1. Philip Neil Hope, better known and credited as Neil Hope, was a Canadian actor who was best known for portraying Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the CBC teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991, and Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986.
Neil Hope kept sporadic contact with his family until 2005.
Neil Hope was found dead in a rooming house on November 25,2007, with his family and the public unaware of his death until nearly five years later, in early 2012; Hope was 35 at the time of his death.
Neil Hope was born on 24 September 1972, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the fourth son and fifth child of his family.
Neil Hope's parents struggled with alcoholism and had an unstable relationship, which led to their separation.
Neil Hope had a good relationship with his father, who he felt was supportive and loved him and his siblings.
Neil Hope often watched television with his father and siblings for dinner, which sparked an interest in television production.
Neil Hope took a television training course, paid for by his father, and had professional promotional photos taken of himself.
Neil Hope made his acting debut in The Kids of Degrassi Street episode "Martin Meets The Pirates".
Neil Hope told interviewers that television had been an escape from his problems, and being involved in the medium made that escape a reality.
Neil Hope played the role of Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986.
Neil Hope later discovers his biological mother is dead, and that his biological father wants no relationship with him.
Neil Hope later reprised the role for two episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001 and 2003.
Christina Boulard, Neil Hope's ex-fiancee, told media: "It made him so upset that they worked so hard on Degrassi and even years later, a whole new generation was watching it in reruns and the cast wasn't getting a dime".
At the time of his death, Neil Hope's only income was a disability cheque.
Neil Hope was described as a drifter in his later years.
Neil Hope's family stated that he continued to call and visit occasionally up until 2005.
Neil Hope later moved to Hamilton, where he stayed at a Salvation Army shelter for two nights in 2006.
Neil Hope met Christina Boulard when the two both worked at the financial service Money Mart in 1998.
Neil Hope's family described him as being at his most happy with Boulard, and he proposed to her in 2000.
The marriage was mutually called off in 2001, at which point Neil Hope became more distant from family.
Neil Hope was a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Warren Zevon.
Neil Hope discussed his parents' alcoholism in an episode of the documentary series Degrassi Talks.
Neil Hope made a documentary called The Darker Side about the children of alcoholic parents, which featured contributions from his co-stars Bill Parrott and Rebecca Haines.
Neil Hope's father died in 1987, from complications caused by diabetes and cirrhosis, consequences of his alcohol abuse; Neil Hope found his body in his home kitchen.
In 1994, Neil Hope was diagnosed with diabetes and required four insulin injections per day.
Neil Hope's continued drinking and neglect for his diabetes contributed to his increasing health problems.
Neil Hope stayed at his brother Danny and sister-in-law Tracy's home in Mississauga for a year; while there, he would often spend days in his room, watching television and drinking beer without eating.
On 25 November 2007, Neil Hope was found dead by his landlord in a rooming house in Hamilton.
Neil Hope's death was ruled as a result of natural causes due to a heart attack.
Neil Hope's family began hearing rumours of his death in 2009 and subsequently contacted Hamilton police, who told them they did not have any matching records.
Neil Hope was later buried with a new gravestone at Woodland Cemetery located in Hamilton, Ontario.