In Memoriam -- Those We Lost in 2013

As we close out 2013 We Love Soaps wants to pay tribute to those we lost this year both in front of and behind the camera. Below is the 2013 In Memoriam list which includes a number of legends from the world of daytime and primetime serials. Click on the name to read the obituary.

Karla Alvarez
The actress began her career in 1992 in the telenovela MARIA MERCEDES with Thalia. Her last role was playing 'Irasema' in the telenovela QUE BONITO AMOR.

James Avery
The THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR star also appeared on L.A. LAW, GREY'S ANATOMY, CHARMED, SOUL FOOD and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

Conrad Bain
He played Dr. Charles Weldon in the daytime soap opera THE EDGE OF NIGHT, and Mr. Wells (the clerk at the Collinsport Inn) on DARK SHADOWS.

Fran Bascom
Longtime casting director for DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Bascom received a total of 14 Casting Society of America nominations during her career.

Paul Bhattacharjee
Bhattacharjee played Inzamam Ahmed (Masood's brother) in EASTENDERS in 2008 and 2010.

Eileen Brennan
Her TV guest appearances included 7TH HEAVEN and THIRTYSOMETHING.

Jacqueline Brookes
For a year and a half starting in April 1975, Brookes played Beatrice Gordon, the Cory housekeeper, on ANOTHER WORLD. Beatrice left Bay City to take care of her son Ray's children in California. Ray was played by Ted Shackelford, who had just exited the soap.

FLASHBACK: Gail Kobe at Home in Soap Operas (1970)

Gail Kobe at Home in Soap Operas

By Cecil Smith
Los Angeles Times
May 25, 1970

The one note that has been struck with unmistakable consistency in the various network conventions and affiliate conferences this spring is that if you're in the television business you had better make hay while the sun shines, or, more delicately, daytime programs, particularly soap operas, are the Ft. Knox of TV.

What has not been stressed, though I assume it would naturally follow, is that some of the best actors in the country are currently emoting in the daytime depressants. Any medium that can command the services of Gale Sondergaard on one coast and Gale Kobe on the other should never apologize for its quality.

Gail Kobe Dead at 82

Actress and producer Gail Kobe has died, according to Deadline. She passed away on Thursday, August 1st, at the age of 82.

As an actress Gail Kobe (born Gabriella Kieliszewski) starred on television in PEYTON PLACE (as Doris Schuster) and BRIGHT PROMISE (as Ann Boyd Jones), with guest appearances in numerous shows such as GUNSMOKE, HOGAN'S HEROES, THE UNTOUCHABLE and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award playing Dr. Anne Warner in the series DR. KILDARE.

"I'd never done a soap before," Gail said about working on BRIGHT PROMISE in 1970, "but I actually enjoy it. I don't think the scripts are inferior to the scripts I usually get to play on IRONSIDE or NAME OF THE GAME or one of the westerns.