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.

Will we now ever know just how the lives of Empire’s Lucious  (Terrence Howard) and Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson) and their dysfunctional family will resolve now that the series has had to scrap two of their planned episodes in their final season?  The sixth and final season was scheduled to run for a total of 20 episodes.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the production shutdown left them with only 18 episodes tht could be completed.

That means, as first announced during last night’s episode of Empire via voice-over: “Get ready for the shocking final three episodes of ‘Empire,’”  that reveal let viewers of Empire know there was change in plans.”  Now, the shortened season and series finale end on FOX on April 21st.

Reports also note that episode 19 was partially shot and that footage of that unfinished episode will be cut into the finale.

As to what happens with the character of Jamal Lyon played by Jussie Smollett, who everyone knows ran into significant trouble with the law; on last reports executives said he would not be back for the final episodes of the series, although there has still have been mentions of the character throughout season 6.

Come April 21st, there still may be more Empire in our future, if  FOX executives decide to greenlight a potential spinoff headlined Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon; that first came to light earlier this year in January as being in heavy discussions.

So, what do you think of how Empire will wrap-up after 6 seasons? Do you feel short-changed, or glad they are trying to work in everything they shot to deliver some kind of series finale for fans of the primetime soap? Comment below.

Absolutely heartbreaking news this Saturday afternoon.  John Callahan, best known to soap fans for his role as Edmund Grey on All My Children has passed away after suffering a massive stroke.  The stroke happened on Friday, March 27th when paramedics responded to a call at his home in Palm Desert, California. He was 66-years-old.

According to reports, Callahan was rushed to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA, where he was put on life support.  John’s daughter Kaya, and his former wife, and AMC co-star Eva LaRue (Ex-Maria) rushed to the hospital to be by his side from Los Angeles.  John died Saturday morning.

Photo: JPI

In a statement, Eva La Rue shared: “We are extremely saddened and distraught over the loss of John. He was my great friend, co-parent and amazing father to Kaya. The absence of his bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. Words cannot express the shock and devastation we are feeling at this time. The Yankees just lost one of their greatest fans.” 

John played Edmund on All My Children from 1992-2005.  He also appeared throughout his soap career on: Santa Barbara, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Bay and primetime’s Falcon Crest and Desperate Housewives; in addition to many more television appearances.

Michael Fairman TV will continue to follow this breaking story as remembrances are shared by John’s former co-stars throughout the day and night.

Below is LaRue’s touching tribute to John  via Instagram:

 

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May Flights of Angels Wing You to Your Rest my Dear Friend. Your bigger than life, gregarious personality will leave a hole in our hearts forever. We are devastated-My great friend, co parent partner, and loving father to Kaya. That big belly laugh, bear hugs, bad puns, ability to harmonize to any song, great kitchen table singing-fests, and two steppin bad ass! “Johnny Numbers”, my All My Children soap stud, the great time keeper, Beatles fanatic ( I wish to God we could go back to “Yesterday”)… Kaya and I are beyond broken hearted, so stunned, sorry that my thoughts are a mess. You gave the best most beautifully written tributes, and I am at a complete loss for words right now for you. I hope Heaven has baseball and that your team always wins! The Yankees has just lost their biggest Fan. ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

A post shared by Eva LaRue (@evalarue) on Mar 28, 2020 at 12:48pm PDT

Please share your condolences with Kaya and Eva and the Callahan family below, and let us know your thoughts on this heartbreaking loss on the death of John Callahan via the comment section.