When Calls The Heart star dies 'suddenly at home' at the age of 53
The star - who appeared as a taxi driver in multiple episodes of the show - died at home.
But he was best known as a member of the show's transportation department and was responsible for caring for and driving the show's old-fashioned vehicles.
He passed away on April 11, in his home in Langley, British Columbia, per his obituary.
Martin Cummins, who plays Henry Gowen in the show, shared an emotional tribute to his co-worker and friend.
'I just came back from a ride on the bike Gord and Nate put together for the girls and I'm taking shade in Mexico under the awning Nate helped me figure out in the woods near the old cabin,' he began.
'I have spent more hours at work sitting in the blue room, in silence or in conversation with Gord and Nate than I have standing on tape with the camera rolling,' he continued.
'Life is constantly changing. Things are never the same. The Valley will not be the same without Nathaniel Pelletier. He was a gentle soul and it was my honor to call him friend.'
The series' production manager Mike Magnusson also shared a touching tribute.
'Nate was all heart, a true Unicorn, smashing every 14 hour day with a wide smile & endless cheer for all.
'He saw people, and was always there with a kind word. He leaves a void of spirit we will not be able to replace. Nate you were one of a kind, and we loved you. You will be sorely missed my friend.'
The official Instagram account for When Calls the Hear also shared a tribute.
'The When Calls the Heart family is mourning the loss of a beloved family member, Nathaniel 'Nate' Pelletier…we know many #Hearties also had the privilege of meeting Nate at the Hearties Family Reunion.
'He loved interacting with the fans and he brought so much joy to the day…we're sending love to all who knew and loved him. He will be missed greatly.'
Season 12 of the show finished airing earlier in 2025. It has officially been renewed for Season 13, but the cast has yet to return to filming for the new season which will hit tv screens sometime in 2026.
Nate's obituary attempted to convey his whole life in a paragraph, pointing out that he was especially proud of his daughter, Myhrsades.
'He passed away suddenly on April 11, 2025 alone at home in Langley BC. He was only with us 53 short years but he touched many lives with his generosity and extraordinary work ethic.
'He was always there to lend a helping hand when needed and most times, before it was asked of him. He was charismatic and loved to meet new people, greeting them with his big smile and a warm hearty hand shake,' the obituary continued.
'Nathaniel's greatest love was his daughter Myhrsades (Murray) Jones of whom he was so proud. He loved to gift her with concert tickets to experience her favourite band or book travel tickets somewhere special.
The obituary went on to share that he and his daughter shared a love of music.
'His second greatest love was his work and work-family (especially Gord, Trevor and Andrew-he fondly referred to as Pikachu) at When Calls the Heart filming location where he was fondly called Nate (N8).'
It expressed how much he enjoyed working on set in different roles before going on to reveal that Nate ' loved to cook and bake cookies and bars, entertain his friends and family and wrote many poems in his ever so recognizable hand writing.'
It concluded: 'His door was always open to all, young and old and I have often seen him giving a hug over his balcony rail.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Johnny Depp joins Alice Cooper at gig in London as they pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
Johnny Depp joined Alice Cooper on stage at his gig in London 's O2 Arena to honor the late Ozzy Osbourne in a special tribute on Friday night. Ozzy, nicknamed the Prince of Darkness, died on Tuesday at the age of 76 just weeks after he took to the stage for his final show with Black Sabbath, with his family confirming the devastating news. The Hollywood legend, 62, and rocker, 77, paid tribute to the legendary musician as they performed Black Sabbath's track Paranoid. Depp made a surprise appearance for the heartbreaking tribute, rocking out on his guitar to a medley of songs. Cooper screamed at the crowd 'Let's hear it for Ozzy!', before belting out some hits. Earlier this week, Cooper dedicated his Cardiff show to Ozzy as he took to the stage with his band in Wales. 'Well, we all know that time is going to take us rockers, but when the giants fall, it's really hard to accept,' he said on stage. 'Even though everybody saw it coming with Ozzy, it just took our breath away when it happened. 'So Ozzy and family - your records and your music and your legend and all that you brought - the humour to the rock business - will live on forever and we're gonna miss you man.' Elsewhere Cooper and his band said: 'The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon. 'I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the prince of darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw. 'He was and will continue to be a rock n roll legend. Rock n Roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better. 'Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and the rest of the Ozzy brood - our prayers are with you tonight. A titanic boulder has crashed, but rock will roll on.' He signed off an Instagram post with: 'Rest easy Ozzy and we'll see you on the other side! - Alice, Sheryl, Chuck, Ryan, Tommy, Nita, Glen and our entire crew.'
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
I probe the minds of evil killers… infamous cat slayer signed his letters with sick moniker & lives in cloud cuckoo land
HE'S the psychopathic killer who filmed himself feeding a live kitten to a python and suffocating another in a plastic bag in a chilling bid for internet notoriety. But the sickening videos were a prelude to monstrous Luka Magnotta 's final act - stabbing a lover to death, chopping up his body and posting out the severed body parts to schools and politicians. 13 13 13 Yet the Canadian, now 42, who was jailed for 25 years in 2014 for murdering Chinese university student Jun Lin, 33, remains remorseless according to true crime expert Teemu Saarenpää. After exchanging letters with Magnotta, real name Eric Newman, he believes the 'extremely ego-centric' killer 'lives in la la land' and remains in denial that he committed any wrongdoing. Teemu, 41, who runs blog Forenseek, tells The Sun: 'He lives in a totally upside-down, candy land world where he believes he's accused of something he didn't do. 'He's in denial, doesn't take responsibility for what he did and portrays himself as someone misunderstood by an evil society that set him up. 'He was unreflective of his deeds and is clearly a wannabe celebrity who wanted to be famous and a glamorous god. 'Because he wasn't able to obtain that fame through any real talent, he decided to become infamous instead.' Magnotta, who was the subject of hit 2019 Netflix docuseries Don't F*** With Cats, is one of many monsters Teemu has been able to see inside the mind of by writing letters to them in prison. Other notable inmates he's probed include Charles Bronson, who made a distasteful quip about hostage-taking, and 'Night Stalker' serial killer Richard Ramirez, who was the 'most evil person' he's spoken to. Speaking to The Sun for our Meeting a Monster series, Teemu admits he was particularly surprised by Magnotta's absolute refusal to acknowledge his callous crimes. In one letter Magnotta, known as 'Canadian Pyscho', refuted claims he was an animal killer - despite being captured on film - and brushed it off as jealous rivals who were 'very good with Photoshop'. Pathetic last days of Rose West revealed as serial killer monster can barely walk, has no friends & has new fake identity 13 13 13 Among the incriminating clips was '1 Boy 2 Kittens', which showed him putting the animals into a plastic bag before using a vacuum to suffocate them. Yet Magnotta told Teemu: 'I never in my life harmed any animals – I actually adore them… I was falsely accused of willingly participating in some bizarre animal videos. I'm completely bewildered.' Chillingly, he also signed off his letter: 'Luka, aka cuddle cat'. Magnotta snubbed doctors, who diagnosed him as schizophrenic, claiming they were 'self-serving' and created 'misleading reports'. One medical professional, he alleged, was 'obsessed with making a name for himself' - when in fact, according to Teemu, it was Magnotta who possessed a 'desperate obsession with getting a personality cult on the internet'. Magnotta, who says he has a 132 IQ score, also denied having created multiple online aliases - despite police reporting as many as 80 existed - claiming it to be the work of deranged fans. 'If these idiots copied photos of me and impersonated me online, that's on them, that's their problem… I'm told people posing as me is an epidemic online,' he told Teemu, who's from Finland. 'I find it so pathetic and have always ignored it. I never, I repeat NEVER had any fake accounts, nor did I ever pose as anyone other than myself.' When Magnotta was snared for murdering Jun Lin, cops discovered an 11-minute snuff film titled '1 Lunatic 1 Icepick', which showed him repeatedly stabbing his victim with a screwdriver and dismembering him. Sickeningly they revealed the killer used one of Lin's body parts to perform a sex act, then carved up his body with a knife and fork and fed bits of it to a dog. Teemu considered Luka deluded, describing him as 'in his own munchkin world' - unlike his other killer pen pal Richard Ramirez, who 'was aware he was evil and didn't give a s***'. 'The most evil person I've written to' 13 13 The monster, dubbed 'the Night Stalker ', murdered at least 14 people and raped multiple women at knife-point, often in front of their partners and children. Teemu wrote to Ramirez, who plagued California during the Eighties, in a bid to understand how someone 'so tangibly evil' thought. 'He was definitely the most evil person I've written to,' Teemu says. 'Ramirez embraced being as depraved, as horrible, as deplorable as a human being could be. 'He was a Satanist. He embraced everything evil and spoke about worshipping the Devil, who he believed to be a real entity. 'He didn't give a s*** about anything, killing was for fun for him, and even after he received the death penalty, he said, 'Big deal, death always came with the territory, I'll see you in Disneyland'.' But in Ramirez's letter, Teemu claimed he came across 'more like a chilled Californian surfer' or ' Keanu Reeves in the Bill & Ted movies' than a depraved murderer. He says: 'There are some killers who are very verbose and self-reflective, but Ramirez was the exact opposite. "He liked AC/DC, Eighties muscle cars, chicks, beer, that sort of thing.' Teemu suspects Ramirez was either not very intelligent or masquerading with a 'mundane mask of sanity' to pretend he was normal. Teemu found one element of Ramirez's letter particularly chilling - the question: 'So any nieces or nephews in your life?' 'It was such a weird and specific thing to say that I looked it up online and Ramirez has a habit of asking penpals that question before trying to get them to send pictures of them,' Teemu explains. He fears this was a ploy to solicit snaps of underage children - and suspects it shows Ramirez - who died of natural causes in 2013 - was a paedophile. The death row inmate was known to have previously molested two kids in a lift and forced a three-year-old boy, who he tied up, to watch his mother being raped. Shock discovery Teemu's fascination with dark subject matter began after meeting a sweet old lady who he became friends with during his childhood - only to discover she was a murderer. 'Sometime later I heard from my parents that she killed her husband and buried him in the garden of her home,' he says. 'You absolutely wouldn't believe it if you met her. It made me realise there is no 'killer gene' or anything categorically different in the brains of killers to the rest of the public, which I found really intriguing.' The revelation set him on a path to try to get inside the minds of famous killers, initially through reading books and watching documentaries, before deciding to write to them. 'I find the dark side of human life, full of stories so different from my lived reality, so fascinating,' Teemu says. 'I'm a normal, middle class dude, a bit like Milhouse from The Simpsons, so finding out about these people is like looking into the inverse mirror. 'It makes me think how my life could have been if I was born in a warzone, watched people die, gone through a traumatic childhood or lived in an abusive family.' 'Violent psychopath' 13 13 Teemu also exchanged letters with Charles Bronson, who he says came across like a 'jolly British bloke' and acted like 'someone you'd meet in a pub after an Arsenal match'. He wrote to the crook because he found his 'totally relentless one-man war against the authorities' fascinating. 'If you told him, 'You can turn right to gold and chocolate and left to hell', he would turn to hell and refuse to obey, even if the decision did not help him,' Teemu says. Bronson sent Teemu a piece of artwork depicting himself topless on a beach musing about no longer being in prison. It featured the Latin phrase 'Candor dat viribus alas', which translates to 'Candour gives wings to strength', and the sketch of a book titled 'Freedom is Wonderful by Charles Bronson'. Additionally he sent a short letter quizzing Teemu about his life, and was 'charismatic, verbose and always making jokes'. 'You can see how he would have a certain magnetism and women would want to be with him,' he says of the lag, who has married twice while behind bars and had several girlfriends. But beneath the surface, Teemu noted a darker side. Bronson made a distasteful joke in response to him disclosing he had worked with refugees from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. Bronson wrote: 'You mention that you work with folks from the Middle East. That's funny because you reminded me of a story where I took someone hostage – that person was Middle Eastern.' Teemu adds: 'He didn't elaborate but... he said it like someone would say, 'I went to Italy the other day,' but being Bronson he's like, 'Oh yeah, I took an Iranian guy hostage'.' He adds he would never meet the "violent psychopath" in person, admitting: 'I wouldn't want to be anywhere near him. If he was in a 10km radius, I'd get on a bus in the opposite direction.' Who are the UK's worst serial killers? THE UK's most prolific serial killer was actually a doctor. Here's a rundown of the worst offenders in the UK. British GP Harold Shipman is one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history. He was found guilty of murdering 15 patients in 2000, but the Shipman Inquiry examined his crimes and identified 218 victims, 80 per cent of whom were elderly women. After his death Jonathan Balls was accused of poisoning at least 22 people between 1824 and 1845. Mary Ann Cotton is suspected of murdering up to 21 people, including husbands, lovers and children. She is Britain's most prolific female serial killer. Her crimes were committed between 1852 and 1872, and she was hanged in March 1873. Amelia Sach and Annie Walters became known as the Finchley Baby Farmers after killing at least 20 babies between 1900 and 1902. The pair became the first women to be hanged at Holloway Prison on February 3, 1903. William Burke and William Hare killed 16 people and sold their bodies. Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was found guilty in 1981 of murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven others between 1975 and 1980. Dennis Nilsen was caged for life in 1983 after murdering up to 15 men when he picked them up from the streets. He was found guilty of six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to life in jail. Fred West was found guilty of killing 12 but it's believed he was responsible for many more deaths.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Chart-topping Brit R&B singer's health is 'rapidly deteriorating' after months held in ICE custody, her loved ones reveal as she faces deportation for overstaying visa
The health of a British R&B singer who is being held in a US correctional facility after being arrested for overstaying her visa by 26 years is 'rapidly deteriorating', her loved ones say. Jane Eugene, lead singer from 80s R&B group Loose Ends, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at the Canadian border crossing at Niagara Falls two months ago and is currently being held at a correctional facility in Kentucky. Friends and family of the singer, who has been living in the US for several years, have revealed the effect her detention is having on her and have launched a fundraiser to help her navigate her ordeal. 'As you might imagine, the conditions are taking a huge toll. Jane's health is rapidly deteriorating', the GoFundMe page said. 'Unable to work or generate income for the past few months and foreseeable future, Jane needs our help.' The fundraiser aims to 'cover the initial cost of legal fees, protect her health while she's in ICE custody, pay for a possible bond bail, and close some of the gaps on paying for basic needs.' 'She loves America, has made her home here, and wants to fight using every legal remedy available'. 'Jane's music has been the soundtrack for many lives—now let's be her lifeline. Every contribution, big or small, helps protect her health and future. Every dollar will go directly to Jane. The courts are overwhelmed and no one can say how long she will be held under extremely challenging conditions. Your gift makes a huge difference', the fundraiser added. A statement was also released on behalf of Ms Eugene, in which the singer thanked her friends and fans for their 'love and prayers'. 'My friends have been doing an incredible job supporting me through this challenging time. They have been going above and beyond in these past months, but the costs are more than they can bear. 'My health has taken a real toll in detention, and every dollar makes a difference.' Ms Eugene has been leading a US-based version of Loose Ends, performing around the country from her home in Los Angeles. US government sources claimed that she applied for a US 'green card' back in 1999, when she had already overstayed her visa, but was refused. Now her lengthy alleged visa overstay could lead to serious legal consequences, including removal proceedings and a possible 10-year re-entry ban. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told MailOnline: 'The law applies equally, even to celebrities. 'Jane Eugene Sendall Peters was denied an immigrant petition for alien workers in 1999 and had already overstayed her visa at the time of application. 'On May 3, 2025, Peters was encountered in Niagara Falls, NY after being refused entry to Canada. [Customs and Border Protection] arrested her and she is pending a hearing with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.' Ms Mclaughlin added that 'President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S.' 'The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.' Overstaying a U.S. visa by more than a year is classed as 'unlawful presence,' which can trigger a 10-year bar from re-entering the country if the person leaves.] But the singer's loved ones insist she meets the legal requirements to remain in the US. 'Under Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) there's a provision that allows people who entered the country and applied for a green card before 2001 to re-apply for legal status while still in the US, even if they overstayed their visa. Jane meets the requirements for 245(i) and is 'grandfathered' in.' Donald Trump's second term as US president has been largely characterised by his immigration and border control agenda. Ms Eugene's detention comes as thousands of immigrants to the US have been arrested, detained and deported. Loose Ends' biggest hit by far was in 1985 with Hangin' on a String (Contemplating), which topped the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, the first British band ever to do so. It also reached number 13 in the UK top twenty. The trio began in London in 1980 with vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, singer Ms Eugene, and keyboard player Steve Nichol. The group was originally titled Loose End, but changed its name to Loose Ends in 1983 and were signed to Virgin Records. The group split up and eventually reunited to appear on a single by hip-hop producer Pete Rock called 'Take Your Time' in 1998. Two years ago, promoting a forthcoming gig with the Average White Band (AWB), Jane told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that her main advice to young music hopefuls was to compose their own music. 'Really, it's a way to create your own pension fund,' she said, noting that publishing residuals can continue to be collected even when your career has ended. She told the newspaper she was influenced by many black artists from the United States. 'I was just a toddler when the Beatles were the thing, so that explains why I don't claim them as major influences,' she said. Eugene and her co-band members - Steve Nichol and Carl McIntosh - were heavily influenced by the American soul stars of the late '70s and early '80s, namely Luther Vandross, Angela Winbush, Phyllis Hyman and Aretha Franklin. She said: 'My favourite song from her is 'Ain't No Way,' she added. 'You talkin' about feelin' her soul!' A South African singer named Twyla was another major influence, she said. Discussing her current band, she said: 'When we play Pittsburgh, they'll immediately recognize the first four or five tunes from our setlist,' she said, citing 'Slow Down,' 'Stay While Child,' Hangin' on a String,' 'You Can't Stop the Rain' and 'Mr. Bachelor.' But in 2022, fellow former Loose Ends founder Carl McIntosh sued Jane Eugene in a New York court, accusing her of trademark infringement by using the name Loose Ends in her promotional material. Jane Eugene vigorously defended the lawsuit, claiming 'fair use' and the case continues. Her Facebook and Instagram accounts have not been updated since April, when she and the group played a gig in Atlanta. Ms McLaughlin hinted that Jane Eugene's high-profile case could be used as an example to publicise US President Donald Trump's new hardline approach to illegal aliens and overstayers, including a carrot-and-stick offer of a $1,000 sweetener and a free flight home to those who give themselves up. She added: 'President Trump and DHS Secretary [Kristi] Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S. 'Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. 'We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.' MailOnline contacted various legal and business contacts for Ms Eugene. The singer's ordeal also comes four months after a British backpacker's dream trip turned into a nightmare when she was detained by ICE agents at the Canadian border, after being classified as an 'illegal alien'. Becky Burke, 28, had attempted to cross the border into Canada with an 'incorrect visa' on February 26, with her parents telling the BBC that she had been getting free accommodation for helping families with chores. Her father believed that in doing so she had essentially broken the terms of her tourist visa waiver, which bans holidaymakers from doing work while in the US. It also comes as British tourists planning trips to the US were warned of increasingly tough questioning at border control that could see them barred from entry or even detained amid Trump's immigration crackdown. US border officials have been using more aggressive methods with holidaymakers and legal immigrants, with the Trump administration calling it 'enhanced vetting', according to the New York Times.
