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

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 Murphy, Hill 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.
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.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Chris McKenna On Jack’s Reaction to Carly Cheating On Him with Valentin: ‘Heartbreak and Absolute Rage and Humiliation’
The stage is set for next week on General Hospital, after yesterday’s May 1 cliffhanger, when Brennan (Chris McKenna) sneaks into Carly’s (Laura Wright) house and heads up to her bedroom, bursts in the door and finds her between the sheets, albeit at that moment alone.
However, Jack is already armed with plenty of ammo, he saw two glasses of wine in Carly’s kitchen, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) already lit the fire, by telling him her mother was seeing someone else, the WSB bureau chief then went to visit Carly’s ex, Sonny (Maurice Benard). The mobster’s reaction pretty much sold Jack that Carly must be sleeping with another man.
As Jack goes to check out the situation to confirm his suspicions, Carly and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) have just hit the sheets, after fighting their attraction once again for each other. Now comes the moment of truth that Carly has been sleeping with Brennan’s sworn enemy, Valentin.

Courtesy/ABC
In a preview of what’s to come, Soap Opera Digest spoke to both Chris McKenna and Laura Wright where they talked about the upcoming scenes. McKenna expressed, “This has been coming for such a long time.” He also previews, “Brennan comes at her pretty aggressively.”
THREE’S COMPANY
Wright added, “Carly didn’t expect Brennan to walk into her bedroom! He doesn’t have a key. It’s late at night. She thinks she and Valentin are in the clear. She sees that he’s so angry and so worried about being cheated on… but not that he’s sorry for lying to her face or because her daughter is in danger because of him!”
As to how Jack will handle the situation from here and finding out that Carly is with Valentin, McKenna confirms, to expect, “heartbreak and absolute rage and humiliation” from Jack. He’s thinking, ‘This can’t be real. This can’t have happened. I can’t be this stupid. I can’t have been this blind.’ And as to Jack’s current state of mind, coming into the situation, “Jack is drunk and a little unhinged and the audience finally gets a glimpse of what’s going on underneath that rigid exterior.”
Needless to say, the fallout will be huge, and McKenna is proud of the trios work in the scenes, sharing that Laura Wright was a fantastic as ever, and that GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini was on the set the entire time with Laura, James and him, making this story point play out to its full effect.
So, are you excited to see how what goes down between Brennan, Carly and Valentin and the fallout? Do you think this will cement Carly and Valentin as a couple, or will Carly regret what she’s done to Jack? Weigh-in on how you hope this all plays out via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.
Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC
There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.
The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.
In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.
Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC
Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”
As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”
Calderon took to his Instagram story and simply shared, “Thank You, Brilliant Minds.”
The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.
So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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