Italian American soap star Nick Benedict, best known for starring in All My Children and Days of Our Lives, died on Friday, July 14, which was also his birthday. He had just turned 77. An online obituary broke the news, revealing that he passed away in Arizona “of complications from spinal surgery,” which he had undergone July 2.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the news was also shared by the Facebook page of a Tehachapi, Calif. restaurant called Jake’s Steakhouse, where his wife Ginger was a bartender. “Nick Benedict’s birthday was July 14. He went to be with the Lord this day. Please pray for Ginger,” and linked to a GoFundMe page.