Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

1998: As the World Turns' Jack and Carly grew closer.
2006: General Hospital's Tony Jones died.
2009: Guiding Light's Phillip rescued Coop from a burning car.
2011: Oprah reunited Susan Lucci with Erica Kane's husbands.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of Santa Barbara as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On Another World, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both had wives that died when their daughters were young.

1977: Actress Virginia Payne, who played popular radio soap opera character Ma Perkins, died at age 67. Payne, who was only 23 when Ma Perkins first went on the air, played the title role for the show's entire 27-year run.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

1998: As the World Turns' Jack and Carly grew closer.
2006: General Hospital's Tony Jones died.
2009: Guiding Light's Phillip rescued Coop from a burning car.
2011: Oprah reunited Susan Lucci with Erica Kane's husbands.

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of Santa Barbara as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On Another World, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both had wives that died when their daughters were young.

1977: Actress Virginia Payne, who played popular radio soap opera character Ma Perkins, died at age 67. Payne, who was only 23 when Ma Perkins first went on the air, played the title role for the show's entire 27-year run.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

1998: ATWT's Jack and Carly grew closer. 2006: GH's Tony
Jones died. 2009: GL's Phillip rescued Coop from a burning car.
2011: Oprah reunited Susan Lucci with Erica Kane's husbands.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of Santa Barbara as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On Another World, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both had wives that died when their daughters were young.

1977: Actress Virginia Payne, who played popular radio soap opera character Ma Perkins, died at age 67. Payne, who was only 23 when Ma Perkins first went on the air, played the title role for the show's entire 27-year run.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

1998: ATWT's Jack and Carly grew closer. 2006: GH's Tony
Jones died. 2009: GL's Phillip rescued Coop from a burning car.
2011: Oprah reunited Susan Lucci with Erica Kane's husbands.

"A page of history is worth a pound of logic."
― Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to Scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of Santa Barbara as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On Another World, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both had wives that died when their daughters were young.

1977: Actress Virginia Payne, who played popular radio soap opera character Ma Perkins, died at age 67. Payne, who was only 23 when Ma Perkins first went on the air, played the title role for the show's entire 27-year run.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

1986: GH's Patrick mysteriously lured Terry to an empty
apartment. 1998: ATWT's Jack and Carly grew closer.
2009: GL's Phillip rescued Coop from a burning car.
2011: Oprah's soap special reunited Susan Lucci with all of
Erica Kane's husbands.

"Maybe if people started to listen, history would stop repeating itself."
- Lily Tomlin

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of SANTA BARBARA as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both had wives that died when their daughters were young.

1977: Actress Virginia Payne, who played popular radio soap opera character Ma Perkins, died at age 67. Payne, who was only 23 when MA PERKINS first went on the air, played the title role for the show's entire 27-year run.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of SANTA BARBARA as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both their wives died when their daughters were young.

1981: Benjamin Hendrickson began a three month run on TEXAS in the role of Chris Shaw.

World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th, is "an opportunity for all sectors of the community - the public, charitable organizations, communities, researchers, clinicians, practitioners, politicians and policy makers, volunteers, those bereaved by suicide, other interested groups and individuals - to join with the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the WHO to focus public attention on the unacceptable burden and costs of suicidal behaviors with diverse activities to promote understanding about suicide and highlight effective prevention activities."

Most people have been impacted by suicide directly or indirectly in some way. As soap opera fans, we've seen beloved actors take their own lives, and characters as well.

Among the family of soap actors lost to suicide are Brenda Benet, Benjamin Hendrickson, Peter Burnell, Lisa Howard, Tara Preston, Nick Santino and Walter Slezak.

Patty Weaver and other actors have talked openly about their suicide attempts.

FLASHBACK: Benjamin Hendrickson Dead At 55

Benjamin Hendrickson, 'As the World Turns' Actor, 55, Is Dead

Associated Press
July 8, 2006

HUNTINGTON, N.Y., July 7 (AP) — Benjamin Hendrickson, an Emmy Award-winning actor on the "As the World Turns" soap opera, committed suicide at his home on Long Island this week, police officials said. He was 55.

Suffolk County police officers, called by concerned neighbors, said they found him dead in bed on Monday; the cause was a gunshot to the head, they said.

Mr. Hendrickson was a member of the first graduating class of the Juilliard School of Drama, along with Kevin Kline and Patti LuPone. He appeared on Broadway in the early 1980's in the title role of "The Elephant Man" and in the 1984 revival of "Awake and Sing!"

He played Chief of Detectives Hal Munson for more than 20 years on "As the World Turns" on CBS, winning a Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in 2003. His last broadcast appearance on the show is scheduled for Wednesday.

Today in Soap Opera History (February 10)

On this date in...

1897: Dame Judith Anderson was born. Anderson moved to New York from Australia in 1918 and was a hit on Broadway before moving to Hollywood to make films. In 1984 she joined the original cast of SANTA BARBARA as Minx Lockridge. She died in 1992 at age 94.

1966: On ANOTHER WORLD, Mike Bauer (Gary Pillar) told Emily that he found he had a lot in common with John, since both their wives died when their daughters were young.

1981: Benjamin Hendrickson began a three month run in the role of Chris Shaw on TEXAS.

1989: On GUIDING LIGHT, Reva and Sonni began their walk across a suspension bridge.

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #20 Benjamin Hendrickson

NAME: Benjamin Hendrickson
RANK: 20
SOAP ROLES: Hal Munson, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1985-2004, 2005-2006); Sgt. Bartlett, ANOTHER WORLD (1983); Silas Crocker, GUIDING LIGHT (1981-1983); Chris Shaw, TEXAS (1981)

AWARDS:
2003 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
2002 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1995 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Hero: Daytime
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role: Daytime