HIS name was Neil Hope, but you might have known him as Wheels.

The bespectacled, bemulleted teen was one of the best-loved characters in several iterations of Degrassi Junior High.

He formed The Zits with Joey Jeremiah and Snake Simpson.

His parents died in a drink-driving collision. His adoptive grandparents kicked him out of their home.

And he became a drink driver himself, once crashing a car and killing a child.

But if you're a Degrassi fan, you already knew all that.

What you mightn't have known is that on November 25, 2007, the real Wheels died.

You're not alone - until yesterday, barely anyone knew that, but Degrassi producers Linda Schulyer and Stephen Sohn made the surprise announcement on Twitter.

What they didn't announce was why Hope's death had been kept under wraps for so long.

The only clue was a post by Mr Stohn on his Twitter feed.

“We have respected the privacy of the family by not saying anything until now, but our entire team is very emotional about his passing,” Stohn said on his Twitter feed.

“Neil and his character Wheels in the early Degrassi deeply touched many lives.”

Wheels was one of the most popular Degrassi students, appearing on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Degrassi Junior High and The Kids of Degrassi Street.

In 1992, he appeared on Degrassi Talks, urging kids with addiction and sexuality problems to seek help.

In Degrassi, Wheels had several battles with alcoholism.

He also battled it off-screen and spoke openly about his parents' alcoholism, making a documentary about kids with alcoholic parents called The Darker Side.

Even the production company Hope worked for, Epitome, were mystified by the announcement, claiming they had simply "lost contact" with Hope over the past few years.

Hope's fiancee, Christina Boulard, offered some explanation, claiming that at the time of Hope's death "there was some confusion regarding his passing that (Hope's family) do not wish to go public with, which is why they are only announcing his death now to the public and the media.”

Mr Stohn and Ms Schulyer's joint statement said Hope "made an important contribution to our lives, to the lives of our television team ... and indeed to the lives of the many Canadians and others around the world who were influenced by Neil and the roles he played, starting from the early days of The Kids of Degrassi Street".

"His life was not an easy one but the time he spent with us was a shining example of determination, hard work and hopeful optimism and he is sorely missed."

For help with personal problems, contact Lifeline on 13 1114, beyondblue or SANE Australia.