Port Charles- Daytime Soap Operas- News, polls, Kelly Monaco

“Wayne has always been the Man of my Dreams and now he will always be the Man in my Dreams,” Herring wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) alongside an image of her husband petting one of their horses. “No one navigates a loss alone & all of your love & kindness helps Hank, Grady & I take this journey Thank you especially our ?? @GeneralHospital & ??@DaysPeacock family.”

The actor’s one-time on-screen wife, Deidre Hall (Marlena), had this to say to Us Magazine about her former leading man: “He never met a practical joke that he didn’t want to pull on somebody. He was forever, forever playing practical jokes.” DAYS’s Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) told the outlet, “Wayne was always funny,” adding, “Everybody loved him. He worked very, very hard.” She dubbed Northrop a “darling guy” and noted that the late star would be “vividly remembered by all the fans and by all of us.”

Northrop’s former DAYS on-screen brother, Peter Reckell (Bo), told Michael Fairman TV that “Wayne was my big brother from the moment I met him. Teasing and joking with me. Putting his arm around me physically and emotionally to guide me on my introduction to DAYS. No ego, just love and support. I am extremely lucky to have had him as family. Forever in my heart.”

Christie Clark, who played the role of Roman’s daughter Carrie Brady, wrote on Instagram, “Wayne Northrop was the most gloriously funny cowboy who adored his family! So,very sorry for your loss Lynn, Hank, Grady & @deidrehall_official & all the days fans & my days family. Wayne had me in stitches nearly every time the stage mangers called action. This kept me on my toes & taught me to enjoy the ride. Drake [Hogestyn, ex-John] & Wayne played the same part & had a similar vein running thru their blood, family first,enjoy every morsel of life & if you can make folks laugh.”

Herring’s friends in the daytime community have been rallying around her in the days since her husband’s passing, including her executive producer at GH, Frank Valentini, who said on X, “I am so sorry to hear of Wayne Northrop’s passing. He and @TheLynnHerring were married for over 40 years and Wayne left his mark on Port Charles in more ways than one. On behalf of our entire @GeneralHospital family, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to Lynn and their sons, Hank and Grady – along with their family and friends. They are all in our thoughts during this difficult time.”

Longtime GH co-star Kristina Wagner (Felicia) also gave words of comfort to Herring when she wrote on X, “My deepest sympathies and much love to my friends, Lynn Herring and her boys, Hank and Grady Northrop. My heart aches for you guys. Our families have lots of wonderful memories together. Rest in peace, cowboy Wayne Northrop. ?? @TheLynnHerring”

Another longtime GH c0-star, Finola Hughes (Anna), posted a beautiful image of the couple on Instagram and wrote, “Dearest Lynn. Sending your beautiful family, Hank & Grady, my deepest condolences. The epitome of a gentleman, family man & rancher, rip Wayne Northrup” Replying to the post, Eva LaRue (Natalia, GH) commented, “Sweet Lynn, I’m so, so sorry for your loss and heartbreak. Sending you and your family all my love and prayers.”

Former on-screen hubby Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH) wrote this on his official X account: “I know many of you have been sending healing thoughts to Lynn and her family in the last few days. Wayne was such a vital and powerful soul that it’s hard to imagine him no longer on this plane with us mere mortals. But I have to take a moment to acknowledge my friend Lynn’s bravery, grace, dignity and, most of all, her unwavering devotion to the love of her life and husband for over 4 decades. It is an inspiration and an example of what true, committed, unvarnished love can be. I’m sending her my thoughts along with all of you. I know she appreciates it, so keep ‘em coming.”

Young and Restless star Tracey Bregman (Lauren; ex-Donna, DAYS) also shared her thoughts on Hughes’s post, saying, “He was so lovely. I’m heartbroken for their family.” while also posting Digest‘s tribute to Northop on her Instagram story and saying, “I’m am so sorry to hear this. What a wonderful, special, sweet man. My heart goes out to Lynn and their family.”

Wayne Northrop, ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Dynasty’ Actor, Dies at 77

Northrop died Friday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, publicist Cynthia Snyder told The Hollywood Reporter. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.

“He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” Northrop’s wife and fellow soap star, Lynn Herring Northrop, said in a statement. “We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, the Motion Picture and Television Home, for taking such great care of him. Wayne touched so many people with his sense of humor and wit. A husband for 43 years, the best dad ever to his two boys, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and was a friend to many.”

Northrop appeared on more than 1,000 episodes of Days of Our Lives, first as Detective Roman Brady and then as Dr. Alex North. On Dynasty, he played Michael Culhane, chauffeur of oil tycoon Blake Carrington. On Port Charles, he portrayed the manipulative Rex Stanton.

Northrop also appeared on such other series as L.A. Law, Hotel, You Are the Jury and Cold Case.

Wayne Northrop was born April 12, 1947, to Robert and Donna Jean Northrop in Sumner, Washington. He graduated with a degree in communications from the University of Washington before taking an acting class at Seattle Community College and moving to Las Angeles to pursue an acting career.

He joined the newly formed Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre headed by Ralph Waite in 1975, which led to his first agent and television role, a small part on an episode of Police Story.

He married Lynn in May 1981, and the couple later purchased a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California. Passionate about wildlife and conservation, he ran the ranch with his environmental beliefs in mind. In 2008, he and his wife purchased the oldest house in Raymond, built in 1886, and converted it into a museum that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.

‘General Hospital’ Star Réal Andrews Announces Show Exit — Here’s What He’s Doing Next

Andrews took to his Instagram account on Tuesday (October 15) to announce that he was officially stepping away from the series and would not be returning in the near future.

“My chapter with General Hospital is over,” he told fans in the front-facing video. “The writing has been on the wall for a long time. I wanted to come here because you guys have been phenomenal, the best, amazing supporters.”

Andrews went on to thank those who made his GH time possible: “I do want to give a shout-out to [casting director] Mark Teschner, [who] gave me the first opportunity, Bob Guza [former head writer], Wendy Riche [former EP] and Frank Valentini [current EP]. All the champions there.”

Andrews further revealed he has a new gig on the horizon: “I got offered what is the biggest role in my life. It’s [with] the biggest and best network, the best director, producers, writers, in my opinion, in the industry. We’re in pre-production for it.”

He couldn’t disclose what the project is as he shared he’s signed an NDA. However, he added: “It’s the biggest project of my life, ever. The most important one. And everything comes together, and happens for a reason, right? Everything I’ve done in my whole life was for this role.”

Looking back on his time on GH, having begun on the ABC soap in 1996, he added: “As an actor, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Frank [Valentini] said, ‘I’ve written you some amazing stuff,’ and he did. Being blessed to be on a show like General Hospital, I mean, it really is a blessing, from top to bottom.”

Fans flooded the comments section excited for the TV star but bittersweet over the news.

“Loved you on GH! Congratulations on your new project and continued blessings!” wrote another.

Closing out the update, Andrews added his new project will “blow you away” and as far as returning to GH goes: “Never say never.”

Nicholas Pryor Dies: Soap Veteran & ‘Risky Business’ Actor Who Recurred On ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Was 89

Fellow actor Jon Lindstrom announced the news on social media, saying in part: “Nick was an Actor’s actor, and an exceptional friend. … He was a mentor, a sounding board, a trusted confidant, and even a father-figure beyond, yes, playing my own father on #GH and #PortCharles.” See his full post below.

Pryor racked up nearly 175 screen credits and half-dozen more on Broadway. After getting his screen start guesting on such 1950s and early ’60s TV series as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Doctors, he played Tom Baxter in more than 75 episodes of the NBC daytime drama Another World. That led to a starring role on The Nurses, a 1965-67 continuation of CBS’ The Nurses, which had ended in 1965.

He then was cast in a starring role on the first season of CBS sudser Love Is a Many Splendored Thing and later had guest shots daytime soaps All My Children and The Edge of Night.

Pryor did some big-screen work in the mid-1970s including car-race romp The Gumball Rally along with TV miniseries at the height of their heyday, including The Adams Chronicles and Washington: Behind Closed Doors. He had a small but memorable role in the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! as Mr. Hammen, a soon-repentant eater of the fish plate, complete with airsickness bag and amplified hurling sound effect.

By the early ’80s, Pryor was a regular TV guest star, appearing on such popular shows as M*A*S*H, Eight Is Enough, Little House on the Prairie, Silver Spoons, Falcon Crest, St. Elsewhere, Knight Rider Moonlighting and Who’s the Boss?

His first regular TV role came in NBC’s drama The Bronx Zoo, starring as a decent but often insufferable high school vice principal opposite his boss, Ed Asner, whose job he coveted. It lasted one season in 1987-88.

During that decade, Pryor continued to land film roles, including as Cruise’s dad in the future A-lister’s breakout 1983 pic Risky Business and in The Falcon and the Snowman, starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.

Pryor continued to work steadily in film and TV during the 1990s, landing a recurring role as Chancellor Milton Arnold on Fox’s primetime hit Beverly Hills, 90210. He appeared in more than two dozen episodes from 1994-97. He also guested on many hit shows that decade, including Growing Pains; L.A. Law; Matlock; Chicago Hope; Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman; The Practice; Silk Stalkings; Diagnosis Murder; Party of Five; and Murder, She Wrote, among others.

In 1997, he was cast as Victor Collins on ABC’s General Hospital spinoff Port Charles — a role he would play in nearly 350 episodes through 2002.

After the turn of the century, Pryor appeared in guest roles on series such as NYPD Blue, That’s Life, Strong Medicine, Without a Trace, October Road, Hart of Dixie and Nashville. His final screen roles came in 2021, with Marvel’s Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the big-screen sequel Halloween Kills.

Pryor also appeared in several Broadway productions, including 1950s plays The Egghead, Love Me Little, The Highest Tree and Howie and later the ’70s shows That Championship Season and Thieves.

Ron Hale, Actor on ‘Ryan’s Hope’ and ‘General Hospital,’ Dies at 78

Hale, who lived in St. George, South Carolina, died Aug. 27, his family announced.

Hale worked on Ryan’s Hope from 1975-89 and received supporting actor Daytime Emmys in 1979 and ’80. As Coleridge, a doctor from a well-do-do family who often clashed with the Ryan clan, he was married to Delia Reid (Ilene Kristen/Randall Edwards), Maggie Shelby (Cali Timmins) and then Delia again.

Hale then recurred as Corbin, the father of mob boss Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), on General Hospital from 1995-2010, and he showed up on the G.H. spinoff Port Charles from 1997-2000 as well. (Max Gail played the character from 2018-21.)

Ronald Hale Thigpen was born on Jan. 2, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Furman University, came to New York when he was 19 and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1967.

He made his onscreen debut on an episode of ABC’s N.Y.P.D. in 1968 and a year later appeared on his first soap opera, CBS’ Search for Tomorrow. Also that year, he made it to Broadway in William Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life.

In All the President’s Men (1976), he portrayed Watergate burglar Frank Sturgis.

Hale’s résumé also included Trial by Jury (1994), episodes of Matlock and MacGyver and plays performed at Columbia, South Carolina’s Trustus Theatre, which was started by his late brother, Jim Thigpen Jr., and late sister-in-law, Kay Thigpen.

‘General Hospital’ Star Kelly Monaco Taped Her Last Episode Friday, According To Her Mom

Kelly Monaco’s mom revealed on social media Sept. 27 that her daughter taped her last episode of General Hospital that day. Fans learned in August that Monaco, who first joined the ABC sudser in 2003, would be leaving GH sometime this fall.

Monaco has shot more than 2,200 episodes of GH and has received two Daytime Emmy nominations for her work. She went to win the mirrorball trophy in the first season of Dancing with the Stars.

Carmina Monaco - @kellysmom1: I want to take this moment to reach out to Kelly’s incredible fans and express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering love, loyalty, and support you’ve shown her throughout her time on General Hospital. On this final day, just four days shy of the anniversary of her first episode on October 1, 2003, Kelly will close the door of her dressing room for the last time. This moment is a difficult one, but knowing that she has had such an incredible, devoted fan base has given her strength. You’ve stood by her through every twist and turn, celebrating her achievements and providing comfort in the hard times. Your love and dedication have meant more than words can express, not only to Kelly but to all of us who care so deeply for her. Thank you for being there, for believing in her, and for reminding her of the impact she’s made. We will always be grateful for you standing with her through it all.

‘General Hospital’ Fans Campaign Outside ABC Studios to Reinstate Kelly Monaco

Soap Opera Network first reported the news on August 26, noting how Monaco was reportedly “blindsided” by the decision to write her out of the show. Monaco has played Sam McCall on the long-running soap opera since 2003, having filmed more than 2,200 episodes.

After the news broke, fans immediately launched a campaign to save Monaco’s job. One fan set up a Change.org petition titled “Retain Kelly Monaco in the Cast of General Hospital,” which currently has over 13,000 signatures.

“Many fans of General Hospital have grown up watching this iconic show. Sam McCall, masterfully portrayed by Kelly Monaco for over 2 decades, has woven herself into the fabric of our daily lives, becoming a beloved figure on screen,” the petition reads.

Now, fans have taken their #IStandWithKelly campaign directly to the show’s studios. On Monday, September 9, as the General Hospital crew resumed production after a short hiatus, Monaco’s fans sent a billboard truck to ABC’s Prospect Park studios.

The truck featured screens demanding the show’s executives “Rehire Kelly Monaco on General Hospital and save Sam McCall!” It also included a QR code and social media icons showing where fans can find and support the #IStandWithKelly campaign.

According to MichaelFairmanTV, the truck was not only parked out front of Prospect Park but also driven around the famous studio property.

On Tuesday, September 10, the official I Stand With Kelly X account revealed the truck was leaving the Prospect Park studios and heading across town to the Disney studios.

“The Phoenix on Wheels has departed Prospect Studios and is on route to the House of Mouse! ?Starting at ABC/Disney Studios, the fans remain #UnitedforKelly as the Phoenix will be flying to the news stations and a little Grove before returning back to #GH!” the tweet read.

While many fans are hoping General Hospital will reverse its decision and bring Monaco back to Port Charles, others are beginning to speculate whether another soap could be in her future.

An article on DailySoapDish.com speculates that Monaco could find a new home on The Young and the Restless. The site suggests she could reignite her on-screen romance with Jason Thompson, her former leading man on General Hospital, who now portrays Billy Abbott on Y&R.

‘General Hospital’ Fans Campaign for Kelly Monaco to Get Her Job Back

Soap Opera Network first reported the news on Monday (August 26), noting how Monaco was reportedly “blindsided” by the decision to write her out of the show. Monaco has played Sam McCall on the long-running soap opera since 2003, having filmed more than 2,200 episodes.

Since the news dropped, fans have flooded the General Hospital social media channels to demand that the show reverse its decision.

“It’s not too late to reverse the unlawful firing of #KellyMonaco We are not done with Sam McCall. She still has more to tell,” wrote one fan who linked to a Change.org petition to ‘Save Sam McCall.’

The petition, which over 3,500 fans have signed, reads, “Many fans of General Hospital have grown up watching this iconic show. Sam McCall, masterfully portrayed by Kelly Monaco for over 2 decades, has woven herself into the fabric of our daily lives, becoming a beloved figure on screen.”

It continues, “The thought of General Hospital without Sam’s character is not just disappointing, it is unthinkable for the loyal audience. Her departure would strip the show of its core… Sam McCall is more than just a character to us, she represents a part of our own lives – triumphs, hardships, love, and loss. Without Kelly Monaco, this character’s journey abruptly ends, leaving her viewers with an incomplete story and void that can’t be filled.”

Another X user commented on a General Hospital X post, “You fired Kelly Monaco. After 21 years. You people suck.”

“The ONLY THING I want to see confronted is Team Kelly confronting TPTB at #GH and @ABCNetwork We want her to stay!” said another.

“No one cares anymore. You guys are ruining this show. Bring back Kelly Monaco and Sam. Fix the mess you have created,” another added.

One fan added, “I watch GH for Kelly Monaco’s Sam. If she’s not there, I don’t and won’t watch.”

“The firing of Kelly Monaco is a perfect example of his absolute disconnect from viewers. TPTB need to reverse this terrible decision and not only keep Kelly on, but give her a real storyline,” said one commenter.

Another added, “The future of #GH is not looking good if you can so egregiously blindside a 21 yr vet. This stinks to hog heaven! It is not the way to earn our loyalty as fans. Fix this mess.”

Even General Hospital stars Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson seemed taken aback by the news. Speaking on their Daily Drama podcast, Burton and Anderson said they learned of Monaco’s firing at the same time as the fans.

“We’re on a break from the show, we heard about it last night just like you did,” Anderson explained. “We do not have any information. I wish we had information we could tell you.”

“Whatever happened sucks,” Burton added. “I don’t know exactly what the story is.”

TV Insider commenters also shared their reactions to the news, with one fan writing, “It just seems like the writers secretly do not like General Hospital and are trying to ruin it.”

Another added, “Don’t kill her off… bring her back when you realize better ways to showcase her talents!!”

However, a couple of people were more welcoming of the decision to kill off Monaco’s character.

“I feel her acting has gotten worse as of late. I can’t stand how she closes her eyes the whole time she talks. I’m glad she’s out,” wrote one fan.

“No loss. She used to be good years ago but recent years, no longer like her. Just replace her with Lindsay Hartley. She does an excellent job and is a terrific actress,” added another, referring to the Passions actress who briefly filled in for Monaco in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

‘General Hospital’ Shocker: Kelly Monaco Leaving After 21 Years On ABC Sudser

Deadline has confirmed that Monaco, who first joined the ABC sudser in 2003, will leave sometime this fall. Monaco has shot more than 2,200 episodes of GH and has received two Daytime Emmy nominations for her work. She went to win the mirrorball trophy in the first season of Dancing with the Stars.

Monaco’s surprise departure mirrors what happened on CBS’ The Bold & the Beautiful earlier this year when Executive Producer Brad Bell decided to kill off Sheila Carter, played by the popular Kimberlin Brown. Brown told Deadline the surprise decision to write off her character was a “hard pillow to swallow” — especially since the decision was made two months later to bring her back.

Change is certainly afoot at GH. Earlier this month, it was revealed that co-head writer Patrick Mulcahey was leaving the show while Chris Van Etten was returning to run the writers room with Elizabeth Korte.

Last week, Deadline broke that Sawandi Wilson (Star Trek: Discovery) will join the sudser as Isaiah, who is only described for now as having a “connection” to Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky.

General Hospital: Kelly Monaco Leaving After 21 Years (Report)

Monaco is set to make her final appearance as Sam this fall, per the report, which adds that Monaco was “blindsided” by the decision.

Monaco made her General Hospital debut as Sam in 2003, following a three-year stint as Livvie Locke on spinoff Port Charles. Sam was introduced as a con artist and bad girl — the long-lost daughter of attorney Alexis Davis and mob boss Julian Jerome — but went on to become one of the pillars of the long-running soap. Monaco has been nominated for two Daytime Emmys, one for Port Charles in 2003 and one for General Hospital in 2006.

General Hospital has seen more than its share of upheaval as of late, recently reinstating Chris Van Etten as co-head writer along with Elizabeth Korte. Emma Samms is set to return as Holly Sutton next month, while Jonathan Jackson returned last week to reprise his role as Lucky Spencer.

Peacock’s ‘Hysteria!’ Drops Premiere Date & Teaser

Written and executive produced by Matthew Scott Kane, Hysteria! is set during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s when a beloved varsity quarterback disappears, it follows a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts who realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal ban. But when a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt, it leads directly back to them.

Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn star with Bruce Campbell, Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North (Port Charles), Elijah Richardson, Milly Shapiro, Allison Scagliotti and Jessica Treska serving as guest stars.

Executive producers include John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein; Chris Bender and Jake Weiner for Good Fear Content. UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

Mitzi McCall Dies: Film & TV Actress And Comedian Who Followed The Beatles On ‘Ed Sullivan’ Was 91

Her husband and comedy partner, Charlie Brill, confirmed her death in a Facebook post. “I lost my Mitzi last night. Rest in peace my one and only love…Rest in peace and laughter.”

McCall and Brill appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, better known as the U.S. television debut of The Beatles; the pair’s act can be seen on the DVD of the Beatles’ appearance on the show. They were interviewed in 2005 for Public Radio International’s “Big Break” episode of This American Life regarding their Beatles-Sullivan experience, including a dressing room encounter with John Lennon.

McCall started her entertainment career on the Kiddie Castle program on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. Moving to Hollywood, she appeared on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and was also a series regular on such series as Life Goes On and (with her husband) on Silk Stalkings.

She provided the voice of Auntie Marina in the animated series Snorks, the voice of Mother Goose in Mother Goose and Grimm, the voice of Sylvia Jenkins in Free for All, and a variety of voices on The Paw Paws.

McCall made guest appearances on the TV shows Seinfeld, The Twilight Zone, Maude, Dharma & Greg and Chuck, as well as voice-over work for many cartoons. In 1971, she was the voice of Penny on The Flintstones spinoff The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show.

McCall and Brill had a comedy recording, From Our Point of View, released in 1967 by ABC Records.

John J. York opens up about 'very welcoming' return to 'General Hospital' amid cancer battle

York, who plays Mac Scorpio on the ABC soap opera, opened up about his emotional return to the series in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Monday.

"Everybody has been very welcoming, very supportive," York said as he choked up. "And here I go already, right off the top 'cause I can’t tell you how nice it's been, the support that I've gotten."

York revealed in September 2023 that he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and smoldering multiple myeloma in December 2022. The 65-year-old actor also shared with fans that he would take a "brief hiatus" from production on "General Hospital" while he underwent treatment.

Myelodysplastic syndrome consists of a "group of cancers that keep your blood (hematopoietic) stem cells from maturing into healthy blood cells," according to Cleveland Clinic. Smoldering multiple myeloma is a condition that signals someone may develop multiple myeloma, "a rare blood cancer that happens when certain white blood cells mutate into abnormal cells."

"I said, 'How long would I have if I did nothing?' " York recalled asking his doctor after receiving the diagnosis. "He said, 'Three to five years.' I was like, 'Three to five years, are you crazy? I feel fantastic!' "

For his cancer recovery, York opted for a rigorous treatment plan, which included chemotherapy and a blood stem cell transplant. The "Werewolf" actor teared up as he described the moment he learned of his transplant match.

"She said we found an exact match, and I just couldn't talk," York said. "It's just a little bag of blood and fluid, and they put it in my body. Forty minutes later, and now I'm this person."

He added: "And my cells are now fighting each other and battling each other and getting to know each other."

York made his debut on "General Hospital" in 1991. He received a nomination for outstanding male daytime newcomer at the Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1992, per the actor's IMDb page.

"I just felt so attached that I didn't feel like I missed anything," York said of his absence. "I feel like I just had a little break – a little vacation, I guess – and had to go through something, and now we’re here on kind of the other side of it."

Morning Show Appearance

‘Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black’: Netflix Reveals Cast For New Series Under Creator’s First Look Deal

The pact calls for Perry will write, direct, and produce feature films and series under a multi-year first-look deal.

Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black follows two women leading very different lives. While Kimmie is struggling to make a living after her mother kicked her out, and Mallory is running a successful business, they find themselves entangled in each other’s lives.

The cast includes Taylor Polidore Williams (Divorce in the Black; Snowfall) as Kimmie; Amber Reign Smith (Outlaw Posse; Wu-Tang: An American Saga) as Rain; Crystle Stewart (Tyler Perry’s The Oval; Acrimony) as Mallory; Ricco Ross (A Husband for Christmas; Aliens) as Horace; Debbi Morgan (Power; Power Book II: Ghost) as Olivia; Richard Lawson (Black Hamptons; For Colored Girls) as Norman; Steven G. Norfleet (Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire; Ruthless) as Charles; Julian Horton (National Champions; Tyler Perry’s Bruh) as Roy; Terrell Carter (Empire; Diary of a Mad Black Woman) and as Varney.

Other cast members are Shannon Wallace (Diarra from Detroit; City on a Hill) as Calvin; Bryan Tanaka (Entourage) as Officer Alex; Joy Rovaris (Saint Clare; The Neighborhood) as Gillian; Xavier Smalls as Angel; Charles Malik Whitfield (The Temptations; If Loving You is Wrong) as Jules; Tamera “Tee” Kissen (House Party; White Men Can’t Jump) as Body; Ursula O. Robinson (Hightown) as Delinda; Ashley Versher (This is Me… Now; Law and Order) as Lena; and George Middlebrook (The Final Play; McGraw Ave H-Block) will play Officer Trackson.

In February, Perry struck a first-look series deal with Netflix, adding to his pact with the streamer on movies. That’s on top of Perry’s BET deal for TV, which is ongoing with more than 10 series at the company.

CBS Studios NAACP Venture To Develop New Daytime Drama For CBS Called ‘The Gates’

Dubbed The Gates, the new daytime drama is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.

“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Ducksworth. “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”

“I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring,” continued Ducksworth. “I also want to thank CBS’ George Cheeks, NAACP’s Derrick Johnson and P&G’s Marc Pritchard for their personal involvement and support to take our next step forward with The Gates.”

It’s been years since one of the broadcast networks launched a new daytime sudser. There are only three still existence between CBS and ABC — B&B and The Young and the Restless on CBS, and General Hospital on ABC.

CBS continues to rank No. 1 in daytime with its dramas but all three of the soaps are down in the key demos versus last year. Days of Our Lives is now streaming on Peacock — having moved from NBC to the the platform in 2022.

The CBS Studios’ production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.

Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North, Elijah Richardson Among 6 Cast In Peacock’s Satanic Panic Thriller Series ‘Hysteria!’

Written and executive produced by Matthew Scott Kane (Stitchers) and David Goodman (The Orville), Hysteria! explores America’s dark history of mass hysteria through the shocking story of the teenage Satanic Panic. The series follows a group of 1980s high school misfits as they exploit the growing hysteria around teen occult activity.

Per the official synopsis: “When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.”

Character descriptions are being kept under wraps. Dillahunt plays The Reverend, North portrays Gene, Richardson is Cliff, Shapiro plays Ingrid, Scagliotti is Officer Olsen and Treska portrays Judith.

The series will be produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (Dungeons & Dragons) and Chris Bender & Jake Weiner (My Spy) will also executive produce. Scott Stoops serves as supervising producer for Good Fear. Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer) is set to direct the first episode and serves as an executive producer.

Dillahunt is repped by IAG and D2 Management; North by Paradigm and Cheri Barner Management; Richardson by CESD Talent Agency and Untitled Entertainment; Shapiro with Artists & Representatives & Thruline Entertainment; Scagliotti with Singular Talent, Zero Gravity Management & Meyer & Downs; Treska with LA Talent, Paradigm and Schuller Talent.B

‘Port Charles’ Actor David Gail Cause Of Death Determined, Mother Speaks Out Against Fentanyl Epidemic

The official cause of death is anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (a brain injury due to lack of blood flow) following resuscitation from cardio pulmonary arrest due to the drug intoxication.

“It breaks my heart to learn that my son died this way,” said Gail’s mother Mary Painter in a statement to Deadline. “David became reliant on medicine many years ago, after multiple surgeries on his hands and wrists. He lived in enough pain to prevent him from working for almost a decade, with relief only achieved through full disability, physical therapy and pain medicine. He struggled to stop taking pharmaceuticals and did before turning toward a more Eastern pain management including acupuncture and natural medicines. I can only assume that his former opioid dependence played a part in self-medicating from uncontrolled sources.”

Gail was found unresponsive by emergency personnel who attempted to save his life with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation. Despite their efforts, he was put on life support where he remained for several days, and was pronounced dead on January 16.

Gail grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he studied finance and went on to work in the stock trading industry. His interest in acting led him to the stage and eventually to Los Angeles. He made his onscreen acting debut in 1990 on an episode of Growing Pains, with appearances on other episodic series leading to his casting in the recurring role of Stuart Carson, a love interest of Shannen Dougherty’s Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210.

In 1999, he landed the role of Dr. Joe Scanlon on the General Hospital spin-off soap Port Charles, a role he’d play for more than 200 episodes.

Other TV credits include The Roundtable, Savannah, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, Doogie Howser, M.D., and Perfect Opposites. He starred opposite Bradley Cooper in the film Bending All The Rules.

“David’s death shines a light on the countless innocent victims of pharmaceutical addiction and the fentanyl epidemic that has taken so many of our sons and daughters,” the actor’s mother said. “Please keep David and others battling pain or dependence, in your thoughts and prayers.”

In addition to his mother, Gail is survived by son Guthier, and sister Kathryn Gail. The family asks for privacy at this time, and requests that in lieu of flowers, donations to be made in Gail’s name to the Partnership To End Addiction.

“We are extremely touched by the outpouring of love from David’s dedicated fans and colleagues,” said his mother. “We are grateful for all the support received during this very difficult time.”

David Gail Family Says No Reason To Suspect Cause Of Death “Anything But Heart Failure”

In a press statement obtained by Deadline, Gail’s publicist Linda Brown says the actor “was found unresponsive by emergency personnel who made every attempt to save his life including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. Despite their efforts, Gail was put on life support where he remained for several days. He was pronounced dead on January 16, 2024.”

The statement continues, “The family has no reason to suspect the cause of his death was anything but heart failure.”

The statement released last night on behalf of the 58-year-old actor’s family came on the same day that TMZ cited unnamed law enforcement sources as saying that an official cause of death is pending toxicology reports. While no foul play is suspected, TMZ reports, the possibility of a drug overdose has not been ruled out.

Gail’s death was announced by his sister Katie Colmenares in a January 20 Instagram post, in which she wrote, “There’s barely been even a day in my life when you were not with me by my side….I will hold you so tight every day in my heart you gorgeous loving amazing fierce human being missing you every second of every day forever.”

Gail made his onscreen acting debut in 1990 on an episode of Growing Pains, with appearances on other episodic series leading to his casting in a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210. From there, in 1999 Gail landed the role of Dr. Joe Scanlon on the soap Port Charles, a role he’d play for more than 200 episodes.

'Beverly Hills, 90210' Star David Gail's Death Investigated As Possible Overdose

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... no foul play is suspected in David's case but police are waiting for toxicology tests to determine an official cause of death. With that said, we're told an OD is what police suspect might've gone down here. No word on what type of substances are on cops' radar just yet.

As we reported ... David's sister, Katie Colmenares, announced his death Saturday in a social media post -- leaving a sweet and touching remembrance in confirming his passing.

His sibling did not give a cause of death for her brother -- but did say she would "hold you so tight every day in my heart." She also said she'll miss David "every second of every day forever."

Remember ... David famously appeared in 7 episodes of 'BH: 90210' as Stuart Carson, the fiancé of Shannen Doherty's character. DG was also big in the soap opera world ... he's in 216 episodes of the "General Hospital" spin-off "Port Charles."

His other acting credits include ... "Matlock," "Murder, She Wrote," "The Round Table," "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "Perfect Opposites" and "Growing Pains." On the big screen, David starred alongside Bradley Cooper in the 2002 rom-com "Bending All The Rules."

David Gail Dies: ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ And ‘Port Charles’ Star Was 58

“There’s barely been even a day in my life when you were not with me by my side always my wingman, always my best friend, ready to face anything and anyone [with] me,” Colmenares wrote via Instagram on Saturday. “The bears will never be the same but I will hold you so tight every day in my heart, you gorgeous loving amazing fierce human being.”

She concluded, “Missing you every second of every day forever there will never be another.”

Soap opera vet added to the Young and the Restless

John J. York Shares an Update on His Cancer Treatment and Return to GH

On Dec. 22, York took to X/Twitter to share a video update with fans and began by joking about his bald head and bare face. “You’re thinking, ‘Why did Mac shave his beard?’” he smiled. “I didn’t shave my beard. I actually shaved the little bits of hair that were still left there.”

Thankfully, the actor reports that the treatment is progressing well and he’s even anticipating returning to GH. “I wanted to give you a little update as to how things are going along,” York explained. “They’re actually going along very well. I’m still in the middle stages of everything. I have a long road ahead. But the test results are looking good. I’m feeling really good. Hopefully, things go the way they are, maybe be back on the show late spring, early summer.”

The daytime vet also expressed his gratitude to the multitude of fans showering him with love throughout this difficult time. “And I just wanted to thank you all so very much for all your notes and messages of support, encouragement, all the love you’ve been sending my way,” York declared. “I feel your hugs every day and I thank you very much for that.

“So… one day at a time, I’m gonna take care of this,” he concluded. “In the meantime, I want you all to have a very, very Merry Christmas with your family and friends and loved ones. I wish you all a very healthy happy and prosperous New Year.”

York finished off by rubbing his newly bald head for luck. “How about some luck?!” he grinned. “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, everyone!”

John J. York Explains His Blood Stem Cell Transplant Treatment

The actor opened up about his health battle back in September as he explained that his “brief hiatus” from the soap was due to his being diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome and multiple smoldering myeloma. And now he’s going into more detail about his treatment and what it entails.

“The first week is an eight-day process of heavy-duty chemo where I’ll probably lose my hair, and that’s okay,” York told People. “And, you know, there’s just all kinds of issues. I could, I could pass away. I mean, maybe not from the chemo, but when the transplant starts. So after the eight days of these different chemo treatments that they’re doing, they’re basically wiping my body of what I’ve been living with in terms of my blood and DNA and all this stuff for my entire life. They’re wiping that clean and then they’re gonna put new stuff in me from the donor. And that’s going to be the new me.”

After receiving the stem cell transplant, York then must go to the hospital every single day for 100 days in order to undergo repeated testing to see how his body is accepting the new cells. “If tests come back after, let’s say after 30 days or 35, 40 days, tests are looking really good, that would be wonderful,” he explained. “Then they may say, ‘You don’t have to come in tomorrow, come in the next day. And then we’ll test after that.’ That goes on for 100 days, and I would say the first, probably 20 days [after the transplant] are the crucial days. From the first day of the transplant, I’m guessing 14 to 20 days out, they’ll be able to tell with testing daily how I’m receiving and accepting the stem cells.”

Following those 100 days of testing will come another year or two of medication and continued testing. But the GH vet is maintaining a positive outlook on what his future holds. “Well, you know, what can I do?” he mused. “There’s nothing I can do about it. I said it before: one day at a time.”

Jon Lindstrom Asks for “Healing Thoughts” for John J. York

Thankfully, by the end of the month, York announced that things were looking good as a match had been found and he would receive a blood stem cell transplant. And now, in November, it appears that the big day has finally arrived.

“I hope you’ll all take just a minute today to send some healing thoughts to my friend, John J. York,” Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) shared on social media on Nov. 7. “It’s a big week and we would all appreciate your help. Thank you.”

York reposted his GH co-star and friend’s sentiment and responded: “Thank you, my friend… and to everyone for your positive thoughts and prayers! It’s game time!”

The actor has already received multiple chemotherapy treatments, and the stem cell transplant is another step in treating his blood and bone marrow disorders. Please join us in wishing York all the best for a successful transplant and a speedy recovery..

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GH's Lynn Herring, DAYS's Deidre Hall And Others Remember Wayne Northrop