The Young and the Restless fan favourite Kristoff St. John will rise back from the dead in a new documentary! The actor made his mark in soap history playing Neil Winters on Y&R from 1991 until his tragic death in 2019. A new documentary, slated to debut in 2025 and directed by the acclaimed Bobby Razak, delves into his life, all the sides- Good and Bad. Read on to know all about it!
The Young and the Restless: A New Documentary Announced
The upcoming documentary will shed light on the struggles with mental health and addiction that plagued Kristoff. The Y&R star bid farewell to the world at 52 due to a hypertrophic heart disease prompted by excessive alcohol use. The documentary Kristoff offers an intimate look at his life, with a trailer revealing some unknown details about his battles.
The trailer begins with a voiceover of St. John expressing his love for his “Hollywood life.” Then, it shows us his unusual childhood as a child actor on shows like Happy Days and Wonder Woman. Moreover, John’s ex-wife, Mia St. John, a multi-year world boxing champion, narrates parts of the film. And guess what? We can all hear John’s own voice detailing his disturbing experience.
The soap actor shared about his meeting with an Indian spiritual leader, Sathya Sai Baba. He claimed that the godman allegedly abused him under the guise of “divine purification.” Kris revealed, “I told my dad in Baba’s private room, Baba had fondled me and sworn me to secrecy.” St. John revived his acting career despite these early traumas, landing roles in various TV shows and films.
The Career Resurgence Couldn’t Help
However, Mia explains that his career resurgence coincided with a plunge into drug addiction. She recounts, “After Sathya Sai Baba and the sexual abuse, he started with crack. It became an obsession.” Furthermore, the boxer claims that the Y&R fame was bipolar and was suffering from a mental illness. Mia remarked, “One day before I gave birth, Kristoff started back on crack cocaine.” Kristoff would often go to work at Y&R suffering from delirium tremens due to alcohol withdrawal.
As a result, he could not remember his lines and work efficiently. To make matters worse, their son Julian also had mental health issues, and his suicide in 2014 devastated Kris. He described receiving the news as “the worst call I’d ever had in my life,” adding, “It’s every parent’s nightmare.” Mia revealed, “He couldn’t find a way out. He couldn’t save himself. Nobody could save him.”
As the trailer closes, zooming in on a portrait of Kristoff, his haunting words linger. He concludes, “It’s almost as if we invite madness and enjoy the pain.” The Y&R luminary is survived by his ex-wife Mia and their two children, Paris and Lola. Don’t forget to check out Soap Opera Daily for more such updates on The Young and the Restless celebs. And do catch Kristoff for diving deep into his troubled life!
