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AW & OLTL Legendary Soap Opera Leading Man George Reinholt Dead At 73!

Courtesy/AWofficiando

Courtesy/NBC

Very sad news this morning that is making its way around the soap opera world.   One of the first true leading men and “hunks” of the daytime drama series format, George Reinholt has passed away at 73 years old from cancer.   George, who along with the late Jacqueline Courtney, became truly one of the original soap opera supercouples of Steven Frame and Alice  Matthews in the late 60’s and early 70’s on NBC’s Another World!   During his time on AW, Reinholt had the highest TV-Q rating in Daytime television cementing his popularity in the soap culture!

After deciding to leave the Another World over ative differences with the series higher-ups which included … Paul Rauch and Harding Lemay … Reinholt eventually landed at ABC’s One Life to Live and created the new roles of  Tony Lord.   Tony was the brother to Viki Lord played by Erika Slezak!   Reinholt played that  role for two years.   It was at OLTL that the ABC soap opera tried to capture the magic twice by pairing George with Jacqueline Courtney who had also left AW and was now playing Pat Ashley in Llanview!

Reinholt did once again return to Another World af inal time in 1089 for the series 25th anniversary, but sadly in 1994, when Reinholt appeared on the CBS television broadcast: 50 Years of Soaps: An All Star Celebration, the program marked his final appearance with his leading lady from Another World, Jacqueline Courtney.

Courtesy/AWofficiando

Beginning in 1988, George began teaching acting in the Philadelphia area to High School students,and at the Barnstormers Theatre in Ridley Park.

Survivors include his dear friend and caretaker, Ann Marie Lincoln, and longtime friends Ruth Campbell and John Magee who edited his memoir, and the funeral services were said to be private.  To view Reinholt’s complete obit click here! 

Now below, watch the clip from “50 Years of Soaps”, when George and Jacqueline are reunited again!  Then, let us know your thoughts on the passing of George Reinholt?  Were you a fan of Steven Frame and Tony Lord?  Share your comments and remembrances below!

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RIP

Too sad. He was great as Tony Lord. I didn’t know about Courtney. Does anybody know when she passed and why?

I think it was two years ago she died of skin cancer. Soap opera digest put steve and Alice on the cover to honor her passing too.

My FIRST soap opera love who I will never forget. Rest in peace with Jacquie now.

I also heard he was closeted.

He wasn’t closeted. He just didn’t discuss his private life with the media.

I loved Pat & Tony! they were one of my favorite couples on OLTL!

Very sad news. I loved him as Tony on OLTL. May he rest in peace.

This is so bittersweet. In one way it was wonderful going down memory lane– but in another it is sad seeing that clip honoring soaps knowing how few are now left. And now I am at age that I am started to see the passing of so many actors who played the beloved characters I grew up watching. Now all my children, remember we only have one life to live, so let us make all the days of our lives count. So as the world turns at the edge of night, in the dark shadows as we search for tomorrow, may the guiding light lead us to an another world. RIP George.

AW was…imo…the best soap with Days back in the 70s…i had a teenage crush on Arianne Munker and Adrienne Wallace who both played Alices niece Marianne Randolph…Liz Mathews (Irene Dailey) i believe passed 5 years ago and Daved Bailey the last Russ Mathews drowned in a pool several years ago…all so close together…Rick Porter(Larry Ewing) also gone a few years ago. Too many…just like my real family and friends…hard to deal with. Didnt like AWs later years when the writers had the Corey kids call Liz aunt when they werent related…best later part was Jake and Viki but Jake really shouldve been called Ricky Mathews, Lizs stepgrandson to keep the Mathews family part of the show…only Russ made a few appearances and his daughter Olivia was there…hope im not boring you with all this…i just miss the show and sad over the loss of so many former soap stars as well as in my own family…one final memory at its a funny one…George Reinholt once did a nude spread in one of the magazines when he was doing the soaps and one day when i was at the drug store with my mom, a strict catholic and with old values and morales took a peek in that mag and remarked the centerfold was a disappointment because it wasnt very revealing…lol

No not boring at all– Edge of Night was my first soap as a child, AW my close second and I watched AW right to the end in 99. In university all my friends were into that new soap Y&R but no one was into AW, so I made a deal with my roommate if she watched AW with me I would watch Y&R with her– and dang I got hooked on it too. Soaps are woven into the fabric of my life — a sort of parallel universe– to live in for an hour or two each day. Today’s soaps may be better produced with bigger budgets than days gone by, but some of the stories were birth in those early days, and I am glad I was able to ride the wave at an age I could most enjoy them. So feel free to reminisce all you want– because we were fortunate to experience the genre when it was at its best.

JimH & MarySf

two AW FANS!

Another World’ is my pick for the one soap that had “it” ALL

1. “…some of the stories were birth in those early days, and I am glad I was able to ride the wave”

2. “…we were fortunate to experience the genre when it was at its best.”

two very strong and valid reasons… we decades plus fans know… and hang on to the remaining 4 so vigilantly.

all posts have reason. even if it’s not ours. so… I say cheers for the decade plus fans

p.s.. had to google that playgirl pictorial… George Reinholt. I remember that.
didn’t recall he was a soap pioneer tho… even back then.. I liked the discretion, even the publications adhered…. wink, wink… I could see why he captured the fans

Another World had the best couples… the best collectively well acted cast… on par excellence…. everything simmered… captured my attention… like no other soap…. till Santa Barbara came along….

Long Live DAYS and GH.

@jimh..Your mom sounds like an absolute hoot!!!! And @Patrick….You have the most delightful perspective on things: “All posts have reason, even if it’s not ours.” Between that and your graceful and descriptive statements, your contributions are always a treat to read….full of knowledge and enjoyment! As for the subject at hand, he was a bit before my time….my earliest recollections of OLTL were of a recast “Tony Lord,” but I definitely was aware of the “soap legend” who preceded him! (Tall tales and all….)

Jackie Courtney died in December 2010. Yes, she did pass away of skin cancer.

Back in the 70s AW and DOOLs featured my favorite soap couples: Days had Doug and Julie, and AW had Steve and Alice. On AW, Rachel(Robin Strasser, Vicki Wyndam) was the bad girl who occasionally broke them up and got pregnant by Steve…son was Jaime…Steve, Alice and Rachel was a long drawn out but exciting triangle that lasted for years…and it didnt matter to most if Steve ended up with either lady…they were that good. Rachel wasnt an evil villain…she was a bad girl looking for ways to climb the social ladder…ironically Steven came from a poor background but was a self made millionaire by the time he arrived in Bay City and fell in love with sweet Alice…i think Steve was drunk or something the night he slept with Rachel…i 4get at the moment. Rachel was married to Alices brother Dr. Russ Mathews who thought he was Jaimes father…Rachel was also briefly married to Ted Clarke who ran a resturuant…4 years Steve went back and forth between Rachel and Alice…it was always exciting and the ratings soared…then came the backstage drama: George, Jackie and Virginia Dwyer who played Alices mom and Mathews matriarch Mary Mathews were all fired. Steve died in a plane crash, Mary died while on vacation with husband Jim and Jackie who played Alice was replaced with lookalike actress Susan Harney who left the role in 1979. This show remain top rated and was hot up until 1979. The show went to 90 minutes, killed off popular John Randolph, and gradually phased out the whole Mathews and Randolph family that made the show popular. The show lost popular Beverly Mckinsey as Iris to shortlived spinoff Texas but she never returned to AW…big mistake. AW went back to 60 min. but with so many cast changes exct. it wasnt the same. They brought on David Canary and Linda Borgenson to play Steve and Alice but the magic wasnt there like it was for the originals and the story fizzeled and Steve was killed off for good…i think it wouldve worked if the had cast Love Of Lifes Ron Tomme and Tina Sloan(AWs Olivia) as Steve and Alice…in any case AW wasnt as good in the 80s to last episode like it was in the 70s…best parts were Viki and Jake, Donna, Cass and Frankie but they could never top AWs early years. Soaps really dont write super couples like Steve and Alice, and Doug and Julie anymore, and maybe thats the problem…the lack of a romantic super couple we can cheer for. George and Jackie(who died from melanoma in 2010 at age 64) are greatly missed.

I always wanted soapnet to make its own movies using daytime stars. One movie wouldve been a bio…’The Jackie Courtney Story’ staring Julie M. B. (exLulu, GH) in the titled role…i believe soapnet wouldve been more succesful and helped keep the soap genre arrive with more original programming and made for tv movies(like lifetime channel) but staring mostly past and present soap stars…imo

ALIVE!!!

This is terribly sad. He, along with the fabulous Jacquie and wonderful Robin (Strasser; the original Rachel Davis Matthews Clark), set “Another World” on fire through the late 1960s through early/mid-1970s. I promptly dumped “Another World” when he was fired and followed him to “One Life to Live.” Having Jacquie join the cast a few months later was pure elation!

Despite his reputation, this man had true star quality. While some may question his acting ability (personally, I though he was quite good — his fiery, early 1976 confrontation scene with Victor Lord — then played by Shepperd Strudwick — was phenomenal), there’s no doubt that this man has presence and a command of his audience. You sat up and took notice when he was on your TV screen. In the day when all leading soap actors looked, dressed, and sounded alike, George Reinholt broke the mould.

Rest in peace, George.

Yes I was a GREAT fan of Steve and Alice!!! I also knew him as Tony Lord
He was a great actor and will be remembered always!

Wow! What a talent GEORGE was! Being a viewer of OLTL since about year 2 of the show I certainly remember “Tony and Pat”! I was bummed when their storyline came to a close. I had read that Jackie Courtney had passed away a few years ago. When I read Mr. Reinholt’s obituary in my local paper yesterday I had no idea he love a mere 3 miles from me, that he was born in Philadelphia AND was teaching in a town about the same distance away!
RIP!!

They were magic together and when they tried to recast them both it never really worked for me. This scene I vaguely remember though I was very young we use to watch soaps in the summer and prayed we would have bad weather so we could stay home from school. RIP dear man you are now once again with your leading lady!

I remeber when they brought Steve back from the dead played by David Canary…i was a fan of his from his Bonanza years and as Adam on AMC but here he was terribly miscast as was Linda Borgenson who played Alice at this time in the storyline…i thought Love Of Lifes Ron Tomme would fit the part better as Steve and Tina Sloan who played Olivia Delany on AW might have been ok as Alice unless they couldve gotten Susan Harney back who was Jackies first replacement in the role…However, George Reinholt and Jackie Courtney will always be the one and only Steve and Alice…beautiful couple…they just dont write them like that anymore but im glad i was around then to watch…soaps…well most…were at their best in the 60s to late 70s…and like you i was always happy when school was out so i could watch.!! P.S. i wish more episodes had survived from that era because most of todays generation of soap viewers dont know how wonderful soaps used to be…some are entertaining today but not as great as they were in the good old days!!!

You are so right their is not one soap on today that I would jump off a school bus and run thru the door to catch the last 15 minutes! I stick with watching them some now and I tell myself it is like an old pair of sneakers you just can’t throw out.

George was one of a kind, I remember him entering “One Life” as a “playboy” before Jacquie was hired and they gave him a girlfriend from Vietnam, “Mai Ling” and he had some very naughty scenes with the late Nancy Pinkerton as Dorian (calling her character “fridgid”…seemed adlibbed too!) and very touching scenes with the late and luminous Dorrie Kavanaugh as Cathy Craig who’s character was afraid to make love to “Tony,” to be intimate again after her baby Meagen died. Mr. Reinholt and Ms. Courtney are forever linked and I find their presence including the other actors noted to be “like it was yesterday,” they are indelible and this truly is a very sad day. Robin Strasser is always wonderful in her remembrances and I look forward to hearing her thoughts. God bless all these stars, stars indeed!

Oops, that should be “frigid.”

How interesting how the mind works, at these passings, a flood of memories recall a special time and place; and our soaps and their legacy characters are as valid an environment as any.

George Reinholt and I have been friends for several years….I loved him dearly….I shall miss him so very much….he fought a valiant fight against the cancer…and always said he was going to “beat this cancer”……but alas, he lost….he fought so hard the last 2 years….I love you George, and miss you so much….and I still look for your sweet letters in my mail box..I just can’t believe you are gone…….I can’t wait until I can see you again…..

George was a hoot! I miss him very much, Thanks for all the kind words, George and I had a habit of pulling jokes on each other. The best one was when my Wife and I put the add in the suncoast Newspaper, here in Florida, describing George as a Male Escort, well I sure as hell didn’t expect all the publisity. Sally Jessie Rafael, and Howard Stern and Robin, Howard called George early in the Morning, questioning him and tiring to trip him up about the Male escort, episode, but George had great Talent and went nose to nose, with Howard and Robin! I miss my Cuss!, again thanks’ to all the great post’s, Best regard’s, Carl Reinholt,

Carl, I do not know if you will get this message from this post dated June 1, 2014. I would love to talk/e-mail you regarding the death of my dear friend GK (as I called him). Is there anyway you can e-mail me @ pianist58@msn.com or call me @ 720-936-5644. I was a good friend of GK’s and have some questions I would like to ask you regarding his death. It would mean so much to me to talk to you. THANK YOU.

George told me that when he passed, his tombstone should reed, ” here lies George Reinholt, who had one life to live and now has gone to another World” we miss ya George RIP

General Hospital

Adam Huss Makes Another Return to General Hospital as Nikolas Cassadine

Nikolas Cassadine will be back on your screens next week but now via Pentonville. That means, that actor Adam Huss is back for a visit for all-new episodes of General Hospital.

In story, Ava (Maura West) comes to visit her ex in the slammer. So, just what does Ava want now? She clearly has been working an agenda on Sonny (Maurice Benard). Is she working with Valentin (James Patrick Stuart)? What will she tell Nikiolas? stay tuned.

Meanwhile, once news of Huss’ return broke earlier on Friday via Soap Opera Digest, he also announced his return on his Instagram expressing, “For all those who’ve been asking, cat’s out of the bag;) Thank you to all my #Nikolas #GH fans for your unwavering support. I don’t take it for granted for a second! (Even when I can’t answer 😊) #generalhospital”

Photo: ABC

Huss took over the role of Nikolas back in January of 2023, after Marcus Coloma left the soap opera. Previous to that, Huss filed in for Coloma in September of 2021 and November of 2022. Fast-forward to January of 2024, Nikolas gave Ace to Laura and Kevin to raise, while he eventually turned himself into the police for kidnapping Esme and keeping her hostage while she was pregnant and Wyndemere.

Photo: ABC

The return of Huss comes on the heels of multiple reports that his on-screen son, Nicholas Chavez is not returning to the show as Spencer Cassadine, while in story Spencer is believed to have drowned int the Seine River after falling off a boat in France, when drugged by Esme.

So, looking forward to seeing Adam Huss back as Nikolas? Do you think GH will eventually have him more full-time? Comment below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Arianne Zucker Reveals Her Last Days of our Lives Airdate

Arianne Zucker, who is no longer on contract with Days of our Lives, and involved in a lawsuit against the show, took to her You Tube channel and in her latest episode, and offered up what she believes is her final airdate as Nicole Walker DiMera.

The actress expressed: “I was really appreciative of the amount of support that I have had since leaving Days of our Lives.” She then added,  “My last airdate, I think, it’s July 29th and we’ll see how things go after that.”

Zucker went on to say how she has continued to receive overwhelming support since suing her former employer, Corday Productions, with the allegations that former Co-EP Albert Alarr sexually harassed her and other females at the show, and that the production company entity did not respond sufficiently and adequately.

Photo: JPI

After lodging her complaints, Zucker said her agents received two notices that Corday Productions were reducing her pay before her character was ultimately written off.  Zucker’s contract expired in January and since DAYS tapes over six months ahead it brings her final airdate, which as of now, to the end of July. Zucker is suing for harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination among other claims.

Previously, Corday Productions issued this statement on Zucker’s claims: “The allegations in Ms. Zucker’s lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions, offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”

On her You Tube channel, Arianne went on to thank everyone who came out to the east coast fan event last weekend that featured several DAYS stars. She expressed, “My whole goal is to really help people stand up for themselves.” Arianne also shared she thinks it’s important for people who have gone through trauma to help each other through it.

Photo: JPI

On DAYS, Nicole is still in the dark that Sloan (Jessica Serfaty) is raising her child, Jude, with Eric (Greg Vaughan), and Eric also doesn’t know that he is raising his biological son. Will Eric and Nicole reunite and will Nicole find out what Sloan, Melinda and Leo (Greg Rikaart) have been hiding for months, before she exits the show? Stay tuned. There has been on official confirmation from DAYS that July 29th is Zucker’s final airdate.

You can check out Ari’s latest episode from her You Tube Channel below.

Now let us know, do you think somehow DAYS and Arianne will work these out and she will somehow be back on the show? What do you think Nicole’s exit will look like? Do you think they will recast? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Breaking News

REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital

For those who were holding out hope that Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Nicholas Chavez would be returning to General Hospital after filming his leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology, it looks like those hopes have been dashed.

According to a report from TV Line, although unconfirmed from General Hospital or a representative for Chavez, the actor will not reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine on the long-running ABC soap opera and continue the love story of Sprina opposite Tabyana Ali (Trina, GH).

Chavez was cast as Lyle Menendez over the the summer of 2023 for the second season of Murphy’s limited Monsters series on Netflix. In the upcoming season, the series will focus on the the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the two well-to-do Beverly Hills brothers accused of murdering their parents in 1989.

Photo: ABC

After word from Chavez casting was revealed, GH fans were concerned over the fate of the Sprina story, a spokesperson for GH shared,  “We support Nicholas’ endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped.”

In story, the series “killed off” Spencer when he went overboard with Esme to the steely waters below after being injected with a drug, thanks to Esme and falling into the Seine River in France. However, his body was never recovered, and believed to have drowned or washed away. Thus, leaving an opening for Spencer to return in the form of Chavez or be recast down the line.

Photo: ABC

TV Line shared that ‘multiple sources’ are confirming that Chavez is not returning to the ABC soap opera, which is what many had suspected might be the case once he left for this major starring role in a Ryan Murphy project. Chavez has been relatively quiet on social media for months.

Photo: ABC

The Michael Fairman Channel spoke with Nicholas Chavez for a virtual interview when he first joined the show in 2021, and spoke to him right after when he won the Daytime Emmy in 2022 – you can see those below.

No word yet on when Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will debut on Netflix, but it is assumed later this year.

So, what do you think about the news of Nicholas Chavez not returning to his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital? Comment below.

 

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