Kristian Ealey, best known for playing Matt Musgrove in Channel 4 soaps Brookside and Hollyoaks, has died at the age of 38.
Ealey began playing Musgrove in Brookside from 1998 before taking the character to sister soap Hollyoaks from 2000 to 2004. He was the first actor to play the same character in two soaps.
It's reported that the actor was in Italy at the time of his death and no cause of death has been confirmed.
Apart from his acting career, Ealey was a member of the band Tramp Attack, which featured Dave McCabe, who went on to join The Zutons. Ealey also appeared as Ringo Starr in the film In His Life: The John Lennon Story.
In a statement, Lime Pictures, the company who make Hollyoaks, said: "Many crew worked with Kristian on both Brookside and Hollyoaks and enjoyed following his musical success after leaving the show. The news has been met with shock and sadness on set and our thoughts are with his family at this time."
Former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson paid tribute to Ealey, calling him "a lovely, lovely man", while his former co-star on Brookside, Suzanne Collins also spoke of her shock at the news.
"I'm very privileged to have called him a friend," she said.
"It has shocked us all to the core. Kris was full of life, full of smiles and so full of music."
