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HAMILTON, Ontario, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Members of the family of Neil Hope, a star of Canada's "Degrassi" television franchise, say they only recently learned he died of natural causes in 2007.
He was 35.
Hope played Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High" in the 1980s and early 1990s. His most recent acting role was on a 2003 episode of "Degrassi: The Next Generation," in which several of the cast members from the earlier incarnations of the series returned as adults in supporting roles.
"The family regrets to announce that Neil passed away in Hamilton, Ontario, on Nov. 25, 2007, of natural causes," the actor's former fiancee, Christina Boulard, said in a statement issued to the Calgary Herald Thursday. "There was some confusion regarding his passing that they do not wish to go public with, which is why they are only announcing his death now to the public and the media."
Police told the Toronto Star this week Hope was found dead Nov. 25, 2007, in a Hamilton rooming house and buried in 2008 when no one claimed his body. His family told the newspaper they only confirmed his death with authorities this January.
Relatives and friends told the newspaper Hope was intensely private and had been out of touch with those who cared about him, but after not hearing from him for awhile, they started to worry and contacted police.
Boulard told the Star the notification process was apparently hindered because the name and birth date authorities had for Hope didn't match up, but the family's worst fears were confirmed last month.
Tracy Northrup Hope, Hope's sister-in-law, wrote on Facebook in January: "RIP You will always be in our hearts and always remembered. Now we all can be at peace. We miss you soo much !!!!xoxox."
Stephen Stohn, "Degrassi's" executive producer, said on Twitter Thursday, "We have respected the privacy of the family by not saying anything until now, but our entire team is very emotional about his passing."
No other details regarding the circumstances of Hope's death, why he was estranged from his family or where he is buried were immediately available.
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