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Soap World Pays Tribute And Mourns The Loss Of AMC & OLTL Creator Agnes Nixon

Courtesy/PaleyCenter

Courtesy/PaleyCenter

On Wednesday, those known in the soap opera genre took to social media to pay tribute to All My Children and One Life to Live creator Agnes Nixon, who passed away this morning.

For it was Nixon, who was responsible for some of the most iconic characters in the annals of soap opera, the casting of some of the biggest names associated with those roles, and brought her iconic storytelling abilities to TV that touched the hearts of millions of viewers for decades.  The outpouring of love and ‘thank you’s’ on the passing of Nixon has been nothing short of remarkable and just thinking about how Agnes impacted so many greats in the industry.

Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Co., said in a statement: “It is with a heavy  heart I mourn the passing of television pioneer Agnes Nixon, someone I was proud to call a friend.  Agnes’ impact on daytime television and pop culture is undeniable.  She was the first to champion socially relevant topics, and the towns and characters Agnes brought to life leave an indelible imprint on television that will be remembered forever.”

Below are just some of the notable individuals and more who shared their sorrow on the death of this legendary scribe.  From One Life to Live’s Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser to All My Children’s Susan Lucci, Josh Duhamel. Cameron Mathison, to former OLTL EP and head writer, Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati and more, everyone took time out to remember this legend.

Photo: SLucciInstagram

Erika Slezak (Viki, OLTL):  I am so terribly saddened by the death of Agnes Nixon. She was more than a great writer, producer and boss, she was a warm, loving and wonderful woman with a truly delightful and somewhat wicked sense of humor. It was my very great privilege to have known her and to have worked for her.  When she hired me to play Viki on One Life To Live, she changed my life and my career and I will forever be grateful to her. I wish her peace and angels all around her. She deserves that!

Susan Lucci (Erika, AMC): I am devastated to learn that we have lost Agnes. I adored her and admired her–and I am forever grateful to her! May this liveliest and loveliest of women rest in peace.

Josh Duhamel (Leo, AMC): Sad to hear of the passing of Agnes Nixon. I’m thankful everyday that she created ALL MY CHILDREN and the character that gave me my first shot in the business. She will be missed.

Robin Strasser (Dorian: OLTL): I once asked Agnes Nixon about the Afterlife-she said she believed that someday she’d be reunited with her beloved husband…RIP Mrs. Nixon. Few can match the accomplishments of Agnes Nixon Her genius was a gift to many! She was generous, exacting, imaginative! Truly incomparable!

Photo: ERiegelTwitter

Alicia Minshew (Kendall, AMC) Just heard the sad news about the passing of the sweet and incredible genius #Agnesnixon. Makes me so sad. This is the last time I saw her. On the last shooting day of #AMC almost exactly 5 years ago. I was lucky to spend that time with her. She was a class act and a true talent. She helped give me the life and friendships I have today. And for that I am truly grateful to her. We all miss her stories and now will miss her as well. Thoughts and prayers are being sent to her family. RIP sweet Agnes. ❤️

Sarah Michelle Gellar: (Kendall, AMC) RIP Agnes Nixon One of the classiest ladies, I ever had the honor to meet. And so talented.

Rebecca Budig: (Greenlee AMC, now Hayden GH) Agnes created one of the best characters I’ve ever played and was brilliant and KIND. Love and prayers to her family.

Eden Riegel: (Bianca, AMC): So sad to hear that Agnes Nixon has passed away. She told stories that made the world better. She touched our humanity. I will miss her.

Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC): RIP Agnes Nixon.  It was such an honor to know you and be part of your All My Children family.

Aiden Turner (Aidan, AMC): Sad to hear of the passing of #agnesnixon. It was an honor to be “one of her children” thank you for all the memories.

Photo: RCarlivatiTwitter

Scott Evans (Fish, OLTL): My heart goes out to Agnes Nixon and her family. She changed countless lives, mine included, and she will be missed. RIP

Melissa Archer (Natalie, OLTL) RIP Agnes Nixon. 🙁 Honored to have been One of your Children.

Frank Valentini (Executive Producer OLTL, now EP, General Hospital): So sorry to hear about #AgnesNixon. I knew her & loved her very much. She was a fantastic, incredible person. Rest in peace. Thank you for creating two amazing shows. Your contribution to the daytime community is unparalleled. You will be sorely missed. 

Ron Carlivati (Former head writer, OLTL): Heartbroken to learn of the passing of Agnes Nixon, the legendary creator of All My Children and One Life to Live. Not only was she one of my biggest inspirations, she was also one of my biggest champions, always there for me throughout my career with her support, advice and encouragement. I will treasure the memories of the time we spent together, particularly one night that she took me to dinner at the 21 Club. Imagine being a lifelong soap opera fan and getting to spend the evening with this iconic woman in this iconic place. Another time, at the final celebration for One Life to Live on The View, she pulled me up on stage with her on live TV to make sure I was acknowledged. Thank you, Agnes, for your generosity, your wisdom, your sense of humor, and most of all your stories. You will never be forgotten.

Andrea Evans (Tina Lord, OLTL): RIP. @agnesnixon You were one of a kind & I owe you so much! @OfficialOLTLFC we will miss you!

Nancy Lee Grahn (Beverly, OLTL now Alexis, GH): 1st pro acting job was on #OLTL Where would I’ve begun without her? #AgnesNixon May she live on after death like any great soap character.  

Dena  Higley (Former head writer, OLTL, now co-head writer, DAYS): A tiny lady but a force of nature. A talent like no other. The time I spent in her presence a treasure. Rest peacefully Agnes Nixon.

Photo: ABC

Melissa Claire Egan (Annie, AMC, now Chelsea Y&R): So sad to hear about the passing of Agnes Nixon. I owe her and #AMC so so much. A true trailblazer. May she rest in peace.

Jean Passanante (Former co-head writer AMC and OLTL, now co-head writer, GH): Devastated by the death of Agnes Nixon, brilliant woman and pioneer who brought substance and humor to daytime. Grateful for her mentorship. Agnes Nixon was a petite woman with a giant heart, a wicked laugh and a head full of stories. Thanks for all you taught me.

Angelica McDaniel (Executive Vice President, Daytime Programs and Syndicated Program Development, CBS Entertainment and CBS Television): Daytime has lost Agnes Nixon, a pioneer in the soap genre. My thoughts are with her family, friends and fan.

Walt Willey (Jack, AMC): Oh, the irony! I’m pretty sure Agnes would approve. When I opened my Facebook page just now to say something in memory of the marvelous Agnes Nixon I found that I had typed a post regarding the anniversary of  All My Children’s final show on September 23 but had neglected to hit “Post.”  So let me make this post a combined tribute to the show that meant so much to so many of you on which I gladly toiled for almost 25 years, and the incredible woman that created this daytime juggernaut. Agnes Nixon was, to me, the epitome of class, erudition, and grace. Though tiny in stature, her creative genius filled her with a glow that fairly shown around her. She always had time for her actors, her “children,” and truly loved them. She was tough and honest and I cherish every moment I ever spent in discussion with Agnes or just observing her as everyone in the room came to her as if to a most benign monarch. Agnes, you honored and delighted me every time we had anything to do with one another. You will be greatly missed.

Photo:FValentiniTwitter

Cady McClain: (Dixie, AMC): It is so sad to hear of Agnes Nixon’s passing today. She was a great woman who really changed the world and made a great difference in my life and the lives of many women.  I always appreciated how “All My Children” was so moral. In it’s heyday, this was what defined it from other soaps. The good guys always struggled but won. We had a little church, and the characters prayed. Dixie did wrong things, but had a deep goodness to her.

CBS Daytime:  CBS Daytime mourns the loss of a true original and queen of daytime hearts, Agnes Nixon. Her contribution to the soaps will live on forever.

Andy Cohen: (Bravo, Watch What Happens Live,  and huge fan of AMC): Rest in Peace Agnes Nixon!!! Mother of so many great soaps!! And Erica Kane!!!

Jessica Collins (Dinah Lee, Loving): Very sad to hear about the passing of Agnes Nixon. She gave so many of us our start on #LOVING

Eric Nelsen (AJ, AMC): Rest In Peace #AgnesNixon!! We lost a real legend. I consider myself extremely lucky to have have known and worked for you. @allmychildren

Bryan Cranston (Douglas, Loving): I am saddened to hear of the passing of #AgnesNixon. Talented and kind, she gave me my start 33 yrs ago on “Loving.” Sweet passage dear one.

What did you think of the heartfelt posts from some of your favorites in daytime and more paying tribute to Agnes Nixon?  Let us know in the comment section below.

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This women made me a fan of the genre. One life to live was and is still alive everyday in my mind and inspired so much talent that it could never possibly end. Rip Agnes you have left a forever mark on me.

I just can’t. Devastated. A true pioneer. I looked up to her alot.

I’m crying…

We fans have been pushing for Agnes to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. We couldn’t do it before she left us…I hope all these actors/produces/writers/etc will join us now to make it happen posthumously. She more than deserves it. Love her, her stories, and all the friends I have made because of her – both on and off screen.

I’m sorry, but Bob Iger’s tribute just rings hollow to me, considering how ignominiously ABC treated both Mrs. Nixon and her two iconic shows in their last years (not to mention the to-dos that helped doom the Prospect Park resurrection).

ABC aired her two once greT shows for over forty years. I didn’t see anything wrong with what Bob Iger said. The shows were canceled after millions quit watching.
I send thoughts and prayers to her family and I will treasure all the memories from AMC.

So sad she wont be replaced by anyone a true original!

R.I.P Agnes Nixon I am very sorry for your loss she will be missed .may god with her family and friends and the soap world…

Rest in Peace Agnes Nixon, thank you for giving us “Love in the Afternoon”….

I grew up watching AMC and OLTL. Still miss them today. Agnes was an icon. If only the soaps were the way they used to be. RIP dear Agnes!

I live in NJ and a derailed commuter train interrupted LIVE a couple minutes into the show, but I was VERY disappointed that Kelly Ripa didn’t open the show and give her condolences. Haven’t seen them in her social media yet either.

Like I said her show was interrupted in the NY/NJ area so she could have said something later in the show not sure.

The first soap head writer to incorporate the works of Shakespeare and Robert & Elizabeth Barret Browning into her scripts. She had Nina and Cliff reciting “The Portuguese Sonnets” to one another and had some of her characters would interject a Shakespeare quote into their dialogue and it was done gracefully and seamlessly.
Indeed. I remember she had Kendall saying,”I have immortal longings in me” (Antony and Cleopatra) and she did so in such a way as to flesh out the character’s complexities making her more interesting and compelling.
Agnes Nixon treated her viewers as if they were intelligent and well educated and never patronized or talked down to the audience.
“And this,” Ms. Nixon, “shall give life to thee” (William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18).

Thank god for Agnes Nixon!

One of the last great creators of our beloved soap genre. She will be missed of course, but her spirit and essence will live on thru those she touched and mentored. RIP Agnes. We love you.

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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All My Children

EXCLUSIVE: Jacob Young, Joan Collins and Nadia Bjorlin to Prague to Film ‘Murder Between Friends’

On Thursday night during the Michael Fairman Channel’s livestream interview centering around Jason Cook’s (ex-Shawn, DAYS and ex-Matt, GH) latest movie Four For Fun which stars Brytni Sarpy (Elena, Y&R) and Jacob Young (ex-JR, AMC, ex-Rick, B&B and ex-Lucky, GH), revealed another upcoming film project with some very familiar faces.

Jacob Young shared an exclusive that he is set to direct, produce and star in a Agatha Christie-like murder mystery feature film aptly tiled Murder Between Friends.

Speaking on the upcoming project, Jacob said, “I’m flying at the end of the March to Prague to direct, produce and star in a film with Joan Collins (ex-Dynasty). Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe, Days of our Lives) is in it, and Toby Alexander Smith from Eastenders (ex-Gray Atkins). Plus, a couple of my Broadway friends and a very well known Czech actress (Hana Vagnerova).”

Photo: BBC

According to Jacob, the production start date is April 1st. He added on the premise of the film, “It’s very Agatha Christie sort of ‘Knives Out’ without having a hundred million dollars to shoot it, but still will be a lovely film nonetheless.” Young said the plan is to finish all principal photography by April 17th.

Photo: JPI

IMDb has more on the film. It shared that former All My Children star Trent Garrett (ex-Asher Pike) is listed as co-directing the feature. Mark Rozzano is listed as writer of Murder Between Friends.

So, what do you think about this upcoming feature from Jacob that will feature Joan Collins, Nadia Bjorlin et al? Share your thoughts in the comment section. 

Then below, check out the full livestream conversation with Jason Cook, Brytni Sarpy and Jacob Young on ‘Four For Fun’ and their notable soap roles.

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