Link (http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-caroline-mcwilliams22-2010feb22,0,7217175.story)

Caroline McWilliams, an actress and director best known to television audiences for her work on the series "Benson" and "Soap," has died. She was 64.

McWilliams died Feb. 11 at her home in Los Angeles from complications of multiple myeloma, her family said.

Caroline Margaret McWilliams was born April 4, 1945, in Seattle but grew up in Barrington, R.I. She graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Her first break on television was on "Guiding Light," a longtime CBS soap opera in which she appeared for several years beginning in 1969. While in New York, she also started to build her stage career.

McWilliams' credits included "Boccaccio," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "The Rothschilds," along with productions for the New York Shakespeare Festival and the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Conn.

She also appeared on the soap opera "Another World" in 1975.

In 1978 and '79, she played Sally on the ABC comedy "Soap," and from 1979 to '81 played Marcy Hill on the series “Benson,” a spinoff from "Soap" starring Robert Guillaume.

Other TV appearances included starring in the 1989 series "Nearly Departed" with Eric Idle, "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Judging Amy."

Her movie roles included "Mermaids" in 1990.

McWilliams' sister Kelly-Jo Dvareckas said she "really felt she hit her stride when she started to direct."

McWilliams' credits as a director included the plays "Divorcons (Let's Get a Divorce)," "You Haven't Changed a Bit and Other Lies" and "The Smoke and Ice Follies."

In addition to her sister, McWilliams is survived by her son, Sean Douglas, and sisters Norma Liedtke and Patti McWilliams. She was divorced from actor Michael Keaton.

NO!! That is so sad - I loved her!! My thoughts and prayers go out to her son and the rest of her loved ones. :rip:

:rip: Caroline Mcwilliams. I always thought Benson was a better show with Caroline than without her. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

:crying:

I did not need to see this first thing this morning, the day after my birthday. I wonder what the cause of death was, as nothing is specified. (EDIT: Actually, now that I reread it, it does mention that you can donate to a myeloma fund. Myeloma is cancer of the plasma cells. Maybe that's the cause of death, but it also could be just a cause she fought for.)

Only 64 years old. :(

She'll always be Marcy Hill to me.

:rip: , Sweet Caroline.

Wow - this one is surprising. I hadn't heard anything on this. Sounds like her death was expected by family and friends - cancer perhaps? So sad, although it sounds like she lived a fun, full life. :(

RIP

The obit says she did benefits for ALS - I wonder if that's what happened to her. If so - I can relate a bit. That's what my grandfather died of. :(

The obit says she did benefits for ALS - I wonder if that's what happened to her. If so - I can relate a bit. That's what my grandfather died of. :(

I edited my post because they mentioned myeloma in the obituary as a place you can donate to in lieu of flowers. So that may be it as well.

At any rate, just sad. You know, one of the great things about Benson some 30 years after it first aired was that all the main characters were still living, pretty amazing given some of the ages of them today. Not a lot of shows could say that. It's too bad we can't say that any longer.

This is so sad. Caroline was such a great actress on Benson. I was sorry to see her leave. Whenever I think about her, I remember the way she was then...so young and alive. This is just another reminder that nobody lives forever. I think the last time I saw her was when she was on 90210. She still looked great then. R.I.P. Caroline. :(

what does Als stand for

what does Als stand for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis aka Lou Gehrig's disease. It also killed Guiding Light star Michael Zaslow. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig%27s_disease

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis aka Lou Gehrig's disease. It also killed Guiding Light star Michael Zaslow. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Gehrig%27s_disease
It's an awful disease. It's a terrible way to die. :(

It's an awful disease. It's a terrible way to die. :(
It sure is. My heart just broke watching my grandfather suffer from it. His heartbreak at losing my grandmother after 59 years of marriage didn't help, either. She died in July 2000, he was diagnosed with ALS in March 2001 and died in November 2002. My sister and brother-in-law gave their second son the middle name William, which was Grandpa's first name.

Was terribly saddened to hear this, my Uncle passed away from ALS and it is a horrible thing. It does remind us that life is not forever ,but she left behind a great body of work and I'll watch Benson and the characters will always be young and alive, as I'll always remember them. RIP Marcy.

That is so sad! :( I have no words...
She was so beautiful!
I'll deeply miss her.

Good bye, Marcy! ♥♥♥

RIP Caroline. You will be missed.

I am happy to be Facebook friends with Lewis Stadlen (Taylor) and I posted her obit and the obit photo on his page. Here's what he said:

"That's very sad indeed. She was a lovely woman. I believe she was battling cancer even then. All that Benson stuff. I sure was young. Thank you for sending it to me....Lewis"

I am happy to be Facebook friends with Lewis Stadlen (Taylor) and I posted her obit and the obit photo on his page. Here's what he said:

"That's very sad indeed. She was a lovely woman. I believe she was battling cancer even then. All that Benson stuff. I sure was young. Thank you for sending it to me....Lewis"

Wow, I would not have thought that. :eek:

Thanks for sharing, Monika.

Wow, I would not have thought that. :eek:

Thanks for sharing, Monika.
Me neither - I always noticed she was very skinny, which might have had something to do with it. I will always remember the two of them waltzing in the kitchen in that first season episode. I'm happy to be able to share the post.

Me neither - I always noticed she was very skinny, which might have had something to do with it. I will always remember the two of them waltzing in the kitchen in that first season episode. I'm happy to be able to share the post.

I just figured she was naturally skinny, as some are, and they are not sick at all. Also, this was 1979; I can't imagine someone fighting cancer for 31 years, although I admit I am not very well-versed on cancers and illness in general.

I just figured she was naturally skinny, as some are, and they are not sick at all. Also, this was 1979; I can't imagine someone fighting cancer for 31 years, although I admit I am not very well-versed on cancers and illness in general.
Sometimes remissions can last a long time. I knew she dropped out of the limelight for a while after leaving Benson and marrying Michael Keaton - but I thought it was maybe because she just wanted to settle down and raise a family. Maybe her health had something to do with it, too. :(

I always missed her after she left Benson. I never knew why she left -- just figured it was one of those things that happens on TV shows.

65 is too young. Rest in peace, Caroline.

I am happy to be Facebook friends with Lewis Stadlen (Taylor) and I posted her obit and the obit photo on his page. Here's what he said:

"That's very sad indeed. She was a lovely woman. I believe she was battling cancer even then. All that Benson stuff. I sure was young. Thank you for sending it to me....Lewis"
Thanks for posting this Monika. It's so sad that she was struggling with cancer way back then. :(

Thanks for posting this Monika. It's so sad that she was struggling with cancer way back then. :(
She was a very brave and very strong lady to have fought such a brave and difficult battle over such a long period of time. Rest in peace Caroline.

This is very saddening to hear of Caroline McWilliams' passing. I always thought she was a very beautiful woman on 'Benson' as well as on 'Soap', when her character was involved in an alleged affair with Burt. It is tragic that she died too young. :(

Very sad to hear,I agree Benson wasn't the same after she left.

Here's a little background on Caroline...

She may have been born in Seattle, but she was brought up in my state - RI. Her family lived here all their lives. Her father was a very well-respected physician in Rhode Island (he was my grandmother's long-time doctor until her death in 1973). I believe her father died about twenty years ago.

Though I was very little, I do recall my grandmother saying his daughter was an aspiring actress, and he was very proud of her (she had done some local theater work here before hitting it big in CA).

^ Awesome - thanks for sharing that!! :cool:

Original obit has been updated, She passed away from multiple myeloma. :(

Original obit has been updated, She passed away from multiple myeloma. :(
How sad. :(

I found this on the Cancer Treatment Centers of America website:

Introduction
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a cancer in which abnormal cells collect in the bone marrow and form tumors. Sometimes these abnormal cells (called myeloma cells) collect in only one bone and form a single tumor known as a plasmacytoma. However, in most cases, the myeloma cells collect in many bones, forming several tumors and causing other problems. When this happens, the disease is called multiple myeloma.

Who does it affect?
The International Myeloma Foundation reports that each year there are approximately 19,900 new cases of myeloma in the United States. The disease tends to develop in people who are in their 60s or older. Less than 10 percent of multiple myeloma patients are under the age of 40. Multiple myeloma more commonly develops in men and in some races more than others (e.g., African Americans).

Seeking more information?
For more information on multiple myeloma and treatments available to fight this disease, call Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) today at 800-615-3055.

Been checking the forums over now and again...i live in the UK and her death here was barely even mentioned.

Cannot add much to what has been said,but at least i know now why she was barely active in the last few years.
Her first TV role was in:
Dundee and The Culhane: THE MURDERER STALLION BRIEF 27 Sep 67
Last works that i have found:
TV Judging Amy in 2003
Directed an ALS benefit in NY in 2006

Her last stage work was in Love Letters at her old university Carnegie Mellon in Oct 2006 where she acted with her ex-boyfriend from that very same university.
Alums play at Homecoming
Love Letters chronicles lost love and taking chances
Pillbox | Laura Thorén

Love Letters
A.R. Gurney

If your heart is beating and you’ve stepped outside your house, it is inevitable that sometime, somewhere, you’ve met someone who has made your heart go pitter-pat. But what if you didn’t have the confidence to tell this person your true feelings, and so you were left to wonder, “What could’ve happened?” This is the premise of A.R. Gurney’s play Love Letters, which will be performed at Carnegie Mellon during Homecoming weekend. Love Letters follows the poignant and often heartbreaking tale of a man and a woman who, after missing a chance for true love at an early age, spend the rest of their lives corresponding through letters, hoping that one day a letter in the mailbox will deliver a message of reciprocation.

Love Letters, a two-person play, is about the relationship between Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and Melissa Gardner, played by alums Peter Jason (’66) and Caroline McWilliams (’66-67). The two characters are polar opposites — Melissa is an eccentric artist, Andrew is a Yale-educated lawyer — yet they have a profound understanding of and love for one another. The play follows their correspondence from a third-grade birthday party’s thank-you note to the love letters of their adulthood. Although both are attracted to one another, their confessions never coincide, and so the plot simmers with their frustrated love.

Ladd is played by Jason, an accomplished actor in over 100 movies, including small roles in Seabiscuit and Kicking and Screaming, since graduating from Carnegie Mellon. Although the reserved demeanor of lawyer Andrew Makepeace is a far cry from Jason’s typically vibrant personality, the role won’t be too much of a stretch for the actor who admitted, “I used to have a crush on Caroline McWilliams for so long.” He added, “I love [Caroline and executive producer Iris Rainer Dart] a lot, so it will be great to get back together with them.”

McWilliams, who plays the role of Gardner and who is also directing the play, met Jason as an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon. After dating their senior year, the two have remained friends and occasionally work on projects together. “Acting is much easier because he’s my friend, but directing a friend is much harder than directing someone who’s not ... but we trust each other. That’s the ingredient that’s needed to do this kind of thing, and we have that in great measure.”

Both actors acknowledge that trust and friendship are valuable resources in show biz, and Carnegie Mellon taught them that. “The Carnegie Mellon drama program] broke down ego and created a family.

Dart, the show’s executive producer, turned to writing after a few discouraging years as a struggling actress in Hollywood. Her best-selling novel, Beaches, was made into a film starring Bette Midler. Dart, Jason, and McWilliams are very excited to be returning to campus to collaborate once again, and, most importantly, to work with the current talent in the drama program. McWilliams said she was most excited about returning to Carnegie Mellon and seeing what the student lighting director will be able to create. “The training [at Carnegie Mellon] doesn’t get any better, so I’m excited to see what the lighting designer creates with only a few ‘looks.’ ”

Love Letters is being produced by School of Drama senior Kevin Emrick, who is currently taking a semester to intern with Aaron Sorkin, the creator of The West Wing. Not only will Love Letters give drama students the opportunity to make connections with alumni in preparation for the world of show business, but it will also be a great source of enjoyment. As Jason put it, “It’s called a play. It’s about all the fun you can have.”

Love Letters is a Pulitzer Prize for Drama nominated play by A. R. Gurney. The play centers on just two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepiece Ladd III. Using the epistolary form sometimes found in novels, they sit side by side at tables and read the correspondence - in which they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats - that has passed between them throughout their separated lives. It is only at the sad ending that they realize they were really love letters all along.

I guess Love Letter was Caroline last role, a swansong that she performed at the university that launched her career.Possibly she was saying goodbye in a strange kind of way.

But if you read this Obituary i found she really loved life:
Caroline Margaret McWilliams, accomplished actress and director, passed
away peacefully at her home in LA on February 11, 2010. Ms. McWilliams
is survived by her loving son Sean Douglas of Los Angeles, sisters Patti
McWilliams (Marge Mount) and Norma Liedtke of San Francisco and Kelly-Jo
Dvareckas (Jack) of Nashua, NH, nephews John Liedtke and Casey Dvareckas
and niece Jill Dvareckas. Her parents, Dr. Joseph G. and Patti
McWilliams, predeceased her.

Caroline grew up in Barrington, RI. She majored in drama at Carnegie
Mellon and at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her career included numerous
feature television roles, starting with her breakthrough role as Janet
Mason on Guiding Light and followed by starring roles on Soap, Benson,
Nearly Departed, and Beverly Hills 90210. Broadway credits include Cat
on a Hot Tin Roof and The Rothschilds. Off-Broadway Caroline performed
in productions for the NY Shakespeare Festival and American Shakespeare
Festival. Film credits include Mermaids, White Water Summer and Highway
Time. Director credits include Divorcons, Love Letters, The Making of n
Justice, Chang and Eng, You Havent Changed a Bit and Other Lies and
benefit productions for ALS.

Off-camera Caroline loved life and adventure, happiest spending time
with family and friends while kayaking and hiking in New Hampshire,
carving fresh tracks on the slopes, roller skating at the beach,
body-surfing in the waves of Cape Cod and doing the bunny hop around the
Chatham Bandstand.

God bless you Caroline.

^ Thanks for the info!

I did not even hear about this. I always enjoyed "Benson" more when Caroline/Marcy was on the show. Her last episode is one of my favorites. And I enjoyed her on "Soap"- best there was when she brought the porno flick over for Mary to see the images (and Danny and Jodie were trying to sneak peeks), so she'd believe that she was blackmailing Burt.

RIP Caroline.