Photo Credit: WireImage

George Kennedy,  the Oscar-winning star of 1967’s Cool Hand Luke, which also starred Paul Newman has died at age 91, his grandson, Cory Schenkel confirmed.

Kennedy died in his sleep at his Boise, Idaho home early Sunday morning, the day of the Academy Awards.  He had been in failing health ever since his wife Joan died a little over a year ago. George had been under hospice care for the past month.

In the soaps, Kennedy is most remembered for his guest stints on The Young and the Restless playing Victor Newman’s despicable father, Albert Miller.  Kennedy first played the role in 2003 and then reprised it again in 2010.   Victor’s relationship with his father gave Eric Braeden some of the finest material of his career as the complex Victor.  Albert had abandoned his family, causing his son to be raised in an orphanage.

CBS original primetime soap Dallas also featured Kennedy as Carter McKay, one of the Ewing families bitter enemies from 1988 to 1991.  Geroge also played the role in two follow-up TV movies, 1996’s Dallas: J.R. Returns and 1998’s Dallas: War of the Ewings.  In addition, Kennedy appeared in several of the 70’s major disaster films including the original Airport and several sequels, as well as in Earthquake.  In the 80’s, he would appear in The Naked Gun franchise of films along with Leslie Nielsen.

After the jump, watch George Kennedy as Albert on The Young and the Restless in scenes with Eric Braeden and Joshua Morrow (Nick).  Then share your thoughts on the passing of this talented actor in the comment section below! (more…)

Courtesy/Winterthorne

On Wednesday, nominations were announced for the 7th Annual Indie Series Awards.  The ISA’s celebrate the best in independently produced scripted entertainment created for the Web.  Nominations this year were announced in 30 categories.

Online series which featured stars of your favorite daytime dramas took three of the top four spots that led all fields in total nominations.  Michael Caruso’s Winterthorne scored a record-tying 13 nominations, followed by Gregori J. Martin’s The Bay with 12, and Kit Williamson’s EastSiders with 10.   The series Hollywood Wasteland also scored 11 nominations.

The winners will be announced in ceremonies on April 6th at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, and the awards show will be hosted by Days of our Lives Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Jen Lilley (Theresa) starting at 8PMPST.

The nominations were revealed within a very special video presentation hosted by actress Jillian Claire, which features a cameo by Eric Martsolf.

Courtesy/EastSiders

From Van Hansis, Elizabeth Hubbard, Deidre Hall, Eric Martsolf, John-Paul Lavoisier, Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Brianna Brown, Constance Wu, Tristan Rogers, Karrueche Tran, Linda Gray, Kathleen Gati, Carolyn Hennesy, Kevin Spirtas, Patsy Pease, Melissa Claire Egan, Melissa Archer and more, there is plenty of talent on the web these days and they all are ISA nominees this year.

Below is just a sampling of categories featuring daytime notables who received nominations.  For the complete list go to Serial Scoop and click here!  (more…)

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What is a great way to celebrate and mark your 75th birthday?  Well, if you are iconic Dallas star Linda Gray (Sue Ellen), you do it by looking back on your life’s journey filled with its bumpy roads, potholes, wrong turns, and right turns!  This month, Gray has released her memoir,The Road to Happiness is Always Under Construction (available on Amazon.com and book stores everywhere) which details her life’s adventures, but also gives to women of any age; wisdom and tips on how to deal with whatever curve balls life throws at you.

In her book, Gray shares some very deeply personal stories and memories including: her early childhood illness, her mother’s battle with alcohol, her stormy marriage to her one and only husband, and landing the role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the original Dallas.  She also reveals more about her unique and special friendship with her longtime Dallas co-star, the incomparable Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing).  In addition, Linda let’s her readers in on crafting her portrayal of the best drunk on TV, and relates her heartbreak and frustration over the cancellation of TNT’s reboot of the series.

On-Air On-Soaps chatted with the effervescent Gray to get some more insight into the topics revealed in her memoir.  For any fan of Dallas, you will love to read how Linda created and revised her portrayal of Sue Ellen Ewing, what happened when she found out Sue Ellen was going to go on a bender after J.R’s Ewing death, and the trauma of being away from America during 9/11 and watching it all play out in London, while performing in the stage version of Mrs. Robinson.

As an accomplished director and her fight to direct episodes in a male-dominated series such as Dallas, to her work as former United Nations Ambassador, and her numerous film, stage, and TV roles, this can be said: Linda takes risks, fights for what she believes in, and has one of the biggest hearts.  So, here’s our chat about the life and times of Linda Gray in her own words. (more…)