Guiding Light
BREAKING NEWS: Legendary Soap Opera Executive Producer Paul Rauch Has Died!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Terribly sad news to report this afternoon that is making its way around the web and the soap world. Legendary daytime drama executive producer, Paul Rauch has died apparently after an illness. Rauch’s resume perhaps tells this legends amazing career best with helming: Another World, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, The Young and the Restless, Santa Barbara and Texas!
Colleagues, actors, and fans, are responding with postings on facebook and Twitter throughout the day and into the evening on the loss of soap veteran Rauch.
General Hospital’s current executive producer, Frank Valentini, who was so close to Rauch, and who gave Valentini his start at OLTL tweeted: “My good friend and mentor, Paul Rauch, passed away today…very sad news. Paul Rauch dedicated his life to soap operas and made a mark like no other. He will be missed, but his legendary contribution will live on. ”
Kim Zimmer (Ex-Reva, GL) who worked with Rauch for many years throughout her daytime career posted on her facebook page: “Today I lost my dear friend and favorite boss ever, Paul Rauch! Paul settled for nothing less than perfection from all aspects of whatever show he was producing. I had the very good fortune of working with Paul on Santa Barbara and Guiding Light and I will always cherish the professional and personal relationship we shared. I both loved him and feared him! Something I aspire to everyday of my life! I love you Paul and want you to know how much you will be missed. RIP!”
Crystal Chappell also shared her sentiments via Twitter stating, “Paul Rauch was a dear man to me… he will be missed. Love and prayers to his family.”
Tristan Rogers also shared what Rauch meant to him when he tweeted: “I am sad to learn the passing of Paul Rausch. This man was singly responsible for me lasting on Y&R. He was a big presence in daytime. You think back on the people who you “owe” something too and Paul was one of those people. He revered the history of the genre.”
Jordi Vilasuso, who got his start on soaps on Guiding Light through Rauch tweeted: “RIP Paul Rauch. Gave me my first big break on Guiding Light and was a champion for his actors and the shows he produced. You will be missed!”
Maria Arena Bell, Rauch’s co-executive producing partner during his time on Y&R stated on her facebook page, “I considered Paul a great friend and he and Israela (Rauch’s wife) were at my wedding. Paul was from the old school of soaps and he really knew how to run a show and understood the value of the writer in the process. I loved working with him and I loved him dearly as a person and am heartsick to hear he has passed. I wish the best to Israela and their grown children and will really miss him.”
Current Y&R head writer, Josh Griffith posted: “The Soap World mourns the loss of one of our giants, Paul Rauch. R.I.P., my friend. Go produce the hell out of Heaven now.”
We will have more on this developing story throughout the day! Our prayers are with Rauch’s family at this time.
Share your thoughts on the loss of Rauch with On-Air On-Soaps here!
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Sometimes we watched the names on credits flashing before us and we give little thought to the men and woman behind them and how much they contribute to the product entertaining our lives. For years I seen the name Paul Rauch on many soap credits and today I reminded of the years of quality I enjoyed at this man’s hands. His family are in my prayers and I give a great posthumous thank you to Mr Rauch for his work that help brighten many of my dark days
i’ve been watching soaps since i was a very young girl I USE TO SEE PAUL THREW OUT THE YEARS NOT KNOWING HE WAS BEHIND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL SOAPS SHOW I’M EVER SO GRATEFUL TO HIS PARENTS FOR GIVING BIRTH TO THE GENIOUS MINE OF A GREAT PERSON CAN’T SAY I NO HIM IN PERSON BUT THREW HIS THOUGHTS HE GAVE ALL US SOAP FANS A WONDERFUL PART OF HIM FOR THAT IM VERY THANKFUL . GOD HADS TAKEN BACK HIS CHILD . GOD BE WITH HIS FAMILY AND SPREAD HIS ANGELS AMONG THEM ALWAYS
They say that people should not speak ill of the dead so I won’t. RIP. My condolences to his family and loved ones.
Oh what terrible news. A legend who contributed so much to daytime television. Thank you for all your wonderful work.
Really wish I had something positive to say. I’m sure he will be missed by some.
Paul was a great mind; RIP to him and condolences to his family!
I think it is sad news indeed for a lot of people. However, the word “legendary” and “genius” is flashed around a lot in daytime. Rauch destroyed most soaps he touched.
Mr. Rauch made largely damaging negative tire-track marks on Miss Ellen Holly (ex-Carla) & Miss Lillian Hayman (1922-1994, ex-Sadie) by heartlessly firing them both (the last 2 original from-the-beginning contract player cast members) from OLTL during the 1983 to 1985 TV season! 🙁
It is soo sad tht Paul raunch died , he did so much with other soaps operas
Wow! I wish that I had known this person. Seems to have been a very interesting person and not well liked by most!!! These postings are real and discreetly stated. So often, when people pass into the next life, those left behind become stupid and unrealistic in exaggerating facts about the real person. I have been to funerals and wondered if I was in the right place when it came to the accolades and crying about a person that was not liked or not even a good person. What happens to people when someone dies? Do you all get stupid… Read more »
Rest in peace
i so sorry to hear is not hear. he was a very good person and everyone loved him and will be missed alot. god bless for him as will the family too. prayers will be him and the family too. The angles will be with him always and he will look after everyone too. i have been looking at soaps for years when just 11 years old i watch all of the he did and still now too. i am very big fan of his shows. like said god bless him and everyone too.
Mr. Paul Rauch rest in peace. You will be missed by your staff for sure.
I remember Paul (and his Shelby Mustang GT 500) in my early days in the P&G Media Section. Perhaps, without his knowing it, he helped me survive as the first African-American hired in that vaunted marketing department in 1963. May he rest in peace.
My prayers go out to your family. you will be missed. .
People often say you should only say good things about the dead. Paul Rauch is dead – GOOD. I am glad he has people who will remember him fondly, but there are a great many who will not.
Maeve Kinkead, perhaps? Ellen Holly? Both were great actresses and very professional. Maeve deserved to be treated properly and Ellen deserved to be paid properly and introduced at a reunion as a leading lady. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to say that Paul Rauch was not universally liked, and not all viewers appreciated him.
Condolences to his family, I hope he was good to them.
The list goes on and on as to people who did not get on with this man? Jacquie Courtney, Val Dufour, Ginny Dwyer, Stephen Bolster, Lillian Hayman, Al Freeman, Cindy Clark, Robin Strasser, Lisa Cameron, John Cunningham,Micki Grant, James Douglas, Jordan Charney, many others.
MsLiz…YES…I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!! A long time ago, I read Ellen Holly’s autobiography. In it, Ellen talks about (at length or whatever) how Paul Rauch was emotionally abusive and tyrannical to BOTH her and Lillian Hayman. Also, supposedly, the VERY FABULOUS Louise Sorel used to BUTT HEADS and LOCK HORNS with that man. And…I did not know about Maeve Kinkead. Sorry. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. I mean…from what I’ve read about PR here and there over the years, he was N-O-T an easy man to get along with (as a boss or whatever). And…I can only imagine… Read more »
Pauly, Wow… I am so saddened by this news! Just ran into you not to long ago… My condolences to your wife and children, you will be sorely missed. I was still anticipating working with you again. Thank you for creating Jesse Blue for me 😉
Well, its years later, and my Dad is sorely missed. I hope he isnt bossing god around too much! If only he had had a better self image, I MIGHT HAVE HAD A FATHER TO TEACH ME HOW TO NAVIGATE LIFE. RIP DAD LOVE, TYLER
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