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General Hospital’s Charles Shaughnessy Says a Heartfelt Goodbye to the Late Castmate Who ‘Made This a Sunnier, Funnier Place’
Sunday, September 3rd, 2023
Since General Hospital more often had Charles Shaughnessy issuing threats as Victor Cassadine than cracking jokes, it may come as a surprise to viewers of ABC’s soap that he has terrific comic timing. Well, if they missed his 1993-99 run opposite opposite Fran Drescher on the CBS series The Nanny, anyway.
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In real life, the actor loves a good laugh, too — and he enjoyed a whole lot of them during his 1984-92 stint as ISA operative Shane Donovan on Days of Our Lives. The storylines weren’t hilarious per se, but one of his co-stars in particular didn’t just have a funny bone, her whole body seemed to be full of funny bones. “I’m so sad we have said goodbye to Arleen Sorkin,” Shaughnessy posted to Threads following the scene stealer’s August 26 passing at age 67.
It was Calliope who put the “party” in Kimberly and Shane’s wedding party.
Credit: NBC/Getty Images
Days of Our Lives devotees will vividly remember Sorkin as Calliope Jones, arguably one of daytime’s greatest comic-relief characters of all time. Shaughnessy remembers her portrayer just as clearly. “She made this a sunnier, funnier place,” he wrote. “We had few scenes together on Days of Our Lives, but she brightened up the studio with her joy and wicked humor. Then Mike Weiss (ex-Mike), Arleen and I formed a short-lived company to mount our own ‘appearances.’ Called Standing Room Only, it lasted one event in Bakersfield, after which we were stuck in traffic for five hours!
“It was the best, funniest five hours I have spent,” he concluded.
On this somber occasion, scroll through the below photo gallery to pay your respects to more soap stars we’ve lost in 2023.
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>Michael Levin <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/658177/michael-levin-dies-soap-opera-star-ryans-hope-costar-tribute/" target="_blank">passed away on January 6, 2023</a> at the age of 90. Though his daytime career started out on <em>As the World Turns</em>, he spent 14 years playing Jack Fenelli on <em>Ryan’s Hope</em>.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
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<p>Actor Ben Masters <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/657816/passions-ben-masters-dead-julian-crane-died/" target="_blank">passed away on January 11, 2023</a>. A man of many talents, on and off stage, he will always be remembered for playing the rich and powerful Julian Crane on NBC’s <em>Passions</em>.</p>
Image: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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<p>Actress Carole Cook passed away on January 11, 2023 at the age of 98. Though she appeared in daytime as Sugar Laine on <em>Capitol</em> in the early 80s, she was also a protégé of Lucille Ball and played grandma Helen on the 1984 film <em>Sixteen Candles</em>, just to name a few.</p>
Image: CBS via Getty Images
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<p>Charles Kimbrough passed away on January 11, 2023 at the age of 86. He was best known for playing Jim Dial on <em>Murphy Brown</em> and had a couple stints in daytime on <em>All My Children</em> as Ned Rogers and <em>Another World</em> as Dr. Abbott. </p>
Image: CBS, Priscilla Grant/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Lisa Loring <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/659763/soap-star-dead-lisa-loring-as-the-world-turns-addams-family/" target="_blank">passed away on January 28, 2023</a> at the age of 64. CBS soap fans may remember her from playing the role of Cricket Montgomery on <em>As the World Turns</em>. </p>
Image: Jerritt Clark Getty Images
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<p>Primetime actress Annie Wersching <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/659743/general-hospital-alum-annie-wersching-amelia-dead-at-45/" target="_blank">passed away on January 29, 2023</a> at 45 years old. Not only did she turn up in numerous late-night series, she played Amelia Joffe on <em>General Hospital</em>.</p>
Image: Emiley Schweich/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Cody Longo <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/661134/soap-star-dead-days-of-our-lives-cody-longo-34-years-old/" target="_blank">passed away on February 8, 2023</a> at the age of 34. In 2011, the actor played Nicholas Alamain on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> and appeared in numerous primetime hit shows.</p>
Image: ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
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<p>Actress, model and ’60s sex symbol Raquel Welch passed away on February 15, 2023, at 82 following a brief illness. With over 70 credits on her resume, she appeared on the primetime soap <em>C.P.W.</em> as Dianna Brock, as pictured above alongside former <em>Loving</em> star Noelle Beck, and turned up in numerous films and series throughout her career.</p>
Image: Reg Innell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
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<p>Canadian actress Sharon Acker passed away on March 16, 2023, at the age of 87 in a Toronto retirement home. In the 1980s, she appeared on <em>Texas</em> as Judith Wheeler, as well as on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> as Pamela Fouchier, then turned up on <em>The Young and the Restless</em> as Dr. Grace Sundell in 1992. </p>
Image: Image: ABC
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<p>On March 27, 2023, the <em>General Hospital</em> family mourned the loss of N’Neka Garland, who <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/666134/general-hospital-stars-mourn-death-producer-nneka-garland/" target="_blank">passed away at just 49</a>. The Emmy Award-winning producer was loved by many, especially the cast and crew of the ABC soap.</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>On April 10, 2023, the son of Elizabeth Hubbard announced that she had <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/667464/elizabeth-hubbard-dead-as-the-world-turns-lucinda/" target="_blank">taken her final bow</a>. The soap vet, who won the first ever Daytime Emmy for her work as Althea Davis on <em>The Doctors</em>, is perhaps best remembered for her long run as powerhouse Lucinda Walsh on <em>As the World Turns.</em></p>
Image: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
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<p>TV personality and talk show host Jerry Springer passed away at 79 on April 27, 2023. Daytime fans may not know this but he appeared on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> in 2007 as Pete, a gambler during a scene surrounding Chelsea and Nick’s trip to Vegas. He also tuned up in three episodes of <em>Sunset Beach</em> in 1999 and was a close friend with <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/669752/david-hasselhoff-tribute-jerry-springer/" target="_blank"><em>Young & Restless</em> vet David Hasselhoff (Snapper)</a>. </p>
Image: Greg Doherty/WireImage/Getty Images
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<p>Beloved <em>General Hospital</em> vet Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie) <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/671364/jacklyn-zeman-nurse-bobbie-spencer-dead-at-70/" target="_blank">passed away on May 10, 2023</a>. News of her death rocked daytime, having played the Port Charles role since 1977. Prior to that, the actress appeared as another Bobbi on <em>The Edge of Night</em> and Lana on <em>One Life to Live</em>.</p>
Image: Getty Images
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<p>Though the heartthrob was best known for his star-making turn as Buz Murdock on primetime’s <em>Route 66</em>, daytime discovered him first and, in 1960, tapped him to join <em>Search for Tomorrow</em> as ill-fated Bud Gardner, heroine Jo Tourneur’s nephew. He passed away at age 94 on May 24.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI, CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>The <em>Young & Restless</em> vet — who’d played Williams family patriarch Carl for more than a decade — was reported to have passed away at age 92 in June. “Brett was the sweetest guy,” Lauralee Bell (Christine) told <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/676169/soap-star-dead-brett-hadley-young-restless/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a>. “Biggest smile, and the believability of he and Doug Davidson (ex-Paul) being father and son was like no other!” </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI, CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>When the Emmy-winning veteran actor died on June 26 at the age of 89, he left us with a treasure trove of memories — of his star turns on everything from <em>Another World</em> to <em>All My Children</em> to his work in the long-running role with which we’ll always associate him: <em>Santa Barbara</em> pot stirrer Lionel Lockridge.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Just 48 years old when his death was reported in July, the Broadway vet broke ground in daytime as Zarf, the glam-rock star who confided in <em>All My Children</em> heroine Bianca that he was actually a she who’d been born in the wrong body. (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/678569/soap-star-dead-jeffrey-carlson-transgender-all-my-children/" target="_blank">Read Eden Riegel’s tribute here.</a>)</p>
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images, John Paschal/JPI
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<p>Boy, do we wish she’d had more than <em>One Life to Live</em>. On July 9, the soap legend who played Tina Lord on the soap <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/andrea-evans-dead-remembered-one-life-to-live/" target="_blank">lost her battle with cancer</a> at age 66. Her other daytime roles were Patty Williams on <em>Young & Restless</em>, Tawny Moore on <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> and Rebecca Hotchkiss on <em>Passions</em>.</p>
Image: David Howells/Corbis/Getty Images
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<p>The <em>One Life to Live</em> alum, who was Jake and Max’s half sister Andy Harrison from 1989-91, succumbed to ampullary cancer on April 24 at the age of 59. “Her husband was with her,” wrote a friend, “holding her hand, talking to her and supporting her through her transition.”</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>On July 14 — his 76th birthday, no less — the soap-hopper died of complications from spinal surgery. His memorable daytime roles include Erica Kane’s plaything Phil Brent on <em>All My Children</em>, photographer Michael Scott on <em>Young & Restless</em> and the Kate Robert’s nefarious ex Curtis Reed on <em>Days of Our Lives.</em></p>
Image: Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>She may have been best known for singing “T&A” in the original Broadway cast of <em>A Chorus Line</em>. But to daytime fans, she would always be Rita Mae Bristow, the bored professor’s wife who was forever after some of the <em>Loving</em> that gave her soap its title. She died on July 23 following a long illness.</p>
Image: Columbia Pictures/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>A <em>Soap</em> star rather than a soap star, the actress gave such a memorable performance on the serialized 1970s sitcom as blackmailer Ingrid Svenson that its creators wrote her a series-regular role when they spun off Robert Guillaume’s Benson to… well, <em>Benson</em>. Swenson died of natural causes on July 23 at the age of 90.</p>
Image: David Longendyke/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>The veteran actor was 83 when he died following a short illness on August 3. Daytime viewers will remember him from <em>Guiding Light</em> (where he played Harry Jones in 1994) or <em>Santa Barbara</em> (Helmut Dieter in 1991). But he was known far better and wider for his portrayal of Hector Salamanca on <em>Breaking Bad.</em></p>
Image: Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
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<p>The scream queen who is so vividly remembered as the monster’s mother in <em>It’s Alive!</em> died in May, her sister disclosed in August. To soap fans, she is infamous, owing to her 1991-96 stint on <em>The Young and the Restless</em> as Nina Webster’s trashtastic mom, Flo.</p>
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<p>At age 70, the actress passed away on August 18. She made her daytime debut as good girl Tara Martin on<em> All My Children</em> but really made her mark upon going bad as Cecile DePoulignac on <em>Another World</em>. (Read our <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/689596/soap-star-nancy-frangione-dead-all-my-children/" target="_blank">tribute to the scene stealer here</a>.)</p>
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<p>In August, the sad news broke that the creator of primetime’s <em>Dallas</em> and <em>Knots Landing</em> had died at 84. He had battled Alzheimer’s over the years and ultimately succumbed to complications from a series of infections. </p> <p> </p>
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<p>The daytime icon, who hosted <em>The Price Is Right</em> for 35 years, died at age 99 on August 26. In 2014, the animal-rights activist guest-starred on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> in a knockout of a scene that recalled his punchy role in Adam Sandler’s <em>Happy Gilmore.</em></p>
Image: ABC/Getty Images
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<p>The Emmy winner, a former production designer and art director for <em>General Hospital</em> and <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, died on August 15 at age 80. In Port Charles, he was best known for setting the stage for the Nurses Ball and styling the Quartermaine mansion.</p>
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<p>One of <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ breakout stars in the 1980s, the funny lady who brought to life Calliope Jones died in August at age 67. “I never had more fun acting than with Arleen,” leading man John de Lancie told our <a href="https://tvline.com/news/arleen-sorkin-death-john-de-lancie-interview-tribute-days-of-our-lives-eugene-calliope-1235034915/" target="_blank">sister site TVLine</a>. “We were a team, and we laughed a lot. I will miss her always.”</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Three-time Emmy winner Billy Miller, known for his roles on <em>All My Children, Young & Restless</em> and <em>General Hospital</em>, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/692167/billy-miller-dead-43/" target="_blank">passed away at the age of 43</a> on September 15. Fans will always remember him as Pine Valley’s Richie Novak, Genoa City’s Billy Abbott and Port Charles’ Jason Morgan/Drew Cain.</p>
Image: Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>An ABC MVP for almost 40 years, the photographer shot just about everybody who was anybody on <em>General Hospital</em>. (That’s all his work above — for starters.) Also, “he was the youngest 67-year-old we have ever known,” said his loved ones following his death on September 15 from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident. </p>
Image: ABC/Getty Images, Frank Mullen/WireImage/Getty Images
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<p>On October 10, the world mourned the <em>Lost in Space</em> star, who died at age 87. In the down-to-earth part of his career, he passed through <em>The Doctors</em> and <em>One Life to Live</em> on his way to <em>General Hospital</em> and the role of Derek Barrington, socialite Amanda’s son and (surprise) the father of Ginny Webber’s little boy, Mikey.</p>
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<p>On October 14, the Emmy winner who played Catherine Martell on David Lynch’s bonkers early-1990s primetime soap <em>Twin Peaks</em> died at the age of 91. The erstwhile Rosetta Jacobs is also well known for her roles on the big screen, in such movies as <em>The Hustler</em>, <em>Children of a Lesser God</em> and the original <em>Carrie</em>.</p>
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<p>Parker, best known for her role as Angelique on <em>Dark Shadows</em>, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/695193/dark-shadows-lara-parker-angelique-dead-84/" target="_blank">passed away at 84</a> on Thursday, October 12, 2023, as reported by her friend and former castmate Kathryn L. Scott. She also had daytime roles on <em>Capitol</em> (Linda) and <em>One Life to Live</em> (Carol). </p>
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<p>Veteran actor Richard Roundtree <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/696210/soap-star-dead-richard-roundtree-generations/" target="_blank">passed away on October 24, 2023</a>, at the age of 81, due to pancreatic cancer. He will be remembered by daytime fans for roles on <em>As the World Turns</em> as Oliver and <em>Generations</em> as Dr. Daniel Reubens, as well as numerous primetime and film credits.</p>
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<p>Back in the day, Moll, lost to us at age 80 on October 26, was hired by <em>Santa Barbara</em> to play Morgan Malone, a guy who was set to testify against C.C. Capwell in a lawsuit involving the explosion of an oil rig. Even then, it was a bit of stunt casting, given that Moll had already begun grabbing attention as Bull, the hulking bailiff on <em>Night Court</em>, which also aired on NBC.</p>
Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage/Getty Images
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<p>Daytime was rocked once again when Tyler Christopher <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/696978/tyler-christopher-dead-cause-of-death/" target="_blank">passed away on October 31, 2023</a> at the age of 50. His memory will live on through the characters he played on <em>General Hospital</em> (ex-Nikolas) and <em>Days of Our Lives</em> (ex-Stefan).</p>
Image: 20th Century Fox/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>On November 5, the veteran of <em>CSI: Miami</em> and <em>24</em> (with <em>General Hospital</em> star Rena Sofer) died at just 35 years old. In daytime, he guested as a young Luke Spencer on <em>General Hospital.</em></p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>The veteran actor, best known to soap audiences for his late-1970s run as ill-fated Kitty Shea’s adoring husband Linc Tyler on <em>All My Children</em>, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/697512/peter-white-died-who-was-all-my-children-linc/" target="_blank">died of melanoma</a> at age 86, <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em> revealed in early November. White also appeared in many primetime series, including <em>Dynasty</em> and its spinoff <em>The Colbys</em>, and starred in the both the stage and screen versions of the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ drama <em>The Boys in the Band</em>.</p>
Image: Jim Spellman/WireImage
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<p>The Tony Award-winning actress passed away on November 27, 2023 of natural causes. Though she was known for playing Millicent Carter on <em>ER</em>, as well as Esther Clavin on <em>Cheers</em>, her soapy credits include roles on <em>Love of Life</em> as Toni Prentiss Davis, <em>The Secert Storm</em> as Jessie Reddin, <em>The Doctors and the Nurses</em> as Mrs. Harris, <em>Another World</em> as Jane Overstreet and <em>The Doctors</em> as Phyllis Corrigan.</p>
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<p>The prolific primetime producer, who passed away at age 101 on December 5, is a TV legend owing to his immeasurable contributions to <em>All in the Family</em>, <em>Maude</em>, <em>Sanford and Sons</em>, <em>One Day at a Time</em> and <em>The Jeffersions</em>. But in addition to his legacy of groundbreaking comedy series, he also developed the late-1970s soap spoof <em>Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman</em>, which shone a spotlight on, among others, the estimable Mary Kay Place.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, ABC/Getty Images
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<p>Arguably soaps’ first Black superstar, the trail-blazer passed away on December 6 at the age of 92. She rose to fame after writing to the New York <em>Times</em> about the obstacles that she faced as a light-skinned Black performer. <em>One Life to Live</em> creator Agnes Nixon read Holly’s letter and immediately signed her to a one-year contract to play Carla Benari. The rest is, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/707259/ellen-holly-dead-carla-gray/" target="_blank">suffice it to say, history</a>.</p>
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<p>The movie star who rose to fame as half of primetime soap <em>Peyton Place</em>’s breakout supercouple, Rodney Harrington and Allison McKenzie (Mia Farrow), passed away on December 8 at age 82. His film credits include <em>Paper Moon</em> (with daughter Tatum), <em>The Main Event</em> (with Barbra Streisand) and <em>Love Story</em> (with Ali MacGraw).</p>
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<p>On December 9, <em>General Hospital</em> star <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/707775/jon-lindstrom-tribute-costume-designer-bob-miller/" target="_blank">Jon Lindstrom broke the news</a> of the show’s longtime costume designer’s passing. “He and his partner Steve Howard worked very closely together,” he Kevin’s portrayer said, “so much so that we named the fictitious designer who dressed Lucy Coe so beautifully for the Nurses’ Ball ‘Bob Steve.’”</p>
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<p>The English actress, best remembered for her roles in such films as <em>The Entertainer</em> (with Laurence Olivier) and <em>Alfie</em> (with Michael Caine), died on December 10 at the age of 87. Daytime fans will recall her brief run on <em>Santa Barbara</em> as the original Pamela Capwell, C.C.’s batty first wife and Mason’s mother.</p>
Image: UPN/Courtesy of Everett Collection; Colleen Hayes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; Everett
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<p>Actor James McCaffrey passed away on December 17, 2023 at the age of 65. While he’s known for many primetime roles, including a seven-year run on <em>Rescue Me</em> as Jimmy, daytime fans may recall him playing Charley Spangler on <em>As the World Turns</em>. Not only did Charley kidnap Lily, thinking she was Rose, he then kidnapped Rose, too.</p>
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<p>Jack Axelrod, known to daytime fans for playing <em>General Hospital</em>’s Victor Jerome, passed away on November 28, 2023, at the age of 93. He also appeared on primetime soaps <em>Knots Landing, Dynasty</em> and <em>Dallas</em>. Here’s a photo of Axelrod from <em>General Hospital</em>’s 2014 Fan Club Weekend.</p>
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