SANTA BARBARA's Christopher "Chip" Mayer Has Passed Away At Age 57

According to BRBTV, actor Christopher "Chip" Mayer died unexpectedly on Saturday evening. He was 57.

His fiancee Catherine, whom Mayer was planning to marry next month, had been out of town shooting a new project when she received the news.

Born George Charles Mayer III on February 21, 1954, Mayer grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the eldest of seven children.

He graduated from Colgate University with a degree in business. After a year of the business world in New York, he decided to give acting a shot.

He played Vance Duke on THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, opposite Byron Cherry's Coy, during the fifth season of the show when Tom Wopat and John Schneider were off the show.

Soap fans will remember Mayer from his run as T.J. Daniels on SANTA BARBARA. He said in a 1988 interview with Soap Opera Digest he wasn't completely satisfied with his role: "Not really, but I guess things are going to start picking up. They've found my ditch, but they really haven't found my nitch. I mean it's a two-edged sword. The life of an actor is not very stratified. But the positive side of the sword is that you get to spend a lot of time with different avenues of your personal life."

Mayer also played Pete Bozak on GLITTER. His other television appearances included XENA, PACIFIC BLUE, SILK STALKINGS and BAYWATCH.

He was previously married to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS star Eileen Davidson.

He is survived by three daughters, Ashley, Alexandra and Angelica; two grandchildren, Chad and Dillon; his father, George C. Mayer Jr. of Sea Girt; his brothers and sisters, Paul W. Mayer, wife Leslie and their children, Lindsay, Ryan, Paul Jr., and MacLean of Sea Girt; Peter T. Mayer, wife Susan and their children, Peter Jr., Kyle, and Katie of Sea Girt; Melissa Yates, husband Doug, and their daughters, Jacqueline and Samantha of Ridgewood; Susan McLaughlin, husband Sean and their children, Sean Jr., Elise and Ally of Manasquan; Gretchen Maccanico, husband Randy and their son, Randy Jr. of Spring Lake Heights; and John C. Mayer, wife Lisa and their son, Jack of Navesink. He was predeceased by his mother, Petrina W. Mayer of Sea Girt.

A memorial service is being planned. For information, contact Missy Yates at

Watch a clip of Mayer on SANTA BARBARA below:



  1. I'm so shocked. Loved him so much as TJ on Santa Barbara!


  2. He was a very handsome man. I am so sorry to hear of his death.

  3. i am in shok. RIP CHIP.

  4. Why so soon? Remember him on DUKES OF HAZZARD?

  5. From sharon farrell I've known Chip when he first got into town and we all went to a dance place up on the strip and he saw Teri Copley and begged me to go and tell her he was a friend of mine and was all alone in town and a really nice guy and he wanted to meet her.It was love at first sight. Then later a lot later I went to my doctors office and met a lovely gal named Catherine Irving and she just happened to be his fiance. I got together on the phone with Chip. He was always happy and upbeat and loved Jesus with all his heart. Chip was a troubled soul. May he rest in peace. Hollywood is a tough town. IT eats u up and spits u