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| Beverlee McKinsey |
McKinsey was best known for memorable roles in daytime television. She played the role of Martha Donnelly on Love is a Many Splendored Thing starting in 1970.
In 1972, she debuted on NBC's Another World as Emma Ordway (Steve Frame's older sister). She later went on to play Iris Carrington on the show, a role that propelled her to daytime stardom.
In August 1980, NBC premiered the spinoff Texas to capitalize on the popularity of the Iris character, and McKinsey received star billing. She continued playing Iris on Texas until November 1981.
She later created the role of Alexandra Spaulding on CBS's Guiding Light, and performed it from 1984-1992.
In 1994, she made an appearance on General Hospital as Myrna Slaughter. In 1998, the editors of Soap Opera Magazine voted her the best actor in the history of daytime television.
TV Guide's Michael Logan wrote of her in 1992, "For my money, Beverlee McKinsey is the greatest actress ever to grace daytime drama."
McKinsey performed the lead role of Corie on Broadway in the original production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park," where she was directed by Mike Nichols, and co-starred with Robert Redford. She also originated the role of Honey in the London production of Edward Albee's, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
She guest starred on multiple prime time television series, including The FBI, Hawaii Five-0, The Mod Squad, Mannix and The Defenders.
She appeared in films with Clint Eastwood (Bronco Billy), Sidney Pollack (They Shoot Horses, Don't They?), and Mark Rydell (The Reevers).
McKinsey was nominated four consecutive years (1977 to 1980) in the lead actress category for the Daytime Emmy Awards but sadly never won. She also received six Soap Opera Digest Award nominations winning two as "Favorite Villianess" when she was on Another World (they were called the Soapy Awards back then).
She is survived by her son, Scott, (who directed her on Guiding Light), and her grandson, Marley. No memorial service is planned.
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
