Grief-stricken soap actor commits suicide

Brooklyn-born actor Nick Santino committed suicide Wednesday, The New York Post reports.

1. More Entertainment stories
   1. 'Scary Potter' movie comes to theaters

      Best bets: Daniel Radcliffe is onscreen with "Woman in Black," while Madonna is behind the camera with "W.E." And on the s...

   2. Anyone? Ferris Bueller returning ... to TV
   3. Demi Moore 911 call: 'She smoked something'
   4. Fran Drescher: Aliens implanted me with chip
   5. Readers bid farewell to 'Kotter's' Juan Epstein

The soap opera star was wracked with grief after his beloved pit bull Rocco was euthanized Tuesday ? the same day Santino turned 47.

PHOTOS: Us Weekly's photo tribute to stars we've lost

"Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend," Santino wrote in a suicide note, according to close friend Stuart Sarnoff. "Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn't deserve this."

The actor, who appeared on seven episodes of "All My Children" and six episodes of "Guiding Light," had been feeling "harassed" by his building management company, according to his neighbor Lia Pettigrew.

PHOTOS: Stars' soap opera beginnings

He was allegedly threatened with a $250 fine for having a barking dog, but according to neighbor Kevan Cleary, "the dog was not a barker, but somebody complained that the dog would bark."

Santino phoned a former girlfriend at 2 a.m. Wednesday. Police found Santino's body in his bedroom later that afternoon. The actor had overdosed on pills.

PHOTOS: Stars gone too soon

The actor's pet Rocco has been cremated; friends tell The New York Post Santino's remains will also be cremated.

Copyright 2012 Us Weekly

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46176268/ns/today-entertainment/

russell pearce russell pearce emergency alert system 21 jump street 19 kids and counting 2011 election results 11/11/11