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Mike Heslin, a talented actor best known for his role in Taylor Sheridan’s “Special Ops: Lioness,” passed away unexpectedly at the age of 30. Heslin suffered an unforeseen cardiac event, leading to a week-long hospital stay before his untimely death on July 2.
Fans of the show will remember Heslin as Polo, a character he portrayed in two episodes of the first season of “Special Ops: Lioness” in 2023. The series, created by “Yellowstone” writer Taylor Sheridan, features a star-studded cast, including Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman.
Beyond his role in “Lioness,” Heslin’s acting career included appearances in various television series and movies. He played a part in the Lifetime movie “The Holiday Proposal Plan” last year and starred in “The Influencers” in 2020. In 2016, he made an appearance on the Paramount+ series “Younger,” which stars Hilary Duff. Other notable projects include “In Their Shoes: A Journey to Homelessness,” “House Sitting,” “I Love You… But I Lied,” and “7 Deadly Sins.”
The heartbreaking news of Heslin’s passing was shared by his husband, Nicolas James Wilson, who is known as Scotty Dynamo on social media. In an emotional post, Wilson expressed his disbelief and sorrow over the sudden loss, highlighting Heslin’s previously perfect health and the medical community’s lack of explanation for the tragic event.
Wilson shared touching memories of their life together, including how Heslin had been his pillar of strength through multiple rounds of cancer treatment. The couple, who had been married for just eight months, had recently been planning to start a family. Wilson recounted their excitement about future children and the joy they found in discussing potential baby names.
In his heartfelt tribute, Wilson shared a series of photos, including cherished moments from their wedding in November of the previous year. He described Heslin as his best friend, soulmate, and the most caring and loving man he had ever known. The actor’s death, just three weeks shy of his 31st birthday and four months before their first wedding anniversary, left Wilson devastated.
Wilson’s post continued with a poignant eulogy, where he expressed his belief that Heslin would have been the world’s perfect father. He vowed to name a future son after Heslin and to strive to raise him to be at least half the man his husband was. The grieving husband described how his heart shattered when he felt Heslin take his last breath and conveyed his wish to have traded places with him if he could. Despite the immense pain, Wilson committed to honoring Heslin’s memory by living each day with the same strength and love that his husband had shown him.
Heslin’s unexpected death has left a profound impact on those who knew and loved him, as well as his fans. His contributions to the entertainment industry, though cut short, will be remembered and cherished. The actor’s legacy continues through the memories of his work and the indelible mark he left on the hearts of those close to him.
