Melissa Claire Egan Tears Up Remembering Late 'Young and the Restless' Co-Star Billy Miller (Exclusive)

Kate Linder, Brytni Sarpy and Bryton James also remembered the late soap opera star.

Melissa Claire Egan is remembering Billy Miller. ET's Deidre Behar spoke with The Young and the Restless actress ahead of this year's Daytime Emmy Awards, and she got emotional discussing her co-star, who died by suicide in September.

"I want to cry. He's the greatest," Egan, who plays Chelsea Lawson on Y&R, told ET. "Being here, there are a lot of Billy memories, because he, like, won 100 of these because he was so good. He was just the best."

"We love his sister and his mom, Pat. We just send them so much love," she added. "These things are a big reminder of him, so it's emotional, but his amazing work and his amazing generosity and memory will live on forever."

Egan noted that the Y&R cast works to keep Miller's memory alive in multiple ways, including a video tribute that was played during their holiday party earlier this month.

"He just means so much to every single person, every single crew member, every single actor, everyone has such a soft spot for Billy Miller," she said of the actor, who played Billy Abbott on the soap. "We just talk about him a lot at work. We had him in the video last night. He's just always on our minds."

"We're always sharing stories, because he was such a riot," Egan continued. "He was so funny that we're like, 'Billy would love that. Billy would do that. Billy would think that was funny.' We just talk about him a lot and keep his memory alive, because I know he's here with us tonight for sure."

Kate Linder also remembered Miller, telling ET, "It's just so sad. He played my son-in-law on the show, so I knew him. I'm very sad. We all are. We're all very sad."

"I feel his presence too," Linder, who plays Esther Valentine on Y&R, added. "We have to keep going, and we have to do great, and win for him. He was a brilliant actor. There was something about that smile and that look in his eye. I'll never forget it. He was always kind."

Brytni Sarpy, the actress behind Elena Dawson, admitted that Miller's death "chokes me up still now."

"I've known Billy since my General Hospital days, so this is eight years of a relationship," she said. "He's one of the best people I've ever met, and such a bright star. The world is a little dimmer without him. Billy was a light. He will always be a light. He was the most charismatic, kind person... He's missed."

Bryton James noted that the cast is "doing as well as we can be" in the wake of Miller's death.

"It's unbelievably unfortunate. I can only wish the best to his family. I hope that he's at peace," the actor, who plays Devon Hamilton on Y&R, added. "He was a fun, fun guy. He always had a smile on his face. I think that's what made his character and his acting so great, was that he brought himself and that spark of fun... He was one of the best."

After Miller's death just before his 44th birthday, his mother, Patricia Miller, told Soap Opera Digest that her son died after "a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression." 

"He did everything he could to control the disease. He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life," she said in part. "... We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss."

Months later, Miller's death was ruled a suicide by gunshot wound to the head. According to the Travis County Medical Examiner's report, which ET obtained, Miller suffered from bipolar disorder and depression.

He was found deceased in the bathtub of his home and was pronounced dead at the scene. The report also states that multiple letters indicating suicidal intent and instructions for others were discovered at the scene. 

A toxicology report found that Miller had ethanol (alcohol), and traces of cocaine, diphenhydramine (allergy, cold pills), marijuana and amphetamines present in his system at the time of death. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

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