'Lioness' Actor Mike Heslin Dead at 30

Actor Mike Heslin, whose appearance in two episodes of the first season of the Paramount+ original series Lioness, known in full as Special Ops: Lioness then, was considered his most prominent role, died July 2 at the age of 30. His husband, Nicolas James Wilson, who goes by Scotty Dynamo online, announced the news. It was said Heslin died of an unexpected cardiac event and a weeklong hospitalization.

Wilson, his husband since November after seemingly many years of dating, detailed everything on his Facebook page. It revealed a lot about where they were together in life, what they had gone through, and where they were headed. It read:

On July 2nd, my husband, best friend, and soulmate @mikeheslin passed away from an unexpected cardiac event after a week long battle in the hospital. Michael was young, in perfect health, and the doctors have no explanation for what happened. Michael was brilliant, selfless, talented, and a real-life guardian angel. He single-handedly carried me through multiple rounds of cancer. He was the first person everyone would call to share good news with, and he was the perfect person to call if they needed a shoulder to lean on or the best advice. He truly was the sweetest, most caring, and loving man on earth, and he brought out the absolute best in everyone who had the pleasure to cross paths with him. He moved through life with such ease and confidence, and turned everyone around him into a better version of themselves. No matter how difficult things got, we knew that there was nothing we couldn’t overcome with Mike in our corner.

Michael, meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me. You are my world. You are everything to me. When I felt you take your last breath, my heart shattered into a million pieces. If I had the power to trade places with you, I would do it in an instant. But I will take it one day at a time like you always told me to, and live every day in your honor. Just a week ago, we were in the early stages of starting a family and would regularly share our favorite baby names for our future kids. You always told me that you felt like you were meant to be a dad, and I couldn’t agree more. You would be the world’s most perfect father. If I ever become a dad, I am going to name my son after you and hope that I manage to raise him to become at least half the man you are.

You were the most generous and giving person. It brings me peace to know that, through your wish to be a donor, you have given the gift of life to four different families. We are 3 weeks away from your birthday and 4 months shy of our 1 year wedding anniversary, but I know that you are in a better place and that heaven has gained another angel. Michael, in the words of Shania Twain: I’ll love you “forever and for always”.

Heslin’s two Lioness episodes had him playing the role of Polo. It doesn’t seem he had that many other notable credits, with most publications only noting a “part” in the Lifetime movie The Holiday Proposal Plan last year, and a 2016 episode of Younger, back when the eventual Paramount+ original for its final season was still on TV Land. A GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover funeral and hospital costs, and to provide support to Heslin’s loved ones has been set up in the wake of his death.

Sources: Facebook, Deadline