J.T. killed in Degrassi shocker

Actor Ryan Cooley’s character was killed this week.

Published: Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The Degrassi school has one less student this year.

The character of J.T. Yorke, played by Ryan Cooley, was killed in an episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation that aired Tuesday night.

The 18-year-old actor has been on the popular series since 2001.

J.T. was stabbed by a teen thug when he confronted him about urinating on his car.

During the run of the series, J.T. hosted a childrens show, fathered Libertys baby, sold stolen drugs, and overdosed on pills.

Cooley, who made his television debut as a 10-year-old on An Avonlea Christmas, was a regular on the series I Was a Sixth Grade Alien and has also appeared in episodes of Queer As Folk and the sci-fi series Lexx.

He will show up next in the Canadian film The Tracey Fragments.

Cooleys father Charlie was a member of country band Prairie Oyster and played drums for Canadian Idol winner Kalan Porter.