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Mike Heslin, an actor who appeared in the series “Lioness” and the TV movie “The Holiday Proposal Plan,” died on July 2. His husband announced his death on Instagram, writing that the cause was a “sudden heart attack.”
His husband, Scotty Dynamo (né Nicolas James Wilson) wrote that he died after a week in the hospital. “Michael was young, in perfect health, and the doctors have no explanation for what happened,” Dynamo said.
He continued, “Michael was brilliant, selfless, talented, and a true guardian angel. He single-handedly got me through multiple rounds of cancer. He was the first person everyone would call to share good news, and he was the perfect person to call when they needed a shoulder to lean on or the best advice. He was truly the sweetest, most caring, and loving man on the planet, and he brought out the very best in everyone who had the pleasure of crossing his path. He moved through life with such ease and confidence, transforming everyone around him into a better version of themselves. No matter how tough things got, we knew there was nothing we couldn’t overcome with Mike by our side.”
Dynamo wrote that the couple planned to start a family, saying, “You would be the most perfect father in the world. If I ever become a father, I will name my son after you and hope that I can raise him to be at least half the man you are.”
Heslin was an organ donor and had “given the gift of life to four different families,” Dynamo wrote.
In addition to playing Polo in two episodes of the Taylor Sheridan series “Lioness” in 2023, Heslin created and starred in 2020’s “The Influencers,” a scripted mockumentary that was nominated for a Queerty Award and streamed on Prime Video.
He also appeared in the Lifetime Christmas movie “The Holiday Proposal Plan,” the Noggin series “In Their Shoes: A Journey Into Homelessness,” and the TV Land series “Younger.”
In the 2020 film “Boy*Friends,” Heslin had a co-production credit, playing the role of Rupert. His short film “Happy Halloween” won several awards at horror festivals, including Best First-Time Director.
He was born in California and received a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in directing from the Boston Conservatory, according to his official website.