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David Canary’s Daughter Raises Question If Repeated Head Traumas From His Football Past Contributed To AMC Star’s Condition Before His Death

January 14, 2019

Photo: ABC

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative brain disease that is now widely known to be the outcome of repeated head traumas, concussions and more for many NFL athletes, Pro Wrestlers, hockey players and more   It has caused mental illness, severe behavioral changes and more in younger athletes to even old-timers, many who suffer unaware what is happening to them. Some athletes who have committed suicide have been later to have been diagnosed with CTE when their brains were donated to research.

Kate Canary, the daughter of All My Children’s beloved and late, David Canary (Adam/Stuart Chandler), is a contributing writer to the New York Daily News, and she wrote a heartfelt, and thought-provoking article, on just what happened to this icon, who died in 2015 at the age of 77  with his formal diagnosis being Alzheimer’s disease.

However, David’s earlier football past as a high school and college football player could very well been the reason why he suffered so many years before, and as Kate related here in these excerpts: “But this diagnosis came after years of suffering with Dad’s cognitive decline, and arguably decades of signs. Without exposing the most excruciating details of a disease that could extinguish the most vibrant of men, I can confess that his case was anything but typical.  We lost him in fits and starts, over and over, for roughly seven years leading up to his final breath. Begrudgingly, we learned to lie to him — ‘entering his world,’ as my brother Chris so delicately deemed it — to skirt the contradictory truths that would trigger his outbursts, which left physical scars on objects, on himself, and on others. We knew many families who had faced Alzheimer’s, yet we were the only ones uttering the comparison ‘Jekyll and Hyde.  Those closest to Dad witnessed firsthand the erratic, delusional and at times explosive episodes that characterized his particular case, which we tried attributing to an overactive imagination in a broken brain. But as more information emerges about CTE and the nature of its symptoms — the violent mood swings, the lapses in judgment, the hours-long hallucinations, the paranoid delusions — we are left with more questions than answers, more regret than relief.”

Kate goes on to state the facts that David Canary suffered at least four major concussions as a lineman in his high school and college football playing days between the ages of 16 and 22, (she also relates that those are the ones he remembered).  She also notes the multi-Daytime Emmy winning star has experienced cognitive difficulties decades before his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and that there was no genetic lineage that the family knew of that would you would often find with Alzheimer’s patients.  She also noted that David’s volatility was unusual for a patient suffering from this disease, which leads us all back to CTE.

In the end a loving daughter asks the questions, “Did football kill my father?”  Kate was on the verge of looking into a way to donate David’s brain to science, but sadly he passed away eight weeks later in November of 2015.

The upshot is that when mothers and fathers allow their kids to play football or other-related sports at an early age were concussions are a possibly or involved, think again, you could be changing the course of their lives forever.

So, what did you think of what Kate shared about David Canary’s mental health and condition?  It would seem CTE could have been the root cause of what befell this giant of a man in the daytime soap world. Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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nancy dillingham
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nancy dillingham

So sad! A great actor who seemed like a gentle man.

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2 years ago
Iakovos
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Iakovos

Real life is always such a fascinating story. I hate to think Mr. Canary and his family suffered so in his final years. Serious issues like this affect many families. Seems fitting a daytime drama might address such in a story line one day. Bless you Ms. Canary for sharing your personal truth with us. I am sure you comforted some, informed others, and hopefully woke up those who have the power and ability to do something about this.

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2 years ago
Jimh
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Jimh

When one of the Three Stooges died it was believed to have been caused by being hit in the head over the years from their constant head hitting in their sketches…injuries of any kind to the head should always being taken seriously as they are the most dangerous…i believe its possible that those injuries DC suffered contributed later to his medical problems/death!!!

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2 years ago
Llanviewer717
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Llanviewer717

Such a very sad story. I could tell he wasn’t well during the online AMC. He was seated during most of his scenes and had little dialogue. When he did speak, you could tell he was putting maximum effort into his lines. Alzheimer’s is such a devastating disease. My mother died of it many years ago. (I doubt she ever played football.) Perhaps it’s time to reconsider violent sports.

Thank you David Canary for sharing your marvelous talent with us. Rest in peace.

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2 years ago
sheila nies
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sheila nies

I know my dad had Alzheimer’s, it was awful he also was a diabetic 2 times the people over dsed him on his insulin once they took him to the hospital the other time they didn’t. I think to many people get it and at times he wouldn’t remember who we were . Other times he did . i wish there was a cure for cancer and Alzheimers. i think they are both awful i hope i don’t get Alzheimers . My memory is already bad and has been bad a long time lose everything for things forget peoples names… Read more »

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2 years ago
Cat
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Cat

My mom died from Alzheimer’s disease with no family history of it anywhere. She too suffered a terrible head trauma from a bad fall that left her unconscious and with blood loss and a scar that ran the length of the front hairline. I’d read of the head trauma connection after she passed and have always wondered if that head injury lead ultimately to her demise.

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2 years ago
Ken Bass
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Ken Bass

What a sad story! Had no idea of his struggles! Was it towards the end (7yrs) or all through his life! I’m a big fan and may he RIP

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2 years ago

All My Children

All My Children and ‘The Bay’ Star Eric Nelsen in the Cast of ‘Yellowstone’ Prequel ‘1883’

November 18, 2021

On Thursday, the full cast was announced for the highly-anticipated Yellowstone prequel that will bow on Paramount+ beginning on December 19th.

The Taylor Sheridan drama tells the tale of the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana.

According to Deadline, in the cast is none other than The Bay’s Daytime Emmy-winner, Eric Nelsen (Daniel Garrett), who was also part of the cast of Prospect Park’s reboot of All My Children as AJ Chandler.

In 1883, look for Nelsen to take on the role of Ennis, a young, handsome cowboy who agrees to help escort a group of inexperienced men, women and children north to find a home.

The series also stars: Billy Bob Thornton, Faith Hill, Gratiela Brancusi, Sam Elliott, Stephanie Nur, and Tim McGraw to name but a few.

So, will you be checking out Eric in 1883? Comment below.

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All My Children

Prospect Park’s All My Children and One Life to Live Episodes Now Available on Apple TV

November 8, 2021

The online revivals of All My Children and One Life to Live which lasted one season in 2013 from Prospect Park’s Online Network are back!

Fans can now check out the reboots exclusively on Apple TV where all the episodes of the one and only season in its entirety.

The relaunched AMC and OLTL originally premiered on April 29, 2013, plagued with multiple issues with unions and a lawsuit with ABC, production was halted in September of that year.  

ABC now has the rights to both series and recently there has been hopes of an AMC primetime series in the works, “Pine Valley” getting a green light, but not much is known of its progress of late.

You can watch One Life to Live on Apple TV here, and check out episodes of All My Children on Apple TV here.

So, will you watch the reboot episodes of OLTL and AMC on Apple TV? Do you hope that somehow, someway the two soaps will come back on a streaming platform with brand new episodes from ABC? Comment below.

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All My Children

Mark Consuelos Exits ‘Riverdale’

October 7, 2021

Last night, All My Children alum, Mark Consuelos (Ex-Mateo Santos) made what appears to be his final appearance for now on CW’s soapy drama, Riverdale.

Consuelos departed Riverdale as a series regular on the season 5 finale, after coming on to the show in its second season in the role of villain, Hiram Lodge.

Riverdale executive producer and showrunner, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, shared with Deadline a statement on Consuelos contribution and run on the series: “From the moment Mark joined us, he was up for literally anything, a hundred percent committed to making Archie’s life a living hell. And what’s funny is, Mark couldn’t be more different from Hiram. A classy pro and the sweetest guy, always looking out for everyone. We wish Mark the best and hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Hiram Lodge.

Consuelos offered up these sentiments in a statement on his Riverdale exit: “First and foremost, I would like to thank Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa for this incredible opportunity. Never before has playing a character that was so bad, felt so good. Huge thanks to the Riverdale fandom, to the brilliant crew and amazing cast, whom I consider dear friends and family.”

So, will you miss seeing Mark on Riverdale? Elsewhere, still no word on the “Pine Valley” reboot in which Mark and wife, Kelly Ripa, are two of the executive producers of that many All My Children fans were hoping would come to fruition. Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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