Soap actress Lisa Rinna leads tributes to star Patrick Muldoon following death at 57

Tributes are pouring in for actor Patrick Muldoon, whose death was announced overnight from a suspected heart attack.

Muldoon, who was a close friend and former boyfriend of Denise Richards, has been remembered by former co-stars from his 30-year career, which included a 35-episode run on Melrose Place and a decade-long stint on soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Lisa Rinna, who also appeared on both shows, shared a throwback photo of the pair on her Instagram story along with a broken heart emoji, while Daphne Zuniga said he would be "very missed".

Among the first of his co-stars to comment on his passing was Days Of Our Lives star Alison Sweeney who wrote on X, "This is such heartbreaking news. Pat was a rare kind of person – brilliantly talented, endlessly kind, and generous in spirit.

"I was so lucky to have worked with him when I first started at Days. He made me feel at ease right away.

"He brought his unique charm and humour to work every day. A truly gifted guy, and one who will be profoundly missed."

Meanwhile, Zuniga took to Instagram to write that she was "so sad to hear about Patrick's passing".

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"He was such a good, kind guy, always creating, going deeper, challenging himself," she said.

"Whether in Larry Moss's acting class, supporting Best Buddies or doing major drama together on Melrose Place, he was always the best!

"I know you're rocking out and soaring free Pat! You will be so very missed."

I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden also paid tribute to Muldoon, with whom she co-starred in the 2019 film, My Adventures with Santa.https://www.instagram.com/p/DXXO8ZFkezG/?utm_source=ig_embed&

"So saddened to learn about the sudden passing of Patrick Muldoon," she wrote.

"Patrick was a sweet man who was very personable. I enjoyed the time we spent between takes and just enjoying each others company in general during the production of the film. He made the experience even more fun.

"While the passing of a loved one is never easy, it is especially difficult when it's unexpected and sudden as I understand Patrick's was. My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends."

One star who is yet to comment is Denise Richards, who dated Muldoon in the 1990s and had maintained a close friendship with him since then.

The two co-starred together in the 1997 TV series Starship Troopers, the 2015 TV movie A Christmas Reunion and the new action-thriller Dirty Hands, which is set to be released this year. He also made appearances during her time on reality TV shows The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.

Richards' daughter Lola Sheen, posted her own long tribute to Muldoon along with a photo of he and Richards in a car.

"I thought you were the one that was supposed be in our lives forever," Sheen wrote.

"When I think of my childhood, I think of you Pat, and it's gonna be so weird to go on without you in our lives.

"You were such a huge part of our family and life will never feel the same...

"Your voice always brightened my day and I'm gonna miss hearing it, but I know my mum will more, but we will never stop talking about you.

"Thank you for being the best friend to her. Thank you for being the one to make her laugh and forget about all she's going through.

"I'm so thankful I got to know you and witness a friendship so pure and special in front of my eyes.

"I always begged my mum, I'm sure she told you, that you guys would end up back together haha, but I guess staying best friends was better."

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Muldoon was born in California on September 27, 1968. He made his acting debut in '90s sitcoms Who's the Boss? and Saved by the Bell before winning the role of Austin Reed in Days of Our Lives.

He appeared in 496 episodes of the soap between 1992 and 2012, which he juggled with numerous other roles including a 35-episode run in the '90s hit Melrose Place.

He also served as a producer and executive producer on more than a dozen projects, including the upcoming crime drama Kockroach, starring Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, Taron Egerton and Alec Baldwin.

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