All My Children
All My Children's Matthew Cowles Has Passed Away!
Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos
Heartbreaking and sad news to report this Memorial Day weekend! Reports are surfacing that none other than All My Children’s Matthew Cowles, who played the one and only Billy Clyde Tuggle passed away on Thursday, May 22nd.
According to manager, Tsu Tsu Stanton, Cowles was surrounded by his family – his wife The Good Wife’s Christine Baranski, and their two daughters by his side. Cowles was 69 years old.
Tsu Tsu Stanton tweeted the news, “#Matthew Cowles passed away on 5/22. I had the pleasure of being his manager. He was a very gifted and kind man who loved life and everyone.”
Broadway World posted an item on the actors passing citing: “Cowles was born in 1944 and his career spanned both the stage and screen. His Broadway roles include Malcolm (1966), The Time of Your Life (1969), and Sweet Bird of Youth (1975). His movie credits include The Juror (1996), American Loser (2007), Shutter Island (2010), and many more. His most recent short film, Family on Board (2014), is currently in post-production.” Matthew had numerous television credits but none more memorable than Pine Valley’s pimp, Billy Clyde Tuggle!
Matthew reprised his role of Billy Clyde last summer as part of Prospect Park’s online revival of the series. AMC executive producer, Ginger Smith was instrumental in getting Matthew back to the soap opera. On-Air On-Soaps had the first exclusive interview with Cowles upon his return, which now would turn out to be the final time we would chat.
Matthew’s former AMC co-star Cady McClain (Ex-Dixie, now Y&R’s Kelly) tweeted on his passing today, “So sad. What a lovely man… I adored working with him last year. So kind.”
On-Air On-Soaps sends our thoughts and prayers to Matthew’s family, and we are deeply saddened by the passing of one of the most talented actors ever to appear on soaps. Share your thoughts below!
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All My Children Stars and Eileen Davidson On New Episode of Virtual Game Show “Soap Opera Know-It-All”
Imagine being in the hot seat and having some of your soap opera favorites trying to stump you with trivia, while trying to best your competition. Well, that’s what four contestants faced as they battled it out in the ultimate soap trivia game, Soap Opera Know-It-All.
The Michael Fairman Channel just released its fifth episode of its season, where in round one of the game play, stars from the beloved All My Children served up the questions including: Cady McClain (Ex-Dixie), Jill Larson (Ex-Opal), Lindsay Korman-Hartley (Ex-Cara), Vincent Irizarry (Ex-David) and Jacob Young (Ex-Y&R). In addition, the former cast members from Pine Valley also try to stump viewers at home with some additional character-related questions.
Later in the episode, there is a very special appearance by Eileen Davidson (Y&R, Ex-Days, Santa Barbara and B&B). It is Eileen who reveals and asks the final question of the game to determine the eventual winner.
For this edition, host Michael Fairman welcomed longtime soap fans: Michael Cochran, Sean McKinley, and Robert Davis along with returning champion, David Bursky for this soap deep-dive competition.
Photo: MFTV, Inc.
Trivia questions from the following daytime and primetime soaps were put to the players during the game: All My Children, As the World Turns, Dark Shadows, General Hospital, Knots Landing, Sunset Beach, Days of our Lives, Dynasty, Edge of Night, One Life to Live, Port Charles and The Young and the Restless.
As the series moves through its now back-half of the season, the winning contestant must defeat the competition for the right to move on to the next episode to face three more challengers all in pursuit of the “Know-It-All” title with special soap-related prizes along the way.
Watch the episode below and make sure to subscribe to the Michael Fairman Channel for more interviews, music and more.
Now let us know, did you get most of the answers correct? Which question stumped you all the way? Comment below.
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My condolences are with his family.Plus i’m glad that his fans were able to watch him at least one more time on the All My Children reboot.
Same here…he was one of my favorites!!!
I agree enjoyed seeing him on the reprise AMC. Rest in Peace.
I feel the same way. And Billy Clyde, though he still had the same personality, was a kinder gentler Billy. My deepest sympathy to his family. He will never be forgotten as long as anyone who watched AMC is still kicking around. Rest in peace.
I did not hear that he was sick. Gone way too soon.
R.I.P. Matthew. Prayers for Christine Baranski and their children. Great entertainer.
I loved Billy Clyde and never knew he was married to Christine. She’s one of my favorite actresses. Could we see Mary Anne Thorpe with Billy Clyde Tuggle? Nope but that’s why they are called actors.
Christine appeared with her husband on a few episodes of AMC. They were hilarious together.
Oh no, no, no! I love this actor, think he’s brilliant. I always said that Billy Clyde Tuggell was the best villain in soap opera history. He even wrote his own dialogue. I don’t have he words–this is just too sad.
I agree 100% percent Harry! I wanted to write something but couldn’t have said it better!
There will never be another colorful fun villian like Billy Clyde Tuggles…Mathew Cowles was one of the top greatest actors in daytime ever and one of my top all time favorite soap actor/characters!!!
ITA.
What a brilliant portrayal.
:(.
I know how you feel . I’m still in shock . Matthew was such the opposite of billy Clyde. I watched him on AMC many years ago when I first began watching soaps . I was just a kid then, but mathew’s billy clyde , left quite an impression !! My heart goes out to his wife and daughters and every fan out there who loved him!!!
An unforgettable soap villain. Sympathy to Christine and family
Matthew Cowles / Billy Clyde Tuggle AMC is a soap opera legend!
His villain performances has stayed with all the AMC fans for decades!
He made a mark that will always forever be ..
Condolences to all who love Matthew Cowles , he will never be forgotten ..
Sad news..Rest in peace..He was always riveting and a scene stealer over at AMC.
I am so sad to hear this! I loved him on AMC.
That makes me so sad. I liked him so very much and I will forever miss Billy Clyde. May he rest in peace.
Glad I got to see him perform again as Billy Clyde. Prospect Park did something right by bringing him back to AMC. He was wonderful as Billy Clyde.
So sad to hear. He was tremendous to watch, and I was thrilled to get to see him as Billy Clyde again. Condolences to his family.
What a shock to hear this news. On All My Children he was the character you loved despite his mean ways. He will be missed.
I am so sorry for your lost may god be with you a d your family your in my thoughts and prayers to
Such a talent loved him on All My Children glad to see him back on short lived return
So sorry on Matthews passing. He was excellent actor and character on AMC was much loved. Sincere sympathy to his family ……Billy Clyde, my goodness no one will ever forget him…RIP
RIP…Matthew Cowles….Billy Clyde Tuggle….may you rest in peace with the other greats from PineValley,Pa.
I am so sorry and offer my condolences ..I remember Billy Clyde way back on All My Children in the Dixie/Tad days …years ago..and then his return last year ..Rest in peace ..you were a great actor and person ..
I hadn’t watched All My Children in ages…and I mean years! But I do remember his character well. Very sad news…condolences.
Rebecca, I hope you try and find the reboot online….he was just as good the second time around!
I’ll look…thanks!
Mr. Cowles’ sense of fun playing the role made him “non-traumatic” for viewers, even way back, when we got a less kinder-gentler Billy Clyde. An actor who brought craft to his role, this is how I remember him. God bless his family.
He was a joy to watch. So much talent. My heart goes out to his family.
May God be with his family during this difficult time! He was so talented!
I am very sad about this, Matthew was a wonderful actor and rip my friend. We will all miss you.
❤Him can first remember seeing so many years ago on All My Children. One of the best characters to be brought on RIP Billy Clyde deepest sympathy to his loving family!
I was so taken aback upon reading of his passing, that I was at a loss for words. I have regained my composure. Billy Clyde Tuggell has had a cult following ever since he left Pine Valley. Many of us started a ‘Bring Back Billy Clyde’ campaign. When Prospect brought him back, and I heard his Southern slurred speech sputtered forth while wearing that three piece white suit with the carnation boutonniere while carrying a cane, I am going to admit something–I chocked up a little. Yes, because when I was about 12 Billy Clyde triggered my imagination while invoking… Read more »
wow! beautifully expressed heartfelt sentiments that once again shows how characters on TV, in film, literature and the like can effect our emotions and our lives.
you captured Billy Clyde’s essence while simultaneously paying tribute to the man who brought him to life…
Harry you said it so much better than I could have. I watched him and Donna, on AMC even watched him on AMC on line,I usually don’t like the villains but Billy was a treasure. He made you laugh even when he made you shudder. Rest in peace and our prayers for his family.Think of the talent that was in that house. between him and Christine Baranski .best to them and their daughters.
Well said.
I can’t thank Prospect Park enough for attempting to give the fans more time with our favorite characters. Billy was great, and Matthew was brilliant.
Loved him on all my children .
I am so very sad to hear this news. His tremendous talent made Billy Clyde a classic, unforgettable character. Rest in peace Matthew. Know that you are loved by millions.
Deep love and Condolences to Christine and the girls. A good and kind man, a great actor and the most lovable villain who ever perpetrated evil in Pine Valley! So sorry for your loss, you are in my prayers.
Love, Trish
And with a tip of his feathered fedora, he took the classic “Clydemobile” on one last ride to the “Great Beyond…” Bye bye, BC….still unforgettable after all these years!
What a shame. Thank God for the PP reboot, if for nothing more than giving us the chance to see “Billy Clyde” one more time.
I knew he was married to Christine Baranski, but it was news to me that his first wife was Kathleen Dezina who played Estelle on AMC.
RIP .
Me too. No matter what he appeared in…he was always Billy Clyde Tuggle to me.
He was a great actor. Watched him for many years on “All My Children” and I was thrilled when he appeared on the online soap. I am so sorry for his loss to his family. Love watching his wife every week on “The Good Wife”. Such a talented family. May he rest in peace.
Billy Clyde Tuggle was my favorite soap character of all time. I was thrilled to see him back in the online version of AMC. Such a shock to hear of his passing. My sympathies to his wife and family and all who loved him.
What was his cause of death?
Don’t know him, but have enjoyed his wife’s acting. RIP
It was reported that his family was at his bedside when he died.So i’m thinking he was suffering from some kind of illness or something and his loved ones knew he was going to die soon.
One of those actors that you love to hate. He was one of the greats.
What a character actor, he was one of my favorites on All My Children. My sympathies to his wife, also a great actor, and his family and friends. I will miss him as I miss All My Children, but ALL good things must come to an end!
I am shocked and sad to hear of this news. I remember him from years afo on AMC, fabulous actor. Rest in peace.
Well I hate to hear it. I’m a big Billy Clyde Tuggle fan. I loved his character back in the day. You’ll be missed Billy Clyde. P.I.P. “PIMP IN PIECE”!!!!
My condolences to the family on his passing! I watched AMC for many years and all are near and dear to my heart!
I remember him from AMC back in the day and saw him in other shows.A talented actor gone to soon. My condolences to his family.
I was devastated when I found out last night. When I saw him at the premiere of the AMC & OLTL reboots, I was ecstatic! And a little sad, because it was obvious to me how frail he was. I did not know what was wrong, but I am forever grateful that he was able to reprise Billy Clyde and somewhat redeem him. He was horrible and lovable at the same time and oh how he mangled the English language to pieces. Harry you said it well, for many of us share your sentiments. And Doyle…Pimp in Peace – I… Read more »
When an actor can arouse such hatred in you for the way he is portraying a character, well, then I must say that that is a VERY FINE ACTOR. He was the best. You could hate him and laugh at him at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him and when I found out (quite some time ago) that he was married to one of my favorite actresses of all time, Christine Baranski, then that just ‘sealed the deal’. RIP dear Matthew and know that you gave your best and it was even better than that!
Cowles also played a very memorable heartsick hillbilly on Loving!!! I’ll never forget his overall-clad Eban Japes on that hellbent mission to Corinth….to retrieve his ladylove, “Lottiebird!” Given his real-life blueblood heritage, it made his believability as both a white-trash villain and the over-the-top procurer, Billy Clyde, all the more remarkable!!!!!
A remarkable man and a remarkable character he created in Billy Clyde. Indelible! My condolences to his wife Christine Baranski and his two daughters.
I really enjoyed al the evil you conjured up on All My children. You were my verybfavorite. My concolences to your wife and family. RIP for you shall be greatly missed!
He was memorable as Billy Clyde on ALL MY CHILDREN both on the abc-tv version and the short-lived Prospect Park horribly botched version. It says in the article that Producer Ginger Smith was instrumental in getting Him to reprise his role for the on-line version. It’s a shame Ginger Smith didn’t have the common courtesy to tell the fans what in the world was going on with the On-line version by Prospect Park. I am so sorry that he has passed, he was quite an interesting actor – but whenever I hear of anything reminding me of ALL MY CHILDREN,… Read more »