Joshua Ryan Evans, 20, the 3-foot-2 actor who played Timmy the living doll on the NBC soap Passions, died in San Diego during a medical procedure Monday -- the same day that his character died on the show, the network said yesterday.

Mr. Evans was born with a rare disease that stunted his growth, NBC publicist Lauren Townsend said. The cause of death and the nature of the medical procedure were not immediately disclosed.

On Monday's episode of Passions, taped last month, Mr. Evans' character died. On the show, Timmy was a doll created by a witch.