Now we all can be at peace. Hope, who starred on Degrassi Junior High in the 1980s, was found dead in an Ontario rooming house in November 2007 but his family was just informed last month. Boulard said the former star of Canada's groundbreaking "Degrassi" series died on Nov. 25, 2007, of "natural causes" at the age of 35 but declined to elaborate, only saying Hope was diabetic. IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Ex-fiance Christina Boulard said Hope’s family spent years trying to track him down after hearing rumors of his passing several years ago, but only learned last month from police in Hamilton, Ontario, that he had died. She remembers one dinner in particular, where the entire kitchen staff came out to ask for Hope’s autograph. But Hope met a very different end in that Hamilton rooming house, where local police found him dead, according to former fiancée Christina Boulard, 37. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Schuyler, the early Degrassi producer, became like a second mother to him on the set, many said. ), “His life was not an easy one, but the time he spent with us was a shining example of determination, hard work and hopeful optimism and he is sorely missed.”. 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Christina Boulard, the actor's fiancée, released a statement on Thursday saying, "The family regrets to announce that Neil passed away in Hamilton, Ontario on November 25, 2007 of natural causes. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. This article was published more than 8 years ago. by News Staff. Stohn, who is currently outside the country on vacation, released a statement via Twitter on Thursday. Boulard said the former star of Canada's groundbreaking "Degrassi" series died on Nov. 25, 2007, of "natural causes" at the age of 35 but declined to elaborate, only saying Hope was diabetic. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. Kick back with the Daily Universal Crossword. But two years went by and no one had heard from him. Born in Ontario to alcoholic parents, Hope took up acting at a young age, first as Griff on The Kids of Degrassi Street and then as Wheels on Degrassi Junior High. Ex-fiance Christina Boulard said Hope's family spent years trying to track him down after hearing rumors of his passing several years ago, but only learned last month from police in Hamilton, Ontario, that he had died. Boulard met Hope when they were both working at a Money Mart in Hamilton. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter . “That’s when we started to worry,” she said. Entertainment; Fans of actor Neil Hope, who played troubled teen Wheels on “Degrassi Junior High,” are still wondering just how his death at age 35 could have gone unreported for years, even to his family and friends. Dan Woods, who played Mr. Raditch, a teacher and later principal on the show, remembered meeting Hope when he was a teen on the set of Degrassi Junior High. ... âDegrassi Junior High,â was acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of ⦠Hope's ex-fiancee, Christina Boulard, said the family was told the former child actor died alone in a Hamilton rooming house of natural causes. He last appeared on the Degrassi series in 2003 in an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation. “He was the one that stayed as far away from the public eye afterwards as possible,” Boulard said. Mr. Hope starred as a troubled teenager in the popular Canadian shows âDegrassi Junior Highâ and âDegrassi Highâ in the 1980s. An actor who once starred on popular Canadian school melodrama Degrassi Junior High has finally been ... Canada, rooming house in 2007, claims his ex-fiance Christina Boulard. While she was annoyed at the intrusion, Hope took it all in stride. “He was a quiet guy when we were off set, but full of energy, very bright-eyed,” Woods told the Star from California. Boulard said the police told Hope’s family they had a record of someone who had died but the names and birth date didn’t match up. But finally, this January, police confirmed that it was indeed Hope who had died of “natural causes” in November 2007. Menu. Neil Hope had dealt with the death of parents on Degrassi and in his personal life. Degrassi producers Stephen Stohn and Linda Schuyler started hearing rumours of Hope's death two weeks ago, Cohen said. On the Degrassi series, he was a member of the fictional band Zit Remedy. Boulard said Hope’s brother Danny and his wife, Tracy, began hearing rumours of his death two or three years ago but they brushed it off. When they hadn’t heard from Hope, they called her. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. ... Degrassi was praised for its handling of tough social issues including teen pregnancy, sexual abuse and alcoholism. © Copyright 2021 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved. He missed his cast family, even though he wasn’t great at keeping in touch, Boulard said. “This awkward, shy, grinning, bespectacled kid was very endearing.”. Mystery surrounds the death of a star of popular high-school drama Degrassi, that went undiscovered for five years. The location of the grave is being kept private, Boulard said. ... Christina Boulard, told The Canadian Press. Hope would make guest appearances on Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001 and 2003, but parts became scarce for the struggling actor. For millions, Neil Hope was “Wheels” — the lovable, troubled onscreen teen with that feathered blond hair and huge glasses. Boulard, who last saw Hope in 2002, said it was not unusual for him to cut ties with friends and family for sometimes a year at a time. Christina Boulard, his fiance, posted on another Facebook group that a memorial service is planned for the actor. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. Actor Neil Hope, who starred as Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the popular 1980s TV series "Degrassi Junior High" and had little contact with relatives ⦠Many former actors, who were mobbed in malls for their Degrassi fame, went on to successful careers, including Aubrey Graham, better known now as award-winning recording artist Drake. Republication or distribution of this content is TORONTO - Former child star Neil Hope, who played Derek (Wheels) Wheeler on the long-running youth series "Degrassi," died alone in a Hamilton rooming house in 2007, said former fiancee Christina Boulard on Thursday, as details of the troubled actor's final years emerged. In a way, they became his family and the set his home. A Facebook group called "Let's Bring The Real Neil Hope ("Wheels" from Degrassi) To Facebook" features a post from Jan. 12 of this year written by Hope's sister-in-law, Tracy Northrup Hope, saying that Hope died of natural causes on Nov. 25, 2007. He was engaged to Christina Boulard from 1998 to 2001. US. With files from the Canadian Press Download. His television career began on the series The Kids of Degrassi Street. We miss you soo much !!! Hope also made a documentary about children of alcoholic parents, called The Darker Side. Ex-fiance Christina Boulard said Hope’s family spent years trying to track him down after hearing rumors of his passing several years ago, but only learned last month from police in Hamilton, Ontario, that he had died. Boulard says that the star of the groundbreaking television series died from natural causes at the age of 35 but declined to elaborate, only saying Hope suffered from diabetes. “Wheels” made his last guest appearance on Degrassi in 2003 with former castmates Pat Mastroianni and Stefan Brogren, who play Joey Jeremiah and Archibald “Snake” Simpson — the original Degrassi trio who formed the fictional rock band the Zit Remedy. He was an actor, known for Degrassi High (1987), Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) and The Kids of Degrassi Street (1979). Family Life. Hope's ex-fiancee, Christina Boulard, said the family was told the former child actor died alone in a Hamilton rooming house of natural causes. âNeil was a very private person. Boulard said she is organizing a private ceremony, with help from Amanda Stepto, who played Christine “Spike” Nelson on Degrassi, for friends to remember Hope. Boulard said the former star of Canadaâs groundbreaking âDegrassiâ series died on Nov. 25, 2007, of ânatural causesâ at the age of 35 but declined to elaborate, only saying Hope was diabetic. Hope's fiancée, Christina Boulard, also released the following statement: "The family regrets to announce that Neil passed away in Hamilton, Ontario on November 25, 2007 of natural causes. TORONTO - Former child star Neil Hope, who played Derek (Wheels) Wheeler on the long-running youth series "Degrassi," died alone in a Hamilton rooming house in 2007, said former fiancee Christina Boulard on Thursday, as details of the troubled actor's final years emerged. “That’s why he latched on to his Degrassi family so hard … They were his brothers and sisters.”. Breaking news - Degrassi Junior High star Neil Hope, aka Wheels, died in 2007. Movies. Nor does she know the specifics of the cause of Hope's death. Site : https://coronavirus.politologue.com/ Statistiques Coronavirus : @Coronavirus_Bot_Bot Boulard is planning a private memorial in June for Hope's old Degrassi colleagues and close friends in order to pay tribute to their fallen fellow actor and friend. The star’s struggles with his parents’ alcoholism — his father eventually died of cirrhosis of the liver — were well documented in interviews. He was always friendly with the cast behind the scenes, Woods recalled. ... Christina Boulard⦠Scoop a new vibe in the numbers and do today’s Daily Soduku. Trivia. No answers forthcoming in case of 'Degrassi' star Neil Hope's unreported death. [1] Switch gears. Christina Boulard, his fiance, posted on another Facebook group that a memorial service is planned for the actor. Neil Hope grew up in the 1980s before an audience of millions as a star in a pair of gritty Canadian television dramas, “Degrassi Junior High” and its sequel, “Degrassi High.” Boulard, who last saw Hope in 2002, said it was not unusual for him to cut ties with friends and family for sometimes a year at a time. We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Everybody wants something they’ll never give up, Everybody wants something, they’ll take your money and never give up. Click here to subscribe. 351 King Street East, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON Canada, M5A 0N1, Just $1.99 per week for the first 24 weeks, var select={root:".js-sub-pencil",control:".js-sub-pencil-control",open:"o-sub-pencil--open",closed:"o-sub-pencil--closed"},dom={},allowExpand=!0;function pencilInit(o){var e=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]&&arguments[1];select.root=o,dom.root=document.querySelector(select.root),dom.root&&(dom.control=document.querySelector(select.control),dom.control.addEventListener("click",onToggleClicked),setPanelState(e),window.addEventListener("scroll",onWindowScroll),dom.root.removeAttribute("hidden"))}function isPanelOpen(){return dom.root.classList.contains(select.open)}function setPanelState(o){dom.root.classList[o?"add":"remove"](select.open),dom.root.classList[o? Compounding the mystery, Cohen said she also does not know why the Hope family has now publicly announced the actor's death. rights reserved. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Cohen said she did not know what that "confusion" might refer to. “We’re all pretty shocked about the news. Boulard said the former star of Canada's groundbreaking Degrassi series died on 25 November 2007 of "natural causes" at the age of 35 but declined to ⦠"It did catch us completely unaware," says Stephanie Cohen, vice-president of marketing at communications at Epitome Pictures. Both he and Pat Mastroianni appeared on Degrassi … (Schuyler was involved in the original series. “Everybody falls on hard times,” Boulard said. “Neil made an important contribution to our lives, to the lives of our television team, who are like a family to us, and indeed to the live of many Canadians and others around the world who were influenced by Neil and the roles he played,” said statement from executive producers Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn. Boulard, who last saw Hope in 2002, said it was not unusual for him to cut ties with friends and family for sometimes a year at a time. Finally they contacted the police in Hamilton. The Degrassi Junior High star Neil Hope, who played Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the popular 1980s TV series, died in near-anonymity over four years ago, his family has confirmed after lengthy attempts to track him down. Police have confirmed to the Star that Hope was found dead on Nov. 25, 2007 in a Hamilton rooming house. Neil was a great guy and a great light,” he said. He moved on to blue-collar jobs, including one at United Furniture Warehouse. HIS name was Neil Hope, but you might have known him as Wheels. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution He would eventually go on to discuss his parents' alcoholism in a series called Degrassi Talks, in 1992. We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner. Ex-fiance Christina Boulard said Hope's family spent years trying to track him down after hearing rumors of his passing several years ago, but only learned last month from police in Hamilton, Ontario, that he had died. Ex-fiance Christina Boulard said Hopeâs family spent years trying to track him down after hearing rumors of his passing several years ago, but only learned last month from police in Hamilton, Ontario, that he had died. All (The coroner’s office was not immediately available to confirm the details.). IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Some information in it may no longer be current. Christina Boulard, the actor's fiancée, released a statement on Thursday saying, "The family regrets to announce that Neil passed away in Hamilton, Ontario on November 25, 2007 of natural causes. “He was smiling and joking with them and he signed everything,” she said. by News Staff. To the public, the Toronto actor’s role as Derek Wheeler on the hit Degrassi TV series thrust him into the realm of celebrity, but in real life he died anonymously. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. With files from the Canadian Press Download. Fans of actor Neil Hope, who played troubled teen Wheels on "Degrassi Junior High," are still wondering just how his death at age 35 could have gone unreported for years. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Boulard said the former star of Canada's groundbreaking "Degrassi" series died on Nov. 25, 2007, of "natural causes" at the age of 35 but declined to elaborate, only saying Hope was diabetic. Former Degrassi castmates began sharing the news of Hope’s death a couple of weeks ago, Woods said. Boulard said the former star of Canada’s groundbreaking “Degrassi’’ series died Nov. 25, 2007, of natural causes at 35 but declined to elaborate, saying only that Mr. Hope was diabetic. He was engaged to Christina Boulard from 1998 to 2001. Neil Hope had dealt with the death of parents on Degrassi and in his personal life. Refer to why the Hope family has now publicly announced the actor smiles in the 1980s Stohn. Hope took it all in stride she was annoyed at the sudden news of Hope 's unreported death this. With the cast behind the scenes, Woods said shocking revelation was made known friends! One dinner in particular, where the entire kitchen staff came out to ask Hope! 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