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Ray MacDonnell, All My Children’s Beloved Dr. Joe Martin, Passes Away at 93

Photos: ABC and JPI

Heartbreaking news to share this Monday. Michael Fairman TV has learned that All My Children mainstay, Ray MacDonnell (Dr. Joe Martin) passed away on June 10th of natural causes. He was 93-years-old (born in 1928), and died at his home in Chappaqua, New York.

Ray was an original cast member of All My Children when the show made its ABC debut back in 1970.  He stayed with the series for more than 40 years and retired from the soap when it moved its production from New York to Los Angeles. He returned to the show in 2011 for a few appearances with is on-screen wife, then played by Lee Meriwether, and then for the final episode on ABC.  Later in 2013, he made appearances on Prospect Park’s online reboot of the series.

Photo: JPI

MacDonnell’s daughter, Sarah MacDonnell, shared with Michael Fairman TV that there will be a private memorial with close relatives and family. Ray is survived by his three children, Kyle, Daniel, and Sarah, and his wife, Patricia.

Photo: JPI

The actor received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys back in 2004.  MacDonnell was beloved his co-stars and fans of All My Children.

Throughout his enduring stage and film and TV career, Ray appeared in the role of  Philip Capice for eight years on The Edge of Night and also starred on Broadway in Mame with both Angela Lansbury and Ann Miller.

We will continue to update this story.

Please share your condolences and remembrances of Ray MacDonell in the comment section below.

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My condolences to the MacDonnell family. Ray was a wonderful actor and I enjoyed him on AMC, but my favorite was Phil Caprice on Edge Of Night.

Ray was a total professional and a kind gentleman. The time that I spent on All My Children was special. Ray, Susan, Eileen, Jill, David, Ruthie, Jimmy, Lee, and so many more made it memorable. Even as tough as it could be, I look back on those years with much fondness.

I’m so deeply sorry. I loved him on AMC. May your happy memories sustain you.

I always loved Dr. Joe so very much. 93 years is remarkable longevity for a remarkable man. A very hearty thank you to Mr. MacDonnell for sharing his wonderful talent with all of us. Rest in peace.

I have so many wondeful memories of Ray MacDonnell as Dr. Joe Martin on All My Children. I was a child when I first started watching AMC – Joe and Ruth were the stable steady couple on the show. He radiated a kindness and professionalism always. His chemistry with Mary Fickett and Kay Campbell in particular standout for me. R.I.P. Dr Joe…

I am very, very sad right now. Only the death of David Canary hit me harder. RIP, sir. You will be missed.

omg keep it to yourself

If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all…

Perhaps Christina watched AMC for 40 years and it was one of her only times “to escape” during her day.

Let’s not criticize other posters – keep the criticism where it belongs (on the soap writers, lol)

Christina
I think I understand dear so don’t let the critics get to you. I remember when my husband died and thinking only my dog getting run over hit me harder.

Christina, et al
I was trying to be funny here, not serious, although I did understand what Christina was trying to say, which to me was she preferred one actor to the other, which I don’t think warranted the comments.

My condolences to the family and friends of Ray MacDonnell. He was part of what every soap used to have -tent pole couple that was who everbody went to for advice. RIP.

First Mr MacDonnell, now Mr Damon, what a month. RIP gentle man, you have earned it.

My condolences to his family and friends! I loved him too! I always liked the way he was with the character who played his Mom! Ray McDonnell Rest In Peace, your job was well done!

My heart goes out to the family for their loss. Ray was a great actor and I have many fond memories of watching the show for most of my life. RIP ❤️

All My Children

Carol Burnett Talks About Being a Superfan of ‘All My Children’ on ‘Live with Kelly and Mark’

In a heartfelt reunion, of sorts, the one and only Carol Burnett appeared on Monday March 25th episode of Live with Kelly and Mark.

Burnett had first met Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo) back when they all appeared on All My Children together. Carol played Verla Grubbs first in 1983 and then again in the 90’s.

Host Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley, AMC) noted to Burnett that “we go back a long time”. She also described Burnett’s character of Verla Grubbs, “extraordinary in every way.”

Carol’s love for All My Children is well-documented, hence legendary soap creator, Agnes Nixon, created the role of Verla for Burnett.

Photo: ABC

Speaking on how her passion for All My Children began, Carol told Kelly and Mark, “It started with my kids. They would watch at noon. I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ I sat down and I started to watch and I got hooked!”

When Carol’s family decided to travel through Europe during one summer, the comedic legend recalled thinking, “How am I going to last if I don’t know what’s going on in Pine Valley?” She revealed she had a friend, “who sent me a telegram to the (different hotels) on Fridays to bring me up to date.”

Photo: ABC

In a hilarious moment from the segment, Carol recalled receiving a late night telegram while in Lake Cuomo when there was a knock at her hotel room door from the hotel manager who was shaking.

Carol related what it said, “Erica is still in a coma. Mark slipped again and ran away from rehab.” As Kelly and Mark broke into laughter, Burnett continued, “Chuck has learned that Donna is carrying his baby, who was once a hooker.”

Check out Carol explaining how she became an AMC Superfan below.

Now, let us know, did you enjoy Carol as Verla Grubbs? What show do you consider yourself a Superfan of? Tell us in the comment section.

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All My Children

Malachy McCourt, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘All My Children’ Actor, Dead at 92

If you watched Ryan’s Hope through its 14-year-run, you know that Kevin the bartender became a beloved “member’ of the Ryan clan on the defunct ABC daytime drama series. The character of Kevin MacGuiness became so loved by the fans because of the actor who portrayed him, Malachy McCourt.

Sadly, according to his wife Diana McCourt to The New York Times, Malachy passed away on Monday from a heart condition and battling cancer. The actor was 92-years-old.

Playing Kevin on Ryan’s Hope was not much of a stretch for McCourt, because in his lifetime, he was the owner of 1950s Irish pub Malachy’s on Third Avenue in Manhattan. Known as one of the city’s great story-tellers, patrons from longshoremen to the actor Richard Harris would stop in and talk all things Irish with . On Ryan’s Hope, Kevin was best friends to “Ryan’s Bar” owner, Johnny Ryan (Bernie Barrow) and he tried to keep Delia (Ilene Kristen) on the straight and narrow.

Photo: ABC

In his soap opera career, McCourt also was widely-known for his role of Father Clarence McCourt on All My Children especially come Christmastime. Was Clarence, actually St. Nick? That was always the proverbial question. McCourt also appeared on the New York soaps: One Life To Live, Search For Tomorrow and Another World. Other roles included: Devil’s Own, Brewster’s Millions, The Molly Maguires, and Starman, to name 

Later in 2006, Malachy ran for governor of the state of New York as a Green Party candidate. He tackled social issues of the time including being an advocate for gay and lesbian groups to march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Photo: ABC

McCourt’s childhood was recounted within his brother Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes, which detailed their mother’s attempt to raise the four of their surviving seven children in poverty in Limerick, Ireland. Later, Malachy wrote his own memoirs: 1998’s Monk Swimming, and 2000’s Singing My Him Song.

Malachy is survived by his aforementioned wife, Diana, daughter Siobhan McCourt; sons Malachy Jr., Conor and Cormac; stepdaughter Nina Galin; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Share you remembrances and condolences for Malachy McCourt via the comment section, but first check out this scene from a 1983 episode of “Ryan’s Hope” featuring the late actor with Ilene Kristen.

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All My Children

‘Live with Kelly and Mark’s’ Annual ‘After the Oscars’ Show Brings Backstage Interviews, Fashion Review and Red Carpet Arrivals from Movie’s Biggest Night

Monday morning, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for the talk show’s annual Oscar post show.

However, this time it would be Consuelos’ first time as the co-host of ‘Live’ for an Oscars episode. Mark took over the gig from Ryan Seacrest to team with his wife back in April of 2023 and since then the show has seen a ratings spike hitting several all-time highs.

The After the Oscars show opened with a tribute to the movies were the former All My Children stars took on iconic roles from: Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct to Barbie and Ken in Barbie, to the Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller role’s in the romantic comedy Something About Mary and more.

Courtesy/DisneyABC

During After the Oscars, Kelly and Mark were shown in clips backstage as the first stop for the newly-anointed Academy Award winners including: Finneas and Billie Eilish and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The Bachelor host, Jesse Palmer was the talk show’s guest correspondent who spoke to the nominees, and celebrities as they were entering the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

Singer Andy Grammar took to the stage and performed on Live’s  After the Oscars show as well, and Project Runaway’s Elaine Welteroth shared her thoughts on the night’s Oscar fashion.

You can watch the full ‘Live with Kelly and Mark After the Oscars’ show below, plus the full movie parody below that. Now let us know, what do you think of Kelly and Mark’s first post-Oscar show together on ‘Live’? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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