Link (http://onelifetolive.about.com/b/2009/02/07/oltl-mourns-the-loss-of-another-star.htm)


Actor Phil Carey (Llanview's feisty patriarch Asa Buchanan) has died! The 83-year old star died on Friday, February 6, just one week after his former co-star Clint Ritchie (ex-Clint Buchanan) also passed away. No known cause of Carey's death has been reported, however, he had been diagnosed and underwent chemotherapy for lung cancer back in June, 2006.

Eugene Carey was born July 15, 1925 in Hackensack, New Jersey and grew up on Long Island. As a young man, Carey joined the U.S. Marines and served in both World War II and the Korean War, and briefly attend New York's Mohawk University, followed by the University of Miami where he studied drama. During his college years, he met and eventually married, Maureen Peppler. After getting married, the couple had three children, Linda, Jeffrey and Lisa.

The 6'4" actor made his film debut in John Wayne's Operation Pacific in 1951, and later went on to star in such films as Cattle Town, The Man Behind the Gun, Calamity Jane, The Nebraskan and The Long Gray Line. During the 60's and 70's, Carey, guest starred in various television shows, including such hits as The Rifleman, The Virginian and Gunsmoke.

After his divorce from his first wife, Carey married a much younger woman named Colleen Welch, in 1976 and later had two more children by her, daughter Shannon (born in 1980) and son Sean (born in 1983).

It was in 1979, when Phil Carey, was offered the part of Asa Buchanan on ABC's One Life to Live, and became one of Llanview's most pivotal characters to hit town. Asa Buchanan, along with his sons Bo and Clint Buchanan, became key components to almost every major storyline over the next 25 years or so. In 2007, after being on contract with OLTL for 28 years, the show had opted not to renew his contract. After Carey had refused to go on recurring status, OLTL wrote his character off with Asa's death. In a surprise treat for many of his fans, Phil Carey, did make a few last guest appearances in 2008.

Phil Carey will surely be missed by his many fans, but will remain in the hearts of those who loved him and his outstanding character, the unforgettable - Asa Buchanan!

Oh my goodness - that is so creepy, that the two of them died so close together!! In any case, Mr. Carey will certainly be missed. His Asa was one of the most entertaining characters in daytime. :rip:

Rest in peace, cowboy. :rip:

Wow that is creepy just after Clint Ritchie died. That only leaves Robert S. Woods. Losing two of his former co stars. Thats got to be rough.

Wow that is creepy just after Clint Ritchie died. That only leaves Robert S. Woods. Losing two of his former co stars. Thats got to be rough.
I'm sure it's really rough on him. I've read in countless interviews how close Robert S. Woods was to both Phil Carey and Clint Ritchie. It's also got to be tough on the likes of Erika Slezak, Robin Strasser and Patricia Elliott, who have worked with those men for years as well. :(

Another pic of "the Bucs":

It's unreal that they died so close together. I was a big fan of the Buchanans for many years.

February 9, 2009

PHIL CAREY, ASA BUCHANAN ON ABC DAYTIME’S
“ONE LIFE TO LIVE,” PASSES AWAY

Link (http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/tube-talk/tv-news/2009/02/two-deaths-for-one-life-to-live/)


Phil Carey, best known for the role of Asa Buchanan on ABC Daytime’s “One Life to Live,” passed away at his home in New York City on Friday, February 6, following a courageous battle with lung cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Colleen, and their two children, Shannon and Sean, and his three children Lisa, Linda and Jeff from a previous marriage.

Mr. Carey originated the role of “One Life to Live’s” formidable business tycoon, Asa Buchanan, in 1980. He was born Eugene Joseph Carey on July 15, 1925 in Hackensack, NJ and raised in the suburban Long Island towns of Rosedale and Malverne. Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, he took medical leave from the show to undergo treatment, but returned to the role later that year.

On “One Life to Live,” the character of Asa Buchanan died in his sleep on August 16, 2007. The life of Buchanan family patriarch was celebrated on the show’s 10,000th episode on August 17, 2007. Mr. Carey made three subsequent appearances on the show, and was last seen when Asa read an addendum to his will on December 29, 2008.

“He was like ‘Pa’ to me,” said his on-screen son Robert S. Woods (Bo Buchanan). “My own father passed away in 1975, and I met Philly in 1979. For those 30 years he has been like a father to me. I don’t know if I could love him more if he was my dad.”

“In a week where we said goodbye to Clint Ritchie (ex-Clint Buchanan), the overwhelming news of Phil Carey’s death was truly a profound loss to the ‘One Life to Live’ family,” said Executive Producer Frank Valentini. “His presence will always be a part of ‘One Life to Live.’ The best way to describe Phil was bigger than life. Like Asa, he possessed an undeniable quality that drew you to him, whether he was amusing you with a story or he was just plain ornery. We can only imagine that he and Clint Ritchie are sitting back and having a drink together. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Colleen, and his five children.”

“I was incredibly fond of Phil Carey,” said “One Life to Live” cast member Erika Slezak. “I loved that man very much. He was larger than life, like his character of Asa. He was a central figure on the show and to everyone at ‘One Life to Live.’ When Phil was in the building, you knew it. He will be sorely missed. I was so honored to have the privilege to work with him one final time for our 40th Anniversary show.”

Mr. Carey was very proud of his service as a U.S. Marine Corporal in World War II and the Korean War. One of the survivors on the U.S.S. Franklin, he was honored with the Asiatic Pacific 9 Stars World War II victory medal after he was wounded in the attack that cost the lives of hundreds of his crewmates and made the Franklin the most heavily damaged carrier to survive the war.

Mr. Carey harbored dreams of being an actor all his life. He studied drama at the University of Miami, but it was back on Long Island where he got his break. During a summer stock production of “Over 21,” a representative of Warner Bros. spotted him and asked him to take the screen test that launched his film career. His first feature film, “Operation Pacific,” starred John Wayne and led to a long-term contract with Warner Bros. During his time at Warner’s and later at Columbia Pictures, Mr. Carey starred with some of Hollywood’s legendary actors, including Gary Cooper in “Springfield Rifle,” Henry Fonda in “Mister Roberts,” Peter Fonda in “Fighting Mad” and Tyrone Power in “The Long Gray Line.” In addition he starred with Fred MacMurray and Kim Novak in “Pushover,” the first film in which Miss Novak appeared as the leading lady.

Mr. Carey starred in a number of primetime television series such as “Philip Marlowe,” “Bengal Lancers,” “Laredo” and “The Untamed World,” and guest-starred on “All in the Family,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “Police Woman,” “The Bionic Woman” and “Gunsmoke.” Additionally he toured in such stage plays as Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” and “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

Mr. Carey experienced the world doing what he loved most. His family fondly remembers his countless entertaining stories from exotic locations. One of his favorite anecdotes came after the filming of the television series “Laredo,” when he portrayed Granny Goose in the surprisingly popular series of commercials for Granny Goose Potato Chips. In addition he was an avid golfer, and often played with Dean Martin at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Looking back on Phil Carey’s time with Robert S. Woods and Clint Ritchie on “One Life to Live,” they undeniably were the Rat Pack of the soap opera world.

I remember his guest spot on Little House. Too bad it couldn't have been in a better episode (he was in the yawner "Halloween Dream").

rest in peace

So sad that Philip and Clint died so close together... such a huge loss to fans of the show... :(

I'm in absolute shock!!:eek: I really liked the Buchanans and wish they would release those years on dvd. I always wished Clint and Vicki would get back together.

I remember his guest spot on Little House. Too bad it couldn't have been in a better episode (he was in the yawner "Halloween Dream").

^ Thanks for adding those screen captures, Don. The Buchanans (on OLTL) debuted the same year I did - 1979. :cool: :D

It's so sad, there are far too many soap personnel dying lately. It's really scary.

I wanted to post a thread on Phil Carey's death, but virtually none of the major news outlets covered it until four or five days after it started to be talked about on message boards.

RIP