira
Kristoff and Mia wed in 1991. They later welcomed daughter Paris and son Julian before divorcing in 1995.
Of realizing when their relationship was no longer working, Mia recalled to hostTamron Hallthat things changed “the night before I gave birth to our first son.”
“Kristoff was gone. We found him the next morning. He had gone on a binge and at the time. He was addicted to crack cocaine,” she explained. “Also, what people didn’t know is that stayed under wraps for his whole career was that he was suffering frombipolar [disorder].”
“He had called me that morning, not wanting to live anymore and had decided that he was going to end his life,” she told Hall, 53. “And I have to also note that Kristoff didn’t really want to end his life. This was a state of intoxication.”
Mia added, “He was grieving and he was intoxicated, so I look at it as something that was accidental but it’s something to definitely be aware of what alcohol can do to someone who’s grieving.”
Kristoff St. John pictured as Neil Winters on ‘The Young and the Restless’.Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty
Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty
Kristoff was best known for playing Neil Winters onThe Young and the Restlessfrom 1991 until his death. His efforts on the CBS soap earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards and 10 NAACP Image Awards.
His many other prominent acting credits included roles onGenerations,Roots: The Next GenerationsandThe Bad News Bears.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
