Connect with us

News

25

Donnelly Rhodes, Y&R’s Phillip Chancellor II, Passes Away At 80

Alley Mills decided to use her cupcakes as headphones or earmuffs!

Courtesy/VancouverSun

Sad news to report on the passing of former The Young and the Restless star, Donnelly Rhodes.

The Canadian-born Rhodes, who played the original Phillip Chancellor II from 1974-1975,  and was involved in one of the classic Y&R triangles between his wife, Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper) and Jill Foster (Brenda Dickson), passed away at age 80 from cancer.  Rhodes died  at the Baillie House Hospice in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, according to talent agency Northern Exposure.

After leaving Y&R, when Phillip was “killed-off”, which set the stage for the long, and enduring feud for decades between Katherine and Jill, Rhodes went on to star on the primetime series and spoof, Soap as the dim-witted Dutch.

In Jeanne Cooper’s interview with On-Air On-Soaps back in 2012, when asked about working with Rhodes, she responded:  “He was self-assured, nice and cocky, and a very talented actor.  I spent some time with Donnelly.  I had an affair with him, too. (Laughs)  I always say, don’t do things where you work.”

With a career that included over a 100 film and TV roles some of Donnelly’s other most notable roles included parts on: Battlestar Galactica Report to MurphyHill Street Blues, The Flash, The X-Files, Double Trouble, Canada’s Danger Bay and Da Vinci’s Inquest.

Watch a classic clip from Y&R after the jump when Phillip asks Katherine for a divorce.  Then share your thoughts and condolences on the passing of Donnelly Rhodes in the comment section below.

Leave a comment | 25 Comments

25 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

I fondly remember the trio of Kay,Phillip and Jill Foster…..the “early years of Y&R”.The Foster’s and Brooks,also Lance Prentice (John McCook..Eric Forester).Written by William J.Bell.

I remember him as a caterer on the Golden Girls! He was of course, had by that show’s “Welcome Wagon”, the one and only Blanche Deveraux!!

YES! That is where I remember him from, The Golden Girls-still love that show!

I loved Donnelly Rhodes. I remember him in so many great and varied roles. Thank you Mr. Rhodes for sharing your wonderful talent with all of us. Rest in peace.

Classic soap! Mr. Rhodes enjoyed a long career, working with some great people. How wonderful we remember this talented man and his role on this iconic drama and ever affecting storyline. It still resonates.

Will never forget the scene when Jill walked into Phillip’s empty hospital room & was told he had died. Many memorable scenes between Katherine, Phillip & Jill. Sympathy to Donnelly’s family.

Oh Debbie, yes! So many wonderful memories of the 1970s years came flooding back with this sad news. I used to watch back then before going to high school classes (we had split schedules). I became a big fan of Jeanne Cooper/Mrs. C in her scenes with Philip and Jill. Mr. Rhodes also gave a sweet, memorable performance in an episode of THE GOLDEN GIRLS opposite wonderful Rue McClanahan in the mid-late 80s. Many condolences to his family.

One of my all-time favorite shows, The Golden Girls! I still watch it, never gets old!

Oh, how I loved Phillip on Y&R. Don’t think I ever forgave Jill, for taking him away from Katherine. I liked D.R on the nighttime SOAP too, with Billy Chrystal, etc.
Is it just me, or did he resemble our own Michael Fair man?

I so remember this watching this with my mom…I so miss these days of Y&R, long dramatic scenes and great drama/story lines…My mom loved Phillip Chancellor…So sad to continue to hear of losing these wonderful people like Donnelly, Jeanne Cooper then Beau Kazer died about a year of so after Jeanne…I loved Y&R from the beginning till 2006…RIP Donnelly, you will be missed and prayers for Donnelly’s family…

He was so handsome.

I know who he portrayed, but never watched him….before my time. But, I do enjoy watching the reruns of the sitcom SOAP, where Rhodes played the part of ex-con Dutch…..
RIP.

Hah….”Soap!” That is where I first encountered Mr. Rhodes, too, CeeCee! I was amazed when I discovered the actor who portrayed the thick ex-con Dutch had also played the late Phillip Chancellor who had been long dead by the time I started watching Y&R in the ‘80’s. At least it put a handsome face to the character when Jill and Katherine went umpteen rounds over her departed husband!

Hey Celia! And @Shay!

Soap was a great show, wasn’t it? Unless I am mistaken, it was the first role for Billy Crystal, too. Katherine Helmond, Richard Mulligan, Robert Guillaume, and Cathryn Damon were also great in it.

Hey, James,
You can catch SOAP on ANTTV—– you need to check your availability, depending upon your location…..
Love the show, and also, BENSON, where, the housekeeper, Olga? sounds just like Dr. O.
That show went to many ‘places’, which was , at the time, as outrageous as Elvis’ swinging hips, I read….LOL.
I think it must have been the first audacious program to dare tackle a gay storyline ( Billy Crystal).

James…oh, yes…Soap was DEFINITELY a great show!!!!! I found it to be TOTALLY LOL HILARIOUS!!!!! Classic example: Remember when that Burt Impostor took the Real Burt’s place??? L-O-L!!!!!

Later, Brother.

Thank you, Celia! I will check it out! 🙂

Liked him on Soap….

Don’t remember just a kid but I thought he was on longer but what a shame the Chancellor Mansion a joke and nobody left to go on with the legacy they screwed up!

Mail Young you are now making a joke out of Alzheimer’s you live supposedly what our family is living thru it is not a joke!!! You can’t let them out if your sight for one second yet Jack and the rest let Dina take taxis whatever no control what a bloody joke shame on you!

Mal excuse me

You are so right, Kay…..this is not a true, fair depiction of a person afflicted with the disease.
I think many people know someone or, of someone in this predicament.
My friend’s grandmother ( in her early eighties) displays very concerning actions—so, yes, these poor, poor souls need twenty-four hour surveillance.
These writers, it seems, have made a joke out of Dina’s illness. I did not find blowing kisses in the courtroom, by Graham and Dina, particularly ‘funny’ or ‘cute’.
Well, now we know….or do we, these two are married?
Timmm has said it. Graham had the trump card all this time? Is that a fake, also? A forgery?
Another ridiculous ‘incident’ was Ashley and Traci going through, possibly, thousands od papers/ documents to find something which would, somehow, discredit Graham. Are we in first grade, here??
In what universe is that humanly possible? Only two people looking for a needle in a haystack.
Let’s take this heartbreaking illness seriously….enough with the courtroom shenanigans…..jester and all.

Sad news, indeed. Each time I read about the death of one of the original cast members, I grieve. I hope he had a very fulfilling life after his works on the aforementioned shows.

Rest in peace, Mr. Rhodes…

The scene is illustrative of the brilliance of both actors. Jeanne Cooper was knocking it out of the park even back in 1975!

Actually, Mr. Rhodes replaced actor John Considine in the role of Phillip Chancellor II.

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Kim Coles as Whitley

Days of our Lives

Airdate: 7-24- 2023

Popular