CLASSIC CLIP: Penny & Ellen Share Their Troubles on AS THE WORLD TURNS 1961

AS THE WORLD TURNS' Penny confided to her best friend, Ellen, that the Bakers had extended the lease on the house she lives in with Jeff.

CLASSIC ATWT Photo of the Day: Patricia Bruder

In 1960, Patricia Bruder took over the role of Ellen from actress Wendy Drew on AS THE WORLD TURNS and played the part through 1995, when the character disappeared from the canvas without explanation (although we later learned that Ellen had moved to Atlanta to work in AIDS-related fundraising).

Unlike today's storylines which are resolved in a matter of weeks, the saga of Ellen and her illegitimate son, Jimmy aka Dan Stewart, lasted for over a decade, and included a stint in prison for Ellen after she killed housekeeper Franny Brennan, who had threatened to reveal Ellen's secret in order to stop her from marrying David Stewart.