'All My Children' star Alan Dysert dies at 75
Alan Dysert in a scene on "All My Children". " (Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Alan Dysert, an actor best known for playing Sean Cudahy on the long-running soap opera "All My Children," has died, his wife announced on social media. He was 75 years old.
He died on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
Alan Dysert, ‘All My Children’ actor, dies
Big picture view:
Michele Dysert shared the news Sunday in a tribute posted to her husband’s official Facebook page.
In her message, Michele remembered her husband as a small-town farm boy from Illinois who built a career in entertainment while becoming a beloved acting teacher and mentor to thousands of students.
"While I am struggling to imagine life without him, I am forever grateful to have experienced what so many people spend their lives searching for — the love of a lifetime," she wrote. "Many knew him from his years on All My Children, while thousands of others knew him as the teacher and mentor who encouraged them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. He was a life changer!!"
She continued, "Alan had an incredible gift for storytelling, a wonderful sense of humor, an adventurous spirit, and a personality that could fill any room. His life was filled with remarkable experiences, fascinating people, and enough stories for several lifetimes. And he loved sharing them! But behind all those accomplishments was the man I was fortunate enough to call my husband, my partner, and my best friend."
The cause of his death was not disclosed, but his wife said he had faced "health challenges over the years."
"Alan faced more than his share of health challenges over the years, yet he continued to approach life with determination, humor, and gratitude. He fought hard for the life he loved, and I was honored to stand beside him through it all," she continued.
Alan Dysert's legacy
The backstory:
Dysert played Sean Cudahy in 79 episodes of "All My Children" between 1980 and 1990. His other screen credits included "Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie," the Sally Field film, "Two Weeks" and "The Legend of Van Dorn."
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Beyond acting, Dysert worked as a musician, writer, filmmaker and producer.
He also shared his experiences with illness in his 2023 autobiography, "Lights, Camera, Cancer!," in which he revealed he had an incurable form of cancer.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. Alan Dysert's Facebook account contributed to this information. TMZ contributed.