OBITUARIES : Nathan Cook; TV Series Actor

Actor Nathan Cook, who had a recurring role on the prime-time TV soap “Hotel,” died at Santa Monica Hospital where he was taken after complaining he was having trouble breathing, it was learned Friday.

Cook, 38, died about an hour after he was admitted to the hospital shortly after 3 a.m. on June 11, Police Sgt. Tim Bauer said.

L. Shelton, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, said an autopsy had been performed but the results will not be available until Monday.

But KNBC-TV, citing coroner’s officials, reported Friday that the autopsy did not determine the cause of death, and results of toxicological tests were pending. The station said friends and business associates believe Cook died of an allergic reaction to penicillin.

The black actor played a character named Billy Griffin on “Hotel” during its five-year run on ABC. The series was canceled this year.

Cook, who was born in Philadelphia, also appeared in the TV series “The White Shadow.”