Hallmark Star Chris Gauthier Dead At 48
Actor Chris Gauthier has died. TVLine reported his death, with confirmation from TriStar Appearances/Event Horizon Talent. "We can confirm our dear friend and client, Chris Gauthier, passed away on Friday morning, February 23, at the age of 48." There is no official cause of death, but his manager reported to the outlet he "passed suddenly and unexpectedly after a short illness." He is survived by his wife, Erin, and two sons, Ben and Sebastian.
Based in Canada, Gauthier appeared in a number of television shows that were shot in and around Vancouver. He played Vincent on the SyFy show "Eureka" from 2006-2012, and had guest-starring roles on "Supernatural," "iZombie," "Psych," and "Smallville," among others. He also held the recurring role of Hook's pirate cohort William Smee on the ABC series "Once Upon a Time," and was Malcolm in the CBS series "Harper's Island."
In more recent years, Gauthier appeared in multiple Hallmark projects, including the movie "Retreat to You," Christmas fare like "Three Wise Men and a Baby," and both "A Christmas House" and its sequel "A Christmas House 2," playing Marvelous Jim.
Former cast members remembered the actor on social media
In the wake of Chris Gauthier's death, the Hallmark Channel posted on Instagram, "We are sorry to hear about the passing of Chris Gauthier. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans." Tyler Hynes, who worked with the actor in "Three Wise Men and a Baby," simply posted two emojis in response: a heart and a winged-dove.
Colin O'Donoghue, who was Captain Hook to Gauthier's Smee on "Once Upon a Time," also shared a tribute to his former co-star. "Rest in Peace Chris! Heartbroken! My love and thoughts go out to Erin and the boys! You will be missed brother! You were the real captain!!" Fellow "Once Upon A Time" cast members Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, and Sean Maguire responded with their own comments of grief.
Outside of his acting career, Gauthier spent time with his family in Canada. He celebrated his 20th anniversary with wife Erin in November 2023, and often posted about the accomplishments of his two sons, Ben, age 18, and Sebastian, age 20. Part Cree, he was also an activist for indigenous communities.