John Dye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Dye
Dye in 2008
Born	John Carroll Dye (1963-01-31)January 31, 1963 Amory, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	January 10, 2011(2011-01-10) (aged 47) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Resting place	Haughton Memorial Park, Amory, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1984–2009

John Carroll Dye (born January 31, 1963 – died January 10, 2011) was an American actor. He was well-known for playing the character Andrew in the TV show Touched by an Angel. This show was a popular spiritual drama series.

John Dye's Early Life and Acting Start

John Dye was born in Amory, Mississippi. He was one of four sons. His father, Jim, made furniture, and his mother, Lynn, was a homemaker. The family raised their sons in the Methodist church.

Moving and School Days

Later, his family moved to Cleveland, Tennessee. John went to Cleveland High School there. He then moved to Tupelo, Mississippi, where he graduated from Tupelo High School.

Discovering a Passion for Acting

John first tried acting in a school play. He played Friedrich, the oldest boy in The Sound of Music. He enjoyed acting so much that he decided he wanted to be an actor.

Choosing a Career Path

After high school, John went to Mississippi State University. He first wanted to become a civil rights lawyer. But after one year, he decided to follow his dream of acting. He then transferred to Memphis State and studied theater.

John Dye's Acting Career Highlights

While in Memphis, John found out about a movie being filmed nearby. It was called Making the Grade (1984). He got his first movie role in it, playing a character named "Skip."

Early Roles in Film and Music Videos

In 1985, John appeared in a music video. It was for the ZZ Top song "Sleeping Bag." He acted alongside other stars like Tracey Walter. In 1986, he was in the comedy movie Modern Girls. He starred with actresses Virginia Madsen and Cynthia Gibb.

First Main Roles and TV Appearances

In 1987, John got his first main role in a movie. He played Todd Barrett in the film Campus Man. That same year, he worked again with actor Judd Nelson in a TV mini-series. It was called Billionaire Boys Club. In 1989, he starred in the martial-arts movie Best of the Best. He acted with James Earl Jones and Eric Roberts.

Becoming a TV Star

John started appearing on television in 1987. In 1989, he joined the TV show Tour of Duty. He played Private Francis "Doc Hoc" Hockenbury for the show's last season. After that, he was in other short TV series. These included Jack's Place (1992) and Hotel Malibu (1994).

Touched by an Angel Role

In 1996, John Dye joined the cast of Touched by an Angel. He played Andrew, who was known as the "Angel of Death." He worked with Roma Downey and Della Reese on the show. At first, his character was only supposed to appear sometimes. But Andrew became very popular. So, by the third season, John became a regular cast member. The show was very successful and ran for nine seasons. It ended in April 2003.

Later Projects

In 2000, John starred in a TV movie called Once Upon a Christmas. The next year, he was in its sequel, Twice Upon a Christmas. Also in 2000, he appeared in a documentary. It was titled Journey to a Hate Free Millennium.

John Dye's Passing

John Dye was found dead in his home. This happened in San Francisco on January 10, 2011. He was 47 years old.

Filmography