Carol Lynley Dead at 77

Carol Lynley, best known for the 1972 disaster movie The Poseidon Adventure, died on September 4. She was 77.

The actress, who was born in New York City, died “peacefully in her sleep” at her Pacific Palisades home.

Her daughter, Jill Selsman, said in a statement the actress “loved the industry and she was equally a great fan of the movies.”

“She loved working in film as much as she loved going to the movies. I saw everything as a child with her,” Selsman, a director, said of her mother’s love for film and television. “She was curious about the world around her, loved to spend time with interesting people, of all stripes and was generally a very peaceful person. Very live and let live.”

Lynley was also a “life-long fitness person” and a yoga practitioner since the 1970s “when everyone still made fun of it,” Selsman said of her mother.

“She loved to dance, going to the ballet, seeing anything on Broadway. I basically lived at Lincoln Center as a child because of her,” Selsman said. “She had an easy approach to life and always took the good with the bad. She was a bon vivant. There really was no situation that couldn’t be improved or ignored because there really was so much fun to be had, why dwell on things you can’t change.”

“Which is what I think she’s doing now. Clearly, you can’t change death, but if there is a world beyond, she’s dancing with her great friend Fred Astaire and enjoying her new life as much as she enjoyed her previous one,” Selsman said.

'Pretty Broken' Interviews: Jillian Clare & Tyler Christopher Share Insights on Their New Indie Film

The new indie film Pretty Broken tells the story of Lindsey Lou (Indie Series Award winner Jillian Clare), an unemployed, college drop-out on the verge of divorce who finds herself couch surfing at her childhood home. while her family grieves the death of her father. As the family tries to put the past behind them, Lindsey fights to keep his memory alive before her Southern belle mother, Caroline (Stacy Edwards), replaces him with a younger man, Jerry Carlyle (Daytime Emmy winner Tyler Christopher).

The movie opens today at Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood, where Clare and a special guest or two will present for a Q&A immediately following the 7:20 p.m. showing every day through March 7. You can also catch it on Amazon, iTunes, DirecTV, Dish Network and multiple other VOD platforms starting today.  The film is distributed by Freestyle Digital Media.

We Love Soaps caught up with Clare and Christopher to find out more about their roles in the film.

Soap Opera Trivia: Clare played Abigail Deveraux on Days of our Lives as a kid in 2003-2004. Christopher joined Days in 2017 playing Stefan DiMera. Clare's former character, all grown up and played by Marci Miller, married Stefan in 2018.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You are earning rave reviews for your performance portrayal of Lindsey Lou. What was it about this character that drew you to the role?

JILLIAN CLARE: Lindsey Lou is a multi-layered character that I felt I hadn't seen portrayed in film before. Most films with young 20-something women have to do with college, or something extremely awful, and of course, rom-coms. This film is a slice of life. It follows a lost girl going through something that everyone goes through in their own life and that's why I fell in love with it. No craziness, no big explosions. Just reality.

'She & Her': Trailer Released for new Carolyn Hennesy Film

A trailer has been released for She & Her, an upcoming film starring Daytime Emmy and Indie Series Award winner Carolyn Hennesy (Diane on General Hospital).

Hennesy plays Poppy Sinclaire, an aging ex-actress whose world is turned upside down when young up-and-comer Mattie Morris (Mackenzie Breeden) drags her out of her self imposed exile, and convinces her to share her story of Hollywood abuse. Together with super-producer Addie Banks (Gwen Hillier), the women work through their shared traumas as they fight and forgive, ultimately taking back the narrative, and shaping a future that they want to live in.

Watch the trailer below.

Dominic Zamprogna to Star in Short Film 'To the Moon and Back'

Writer/Director Nate Hapke's 11th short film To the Moon and Back film centers on a grieving man who finds solace in the presence of his wife and daughter in the moments leading up to having to eulogize his mother. General Hospital star Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) plays Robert Westfield to lead the cast, which includes Danielle Rayne, and Julie Romano.

The film is currently in production.

Julie Adams Dead at 92

Julie Adams, best known for her role as Kay Lawrence in the beloved 1954 monster movie Creature from the Black Lagoon, passed away on February 3. She was 92. Adams' son Mitchell Danton revealed that the actress died early Sunday morning in Los Angeles.

Her many other credits included the Elvis Presley-starring Tickle Me (1965) , Dennis Hopper's film The Last Movie (1971), the TV show Murder, She Wrote (1987-1993), and the Oliver Stone-directed World Trade Center (2006).

Adams' soap opera roles included Paula Denning on Capitol (1982-1987), Arlene Beevis in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1993) and Mrs. Damarrs on Melrose Place (1999).

Those who have paid tribute to Adams include Patton Oswalt and director Guillermo del Toro, whose Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water was clearly influenced by Creature from the Black Lagoon.

"I mourn Julie Adams passing," wrote del Toro on Twitter. "It hurts in a place deep in me, where monsters swim."

"Julie Adams has returned to the Black Lagoon," wrote Oswalt. "The scene of you swimming while The Creature mirrored your moves underwater is every awkward heart yearning for someone in the sunshine to reach down and just see them. Iconic forever."

'Pretty Broken' Acquired by Freestyle Digital Media for March Release

Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios, has acquired North American rights to the dramedy Pretty Broken. Pretty Broken debuts on VOD and will be available to rent and own on North American digital HD internet and satellite platforms through Freestyle Digital Media on March 1, 2019. Pretty Broken will also be released theatrically in Los Angeles on March 1st and will be available on DVD.

Pretty Broken tells the story of Lindsey Lou (Jillian Clare), an unemployed, college drop-out on the verge of divorce who finds herself couch surfing at her childhood home while her family grieves the death of her father. As the family tries to put the past behind them, Lindsey fights to keep his memory alive before her mother, Caroline Lou (Stacy Edwardse), replaces him with a younger man, Jerry Carlyle (Tyler Christophere).

Philip Bosco Dead at 88

Tony Award-winning actor Philip Bosco died Monday night at his home in Haworth, New Jersey. He was 88.

The actor's daughter, Celia Bosco, said her father had complications with dementia, which is commonly caused by Alzheimer's disease.

Before acting, Bosco worked in a carnival as a trailer truck driver.

He later became a Broadway veteran who won a Tony Award in 1989 for best actor for his role as the head of an opera company in the comedy "Lend Me a Tenor." He received nominations for his performances in "The Rape of the Belt," "Heartbreak House," "You Never Can Tell" and "Moon Over Buffalo." Bosco also starred in a 2004 production of "Twelve Angry Men."

On daytime soap operas, he played roles on As the World Turns (as Eliot Markham), Guiding Light (Clarence Baily), All My Children (Lyle Wedgewood) and Ryan's Hope (Dr. Gillette).

In 1988, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for his role in the ABC Afterschool Special Read Between The Lines.

His primetime TV credits included Damages, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tribeca and The Doctors and the Nurses.

He appeared in numerous films, including Working Girl, The Savages, Trading Places, The Money Pit, Children of a Lesser God, and Three Men and a Baby.

James Karen Dead at 94

Poltergeist actor James Karen passed away at his home on October 23. He was 94.

In his Hollywood career, Karen earned more than 200 credits, ranging movies and TV shows across various genres and was an original cast member of All My Children.

In Poltergeist, a family moves into a newly-constructed townhouse community, which was developed by Karen's Mr. Teague, only for a series of bizarre occurrences to begin unfolding. When the family's patriarch confronts Teague, he discovers that the developer had relocated a cemetery to make room for the houses, though he opted to save money by moving only the headstones and leaving the corpses underneath the homes.

Karen might have had minimal on-screen time in the film but his role and the confrontation his character has with Craig T. Nelson's Steve Freeling are some of the film's most memorable components.

Karen returned to the horror world for 1985's Return of the Living Dead as the manager of a warehouse that held the remains of a zombie that was "killed" during the events of Night of the Living Dead. Unfortunately, the remains are burned, creating a toxic cloud that ultimately turns to rain that resurrects nearby corpses.

While most of the film embraced the inherent goofiness of the premise, Karen's performance gave the film one of its more emotional sequences.

“It was the deal where he figures out he’s becoming a zombie and decides to incinerate himself in the crematorium,” Karen detailed to DVD Talk in 2006. “He kisses his wedding ring as he goes in. It was a very emotional scene, but it also got me out of being one of the rain-drenched zombies milling around outside the place at the end of the film. I didn’t really want to do all that muddy stuff.”

Karen also appeared in films such as Capricorn One, Mulholland Drive, The Pursuit of Happyness, 13 Days, and dozens more.

On primetime television, Karen appeared in Dallas (as Elton Lawrence), Knots Landing (as Max Craig), Dynasty (as Avril Dawson), Emerald Point N.A.S. (as Admiral Lovell), Little House on the Prairie, Seinfeld, The Powers of Matthew Star, and The Golden Girls, among many others.

His daytime soap opera roles included Dr. Burke on As the World Turns and Linc Tyler in All My Children.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Alba.

'Pretty Broken' to Screen at Portland Film Festival on October 26

Pretty Broken, a heartfelt dramedy feature film for the entire family from Leonian Pictures and Resonance Productions, will screen at the Portland Film Festival on Friday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m. in Portland, Oregon.

The indie darling stars Portland native Jillian Clare (Alien Abduction, Days of our Lives, Victorious), Tyler Christopher (Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Lying Game), Stacy Edwards (The Lying Game, In The Company of Men, Santa Barbara), Preston Bailey (Dexter, The Crazies), Peter Holden (The Social Network, The Dark Knight Rises) and Adam Chambers (The Kitchen, Girl Vs. Monster). Pretty Broken is directed by award winning director Brett Eichenberger from a script penned by Jill Remensnyder.

The story follows Lindsey Lou (Clare), an unemployed, college drop-out on the verge of divorce who finds herself couch surfing at her childhood home while her family grieves the death of her father. As the family tries to put the past behind them, Lindsey fights to keep his memory alive before her mother (Edwards) replaces him with a younger man (Christopher).

“We're excited and honored to screen Pretty Broken at our hometown Portland Film Festival” says director/producer Brett Eichenberger. “We can't wait to share Lindsey's story and introduce audiences to the Lou family.”

Tickets are now on sale for the October 26th screening here.

1980s Horror Cult Classic 'The House on Sorority Row' Starring Eileen Davidson Hits Theaters for One Night Only September 27

Before she was one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or ruling daytime soaps on The Young and the Restless and Days of our Lives, Eileen Davidson starred as a sexy sorority sister with a sinister secret. She may be leaving the small screen soon as she exits Y&R, but here’s a chance to see her early work on the big screen and see she's as fierce (and ageless) as she ever was! '80s cult horror classic The House on Sorority Row is coming to theaters nationwide for just one night only (September 27th) as the opening event for the "Bloody Disgusting Presents Retro Nightmares" Cinema Series.

After a seemingly innocent prank goes horribly wrong, a group of sorority sisters are stalked and murdered one by one in their sorority house while throwing a party to celebrate their graduation.

"I am beyond excited to have The House of Sorority Row back in theaters for ONE night on September 27," said Davidson. "Filming this movie was one of my very first jobs as an actress, and it holds a very special place in my heart. Plus it's really good!"

Virginia Robinson Dead at 99

Virginia Robinson in Broad City

Virginia Robinson died peacefully in her home in New York City on June 8. She was 99.

Robinson was a New York City resident for over sixty years and a working actress from ages 19 to 98. She was born Virginia Routh on March 27, 1919, in Newark, New Jersey. She trained in London, and was acting and modeling professionally by the age of 19.

During World War II, Robinson was a member of the USO, entertaining troops in Africa and Italy. After the war she worked for the Dupont Radio Hour, and began a serious acting career.

She performed in fifteen Broadway plays, working with such directors as Elia Kazan, Franco Zefferelli, John Gielgud and George S. Kaufman. She was a standby for Vivien Leigh in "Duel of Angels." She also worked Off-Broadway and in Regional Theatre.

She appeared in numerous films, including Diary of a Mad Housewife, and spent many years in daytime drama, where she had long-term roles on Love of Life and Loving. From 1954 to 1957 she starred on Love of Life as Judith Lodge Raven, the ex-wife of Paul Raven, who was now in love with Vanessa Dale.

Peter Donat Dead at 90

Peter Donat, who played roles in both daytime and primetime soap operas, died on September 7 at his home in California. He was 90.

His wife, Maria, confirmed the news to The New York Times, citing the cause of death as complications with diabetes.

Born Pierre Collingwood Donat on January 20, 1928, in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Donat's primtime television credits included Flamingo Road (as Elmo Tyson), Dallas (Dr. Miles Pearson) and Hill Street Blues (as Schuster). Donat played William Mulder, father of David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder, on six episodes of The X-Files opposite Rebecca Toolan as Teena Mulder.

On the big screen, he appeared in The Godfather Part II, War of the Roses, The Game, and Tucker: The Man and His Dream.

Donat's soap opera roles included Stephen Markley in The Brighter Day (1958), Bert Stanton on As the World Turns (1959) and Vince Conway in Moment of Truth (1965).

He also performed through organizations like the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, where he would get to know director Francis Ford Coppola, and the Stratford Festival in Canada.

In addition to Maria, Donat is survived by sons Caleb, Christopher, and Lucas; stepdaughters Barbara Park Shapiro and Marina Park Sutton; stepson Malcolm Park; 11 grandchildren; and brother Richard.

'Days of our Lives' Alum Steve Wilder Cut From Film After Sex Offender Past Revealed (Updated)

A scene in the forthcoming Twentieth Century Fox movie The Predator featuring former Days of our Lives star Steven Wilder Striegel was cut after the studio learned he is Connecticut’s sex offender registry.

The studio's move, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, occurred immediately after it learned of the actor's background.

Striegel was arrested by Newtown police in August 2009 on charges of engaging in an inappropriate internet relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Age 38 at the time, he was living in New York while the girl was living in Newtown.

He was convicted in May 2010 of two felonies, risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor by computer. He was sentenced in August 2010 to 10 years in prison, suspended after he served six months in jail, and three years of probation.

He remains listed on Connecticut’s sex offender registry.

'Young and the Restless' Alum Sean Young Wanted for Questioning in NYC Burglary

Actress Sean Young is “wanted for questioning” in connection with a report of a Thursday burglary in New York City. Young allegedly broke into the office of a film on which she had been slated to make her directorial debut before being fired this summer after clashing with the producers.

According to one of the film's producers, she allegedly took two MacBook Pro laptops that had production software on them.

“This was a big slap in my face. I try to help as much people as I can,” says comedian Greg Kritikos, the co-writer, star and a producer of the upcoming dramedy Charlie Boy, which Young was initially hired to direct.

However, Young was terminated from the production about two months ago and Timothy Hines was brought in to replace her, according to executive producer Dominick Martini.

She played Meggie on The YOung and the Restless in 2010-2011.

UPDATE #1:
Young has now released a statement characterizing the situation as a misunderstanding and said she had yet to be contacted by authorities.

Elizabeth Sung Dead at 63

Veteran film and TV actress Elizabeth Sung, who appeared in The Young and the Restless in the 1990s, died on May 22. She was 63.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sung studied ballet at a young age before coming to America to study dance at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. After graduation, Sung danced for an American company before transitioning to television acting.

She is perhaps best known for her role in CBS' long-running soap The Young and the Restless. Sung played restaurant owner Luan Volien from 1994 to 1996, the mother of Jack's long lost son, Keemo. Luan married her true love, Jack Abbott (Pete Bergman), but the couple's happiness was cut short when Luan died from a mysterious terminal illness.

Her other notable TV credits include Hawaii Five-0, The Sopranos, Bones, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Night Shift. She also played Danielle Dwyer in a couple of episodes of Passions.

Sung's most memorable film roles included Wayne Wang's critically praised drama The Joy Luck Club as well as playing the part of Mrs. Sakamoto in Rob Marshall's big-screen adaptation of the worldwide best-seller Memoirs of a Geisha. Her most recent film credits have tended to be in Asian-American comedies including Anita Ho, Front Cover and Vivian Bang's White Rabbit that screened at the Sundance Festival this year.

Politically active, Sung devoted her time to AIDS charities (her older brother Philip, a fashion designer, died of the disease in 1985) as well as groups that promoted gender and racial diversity in the entertainment industry. In 2016, Sung was one of 683 new members to join The Academy as part of a push to broaden the diversity and gender mix of the body.

Sung is survived by her husband, screenwriter Peter Tulipan.

Robert Mandan Dead at 86

Soap and daytime soap opera actor Robert Mandan died on April 29 in Los Angeles after a long illness, his friend, playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein, told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 86.

Mandan had worked on such soap operas as From These Roots (as David Allen), The Doctors (Mike Hennessey/Mr. Tabor), The Edge of Night (Nathan Axelrod) and Search for Tomorrow (Sam Reynolds) when he was hired to play Chester, a conniving Wall Street stock broker, on the ABC primetime comedy Soap.

Susan Harris created the sitcom, which aired for four seasons, from 1977-1981. The show, always a critical darling, was a top 10 hit in its first season but suffered in the ratings as it was moved around the schedule.

Mandan and Helmond reunited for two episodes of her next series, Who's the Boss?, and for a 2002 production of "A Twilight Romance" at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. He also returned to the soap opera world with gigs on Santa Barbara (Maxwell Hammer), Days of our Lives (Steven 'Jonesy' Jones) and General Hospital (Judge Bryant).

'To The Beat!' Interview with Eric Martsolf, Martha Madison, Lilly Melgar, Marie Wilson & Jillian Clare

Fans have been anxiously awaiting the release of teen/family movie To The Beat! since the trailer was first released in July. The movie releases across multiple platforms on March 13, and it is worth the wait. The script is lighthearted, with relevant lessons about family, friends and following your dreams. First-time director Jillian Clare deserves kudos for bringing a movie to life that delivers something for everyone - dance, drama and fun!

In To The Beat!, fourteen-year-old twins Mackie (Laura Krystine, Instructions Not Included) and Mia Castillo (Brisa Lalich) have been dancing since they were toddlers. They support each other's passion through competitions and rehearsals, even though they prefer different styles: Mia loves tap and Mackie loves jazz. When their favorite pop star (Chris Trousdale) launches an online contest to find the most unique dancers for his new music video, the twins each form their own team to compete. With the help of their family and friends, Pauly (Jaheem Toombs, 100 Things To Do Before High School) and Doug (Trevor Larcom, Fuller House), they campaign for the most votes on social media. Meanwhile, their arch-rival and neighbor Avery, (Jayden Bartels, Dance Moms, Musical.ly Star), uses her charm and resources to gain the upper hand in the competition.

In addition to being directed by Clare, who once played Abigail on Days of our Lives, the cast includes a number of other familiar faces to soap opera fans.

Marie Wilson (Camila), the soft-spoken, widowed mother of the twins, is perfect as the mom who keeps her family unit together. Indie Series Award winner Lilly Melgar (Ana Sophia) delivers an enchanting performance as the fashionista aunt of the twins. As Avery's (the rival) parents, Emmy winning Days of our Lives star Eric Martsolf (Michael) and Martha Madison (Clare) embrace their characters and deliver hysterical performances especially when Clare's obsession about Paula Abdul creeps into the conversation (and the dance contest)

We Love Soaps asked these current and former soap stars to share their thoughts on To The Beat! Check out our exclusive interview below.

Laura Krystine stars as Mackie in To The Beat!  Brisa Lalich,
tapping in the background, plays Mia Castillo.
Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your favorite scene in the film?
ERIC MARTSOLF: Having never had a daughter in real life, I truly enjoyed the one on one “parental discussion” with Jayden. It was an interesting glimpse into what fatherhood with a girl would have been!
MARTHA MADISON: I love the scene where you get to meet Michael and Clare for the first time. Eric is pitch perfect and getting to sing Paula Abdul songs loud (and very badly) was so fun. I laughed all day that day!
LILLY MELGAR: It has to be my kitchen scene with the girls. We had so much fun it's ridiculous! Jillian gave me a direction and I took the note and committed to it 100% and it was oh... sooo.... "too much"... that I completely startled the actress (Veronica St. Claire). It was the most amazing moment. I'm literally laughing out loud right now as I type.
MARIE WILSON: I loved watching the teens' characters interacting with each other....too many funny scenes between them.....and of course, the dance choreography was so well done!
JILLIAN CLARE: My favorite scene was probably the stand off between the two teams in the twins driveway. I loved watching all the girls fire back at each other. They’re all so talented and it was fun seeing these future stars all work together to create a fun scene.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Have you ever been in a "teen movie" before?
ERIC MARTSOLF: This would mark my first.
MARTHA MADISON: Nope. This is definitely a first, and I hope it won't be the last. It's so exciting to work with young, talented actors and actresses. This group of kids are incredible so it was a daily dose of inspiration for us old folks.

Jayden Bartels (right) plays Avery in To The Beat!  Also pictured
(left to right): Avery Hewitt, Martha Madison and Eric Martsolf.
Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

LILLY MELGAR: No! I have not! I'm a child stuck in an adult's body so it was my very own personal Disneyland shoot. Again, ridiculous fun! When we weren't on camera shooting the film, we were shooting our own videos behind the scenes. Jaheem Toombs taught me the 'correct' way to do the Beyonce strut. LOL ... Can we please go back and do it all over again?
MARIE WILSON: This is my first teen movie so it was an entirely new experience for me.....learned a few things from them :)

WE LOVE SOAPS: Have you ever danced on camera before?
ERIC MARTSOLF: I dance around probably more than I casually walk in real life. I spent three years on the Joseph tour in a Pharaoh costume wiggling in front of thousands.
MARTHA MADISON: I have a really extensive dance background including decades of formal training and teaching, but I don't think I've ever done it on camera. I might be scared to do it at this stage in my life, but I'd always be open to trying! Can't promise success though! Ha!
LILLY MELGAR: Yes! Martha and I did an episode of Soap Box with Lilly & Martha where we had a "Celebrity Dance Off" with real Dancing with the Stars judges and a live audience. ... I also had a scene on General Hospital with Maurice Benard where our characters "Lily & Sonny" danced during a romantic date ... or two.... I had a salsa dancing scene recently on The Bay The Series Season 3 and lastly, my career began as a VJ on Univision so I danced around all the time when introducing new videos
MARIE WILSON: I did dance once but it shall remain nameless ;))

Days of our Lives stars Eric Martsolf and Martha Madison play
siblings on the small screen and a couple in To The Beat!
Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: You've worked with Jillian Clare as an actor, but how was it working with her as your director?
ERIC MARTSOLF: She's just begun her directorial journey, and if her handling of future projects reflects this one, she will have stellar projects on the horizon.
MARTHA MADISON: Jillian is a natural! This business so clearly runs through her veins. It's ingrained in her DNA. I've always been so impressed with Jillian's deep knowledge of the industry, her grit, her fearlessness and her ability to communicate so clearly with any type of person. These are the traits that separate the talkers from the do-ers. She's going to have a very bright future!
LILLY MELGAR: Jillian's level of calm under extraordinary circumstances is awe inspiring! Truly a talent to be respected and admired. Her laser focus and calm inspired trust and set the foundation for a positive set experience. I am so proud of her and look forward to working with her again.
MARIE WILSON: I was so impressed that she took on such a project for her directorial debut since a dance film has so many challenges, but she did it with grace, ease and focus. I couldn't have done that at her age!

WE LOVE SOAPS: Martha and Eric, you play half siblings on Days of our Lives, and now you're playing husband and wife? How was that transition?
ERIC MARTSOLF: Completely awkward and I enjoyed every second!
MARTHA MADISON: Luckily, it's all G-rated! Ha! I do think we have great chemistry no matter what relation we are playing. I consider Eric a great friend and a terrific actor. I'd feel lucky to work with him any day, anywhere, under any circumstances.

Ladies of the Lake stars Marie Wilson and Lilly Melgar reunite
in To The Beat! Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Lilly and Marie, you played partners in crime on the Amazon series Ladies of the Lake, how was it being part of the same family in To The Beat!?
LILLY MELGAR: Working with Marie Wilson is seamless. Having that kind of connection with another actor is half the work. I get to just show up and be present and live it. ANYTHING with Marie Wilson .. ANY TIME ... ANY DAY.
MARIE WILSON: Having worked with Lilly before made it ideal to be playing family members.....it was just so easy and authentic.....I love Lilly!!

WE LOVE SOAPS: Jillian, what was your biggest challenge as a first-time director?
JILLIAN CLARE: I don't think I really encountered "challenges" per se. I always think of hiccups as a puzzle, and I love puzzles. I guess the most time-consuming and puzzling things to film were the dance scenes and the finale since there were so many dancers, actors, and background! Thankfully, my Director of Photography, Broderick Engelhard, and I had put in a ton of time thinking about the finale and shot-listing. We were able to get everything I had wanted and more!

Award-winning actress Jillian Clare stepped behind the camera
to direct To The Beat!  Photo courtesy of Leonian Pictures.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Did you ever think about acting in the movie too?
JILLIAN CLARE: I never thought about being in the film as well. I think to really excel in a craft you need to have 100% focus on it. I know there are a lot of successful directors who also star in the films they are directing, but many have been solely a director before. When you start in a film and direct it, a lot of the take-to-take stuff falls onto the 1st AD and DP to tell you that they think it's good. It's very time consuming to watch every single take right after it's been filmed. I wanted to fully dive into and indulge in the responsibilities of the director this time. Maybe one day in the future, when I feel I have reached the level I want to be at, I'll be able to star and direct a film!

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was it like to direct your co-stars from Acting Dead and Ladies of the Lake?
JILLIAN CLARE: It was so fun! I love them all very much and it was cool to be able to creatively work with them in a different way. They're all such stellar actors to begin with, and we had a blast being together again!

***

The story was created by Susan Bernhardt and Jillian Clare. The screenplay was written by Susan Bernhardt. The movie is produced by Ryan Armendariz, Susan Bernhardt and Jillian Clare.

You don't have to wait until the movie releases across multiple platforms on March 13! Pre-orders are now available on both iTunes and Amazon.

Donnelly Rhodes Dead at 81

Donnelly Rhodes, a Canadian-born character actor best remembered by daytime drama fans for his portrayal of Phillip Chancellor II on The Young and the Restless, died on Monday at a hospice facility near his home in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. He was 81.

The cause was cancer, his agent, Lisa King, said.

Rhodes's television career began with westerns like Maverick and Bonanza in the early 1960s and continued until 2016. Over the decades he appeared in practically every televised genre, from sitcoms to soap operas.

Although he did not originate the role of Phillip Chancellor II on The Young and the Restless, his portrayal from 1974 to the character's death in 1975 would resonate with viewers and in the storyline, for many years to come. Phillip's wife, Katherine (Jeanne Cooper), was a messy drunk so he turned his attention to the young and beautiful Jill Foster (Brenda Dickson). Phillip and Jill began an affair that led him to demand a divorce from his wife. Phillip ultimately died in a car crash, leaving a lost and angry Katherine to battle the devastated and now pregnant Jill. Their battles were at the center of the show for the next four decades.

His experience on The Young and the Restlessmay have prepared him for the plot twists and surprises of the soap-opera spoof Soap. Beginning in 1978, during the show’s second season, he played Dutch Leitner, a dimwitted criminal who helped Chester Tate, the philandering head of the wealthy Tate family, escape from prison. Duth then hid out at the Tate mansion and later wooed and eventually married Chester’s daughter, Eunice. Rhodes was on the show until it was canceled in 1981.

75th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominees Include Allison Janney, James Franco, Kevin Bacon, Christian Slater & David Harbour

The movie awards season is officially underway. The 2018 Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, presented by Kristen Bell, Garrett Hedlund, Alfre Woodard, and Sharon Stone.

A number of former daytime soap opera actors were nominated, including Kevin Bacon, Susan Sarandon, David Harbour, Christian Slater, James Franco and Allison Janney.

The Golden Globes will take place on January 7, and will be hosted by Seth Meyers.

Check out the complete list of nominations below.

Best Television Series: Drama
The Crown
Game of Thrones
The Handmaid’s Tale
Stranger Things
This Is Us

Best Television Series: Comedy
Black-ish
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Master of None
SMILF
Will & Grace

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Sinner
Top of the Lake: China Girl

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series: Drama
Jason Bateman, Ozark
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Ann Wedgeworth Dead at 83

Tony Award winning actress and former soap opera star Ann Wedgeworth passed away on Thursday. She was 83.

Wedgeworth's daughter Dianna Martin said the actress died close to her home in New York City after a long illness in a nursing home.

After playing Marie Warren and, later, Angie Talbot on CBS soap The Edge of Night, Wedgeworth moved to NBC's Another World in 1967 to create the role of Lahoma Vane. In March 1970, Lahoma and her husband, Sam Lucas, left Bay City for the spin-off series Somerset. Wedgeworth left Somerset in September 1973.

In a 1980 People magazine interview, Wedgeworth described her six years in the soaps as "dreary and horrible".

She went on to win a Tony Award in 1978 for her work in "Chapter Two," and later memorably played Lana Shields on ABC's hit sitcom Three's Company.