Sad news to report this Monday.  The longtime star of CBS’ and then ABC’s The Edge of Night, Forrest Compton. has passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Forrest died on Sunday at the age of 94.

His death was reported and confirmed by Compton’s friends and an article in the Shelter Island Reporter.

Photo: CBS

As Edge of Night and longtime daytime fans know, Forrest played Monticello’s district attorney, Mike Karr.  He played this key role from 1971 until the show’s cancellation in 1984.  The show was originally titled “The Edge of Night” and eventually just became “Edge of Night”.   The soap which was steeped in murder mysteries ran on CBS from 1956–1975 and on ABC from 1975–1984,   In addition, Forrest along with his on-screen wife, Ann Flood (Nancy Karr) were one of the most popular duos in daytime.

Not only did Compton appear on EON, but he also had soap roles on As the World Turns, One Life to Live and All My Children.   In primetime, Forrest was best known for his role on Gomer Pyle: USMC opposite  Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton as Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gray.

In a heartwarming story where fan meets actor and helps him out (according to the Shelter Island Reporter) Compton was only slated to appear in two episodes a week for the next 13 weeks on The Edge of Night, when he needed an apartment in New York City near the studio, so when he heard about a one-bedroom on East 72nd he went to see Al, the super.  Forrest later learned that Al was such a devotee of  The Edge of Night that he locked his office door every day at 2 p.m. to watch uninterrupted. When Forrest mentioned that he had just been hired to play Mike Karr, the super said, “You’re getting that apartment.”’

Sharon Gabet who starred as Raven on Edge of Night, posted on Facebook, a tribute and remembrance of her former co-star: “Woody, as he was affectionately known to all of us on The Edge of Night, was a master professional, hilarious, smart, kind and gentle. I spoke with him a couple years ago on his birthday and he was active and happy in his retirement. Rest in peace, Woody, and give hugs and kisses to Larkin, Lois, Dennis, Nick, Joel, Irving and all the other EDGE alumni up there.  THE story about Woody. He was on EON when they were LIVE. It was brutal, but Woody was one of the best “straight face” men in the business. So he is doing a scene with Nancy his wife (the glorious Ann Flood – another “straight face” master). He walks in the kitchen and sits down and his line was supposed to be “Gee, it’s hard to get up in the morning.” as Nancy gave him his coffee. Instead, Mike Karr says on national TV, “Gee it’s hard to get IT up in the morning, Nancy.” There was pandemonium among the crew during the commercial break as you can imagine.”

Now below, watch the opening title sequence fro the The Edge of Night over the years, many of which feature Forrest as Mike Karr at the very opening or at the end as one of the series most well-known and beloved characters.

Then, share your condolences and remembrances on the passing of Forrest Compton in the comment section.