The star made a name for himself playing Matt Musgrove on Brookside between 1998 and 2000 before taking the character to Hollyoaks from 2000 to 2004.
He was also a vocalist for rock band Tramp Attack, who were well known on the Liverpool music scene in the early 2000s. It is not yet known how he died.
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| Soap star: Kristian Ealey (seated, left) as Matt Musgrove alongside the rest of Brookside's Musgrove family |
Former Brookside actors have taken to social media to pay tribute to their former colleague.
Tweeting his late co-star, Leon Lopez wrote: 'Am absolutely heart broken by the news about @Smithdownslim! Such a lovely soul! RIP X'.
Suzanne Collins, who played Nikki Shadwick on the TV show, wrote on Twitter: 'Devastated to hear that @Smithdownslim has died.
'Love to his son Jakey & family#TooYoung #CherishEveryDay #BrookieBratPack.'
The actress told the Northern Echo: 'He was brilliant to work with, he was loads of fun.
'He was a fantastic actor, but you should have heard him sing. Musically he was so good, he loved to sing and play the guitar.
'It’s terrible terrible news. He lived for his young son Jakey. I’m so shocked and gutted.'
Ealey first appeared on Brookside in 1998 when the Musgrove family moved into the close. His character, Matt, became involved in marijuana and was caught up in a number of fights.
The Musgroves left Brookside after Matt's older brother, Luke, admitted to raping neighbour Nikki Shadwick.
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| Missed: Ealey's Brookside co-stars took to social media to pay tribute to the soap star today |
Ealey's character then appeared on Brookside's sister show, Hollyoaks, as a janitor Hollyoaks Community College.
His character enjoyed an on-again off-again relationship with student and radio show host Chloe Bruce, whom he came close to marrying. The character left the show after Chloe ended their relationship before making a brief return in 2004.
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