\'Emmerdale\' actor Jay Benedict has died after contracting coronavirus.
The former soap star - who played Doug Hamilton in the ITV soap for 20 episodes in 1997 - passed away on Saturday (04.04.20) at the age of 68, after developing complications following a battle with the virus, which is also known as COVID-19.
In a statement, his management team confirmed: "It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jay\'s death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection."
Alongside his role in \'Emmerdale\', Jay was best known on television for his role as Captain John Kieffer for two episodes of \'Foyle\'s War\' in 2006.
The actor also acted opposite Abi Titmuss in the stage adaption \'Two-Way Mirror\'.
In film, Jay was best known for playing Russ Jordan in \'Aliens\' in 1986, as well as appearing in 2012\'s \'The Dark Knight Rises\'.
His last movie roles came in 2017, where he played Doctor Shurman in \'Madame\', and a wounded man in \'Hostile\'.
Jay is survived by his wife Phoebe Scholfield and their two sons Leopold and Freddie, as well as a daughter from a previous relationship.
Together with his wife, Jay ran the Sync or Swim post-production company, which provides automated dialogue replacement services to the movie and TV industry.
Sync or Swim has worked on projects including \'Downton Abbey\', \'Call The Midwife\', \'Dickensian\', and \'Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands\'.
Following the news of his passing, tributes have poured in, with \'Only Fools and Horses\' star John Callis remembering him as an "old friend".
He wrote: "Strangest coincidence this morning-talking on the telephone to my brother in law & telling him that my old friend Jay Benedict died yesterday.
"Talented actor & someone I used to rock around with,& Johnny said "Oh no! Jay was my friend at school". Weird or what? @SherrieHewson. (sic)"
Whilst \'Allo Allo\' actress Vicki Michelle tweeted: "Shocked to hear one of our most brilliant actors and kind lovely man Jay Benedict has passed.
"Married to my lovely friend Phoebe Scholfield #AlloAllo My heart goes out to her and her family at this sad time #PhoebeScholfield @FreddieBenedict #LeoBenedict #SyncorSwim #COVID19. (sic)"
