<P> Dye was born in Amory, Mississippi, one of three sons of Jim and Lynn Dye, a furniture manufacturer and homemaker, respectively, who raised their sons in the Methodist faith . The family moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, where he attended Cleveland High School, and later to Tupelo, Mississippi . He was introduced to acting by playing the role of Friedrich, the eldest von Trapp child in a school production of The Sound of Music at Cleveland High School . He performed as a trombonist in the band program . He graduated from Tupelo High School, where he again played Friedrich von Trapp . Dye found himself bitten by the acting bug . After graduating, he enrolled at Mississippi State University in hopes of becoming a civil rights lawyer . After a year at Mississippi State University, he decided to become an actor, and was advised against it by his great - grandmother . He transferred to Memphis State and majored in theater . </P> <P> In Memphis, Dye discovered that a Judd Nelson film called Making the Grade (1984) was filming in the area . Dye landed his first film role as "Skip ." In 1986 he starred alongside actresses Virginia Madsen and Cynthia Gibb in the comedy film Modern Girls . In 1987 Dye got his first leading role, in the film Campus Man, as Todd Barrett . That same year, he re-teamed with Nelson in the television miniseries Billionaire Boys Club . In 1989, he starred alongside actors James Earl Jones and Eric Roberts in the martial - arts drama Best of the Best . </P> <P> By the time the 1990s came around, Dye decided to make a move towards television . He was cast as Private Francis "Doc Hoc" Hockenbury in the last season of Tour of Duty . When the series finished, he moved on to short - lived series such as Jack's Place (1992) and Hotel Malibu (1994). In 1996, he appeared as Andrew the "Angel of Death" on Touched by an Angel with Roma Downey & Della Reese . Originally cast as a recurring character, by the third season he was made a regular cast member as his character quickly became popular . The show ran for nine seasons before ending in April 2003 . In 2000, he starred in the television movie Once Upon a Christmas . In 2001, he appeared in the sequel Twice Upon a Christmas . In the 1985 music video for the ZZ Top song "Sleeping Bag", he appeared alongside fellow actors Tracey Walter and Heather Langenkamp . </P> <P> Dye was found dead in his home in San Francisco, California on January 10, 2011 . His family reported that he died due to heart - related problems . His funeral was held at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in his hometown of Amory, Mississippi, where he and his family were members . His resting place is at Haughton Memorial Park, Amory, MS . </P>

Who played the angel of death on touched by an angel
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