Helen Wagner, best known for playing Nancy Hughes on As the World Turns for more than a half-century, has died. She was 91.
Wagner, who acted up until her death, died Saturday, the show's New York-based production company, TeleNext Media Inc., announced. She spoke the first words on As the World Turns when it premiered in 1956, and holds the Guinness World Record for playing the same role on television for the longest time (54 years). She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2004.
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"All of us at As The World Turns are deeply saddened by Helen's passing," executive producer Christopher Goutman said. "She is loved by generations of fans and, while we will miss her greatly, Helen will always ...read more
Last spring As the World Turns star Colleen Zenk Pinter was diagnosed with oral cancer. Now her character, the conniving Barbara Ryan, is about to meet the same fate. "I set up a meeting to pitch the idea to our executive producer, Chris Goutman, even though I wasn't sure I was emotionally ready to do such a story," says Pinter, 54. "We sat down and, before I could say anything, Chris pitched the same idea to me."The actress, who underwent three surgeries and internal radiation treatment, is now cancer-free and eager to spread the word about this increasingly common, potentially deadly disease. "Like cervical cancer, oral cancer has now been linked to the HPV virus," says Pinter, noting that the website oralcancerfoundation.org was her lifesaver — literally. First doctors missed her cancer, then recommended the wrong surgery, prompting her to take charge, do her own research and get herself the proper care.The bad news will hit Barbara on Jan. 2, the same day she's banned from ...read more