Long-time fan favorite Carolyn Conwell has died. The actress passed away last month at the age of 82. Conwell played The Young and the Restless' Mary Williams for more than two decades.
Carolyn Conwell, who memorably played The Young and The Restless' Mary Williams, has died after a long illness. She was 82.


Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) announced the sad news on his Facebook page after attending her funeral Sunday. "She was the finest actor I have ever known and such a giving soul," Davidson said. "Her progeny are fabulous people. A credit to a life well lived. I truly can't say enough about her. I love her and miss her presence. God bless her and her family."


Conwell’s run on Y&R lasted from 1980 through 2004 and included many stand out scenes. Mary was famous for her abiding faith, her sauerkraut and ribs, and her steadfast disapproval of her son Paul’s girlfriends.


In recent years, Conwell had been approached more than once by Y&R to reprise her role, but age and illness prevented her from accepting the invitations.


"I personally called Carolyn when she had refused the first time and she just said that it would be very difficult for her to work anymore," Doug Davidson told news magazine Our Prattville in 2009. "It wasn’t as though she wasn’t approached. She was … and they were willing to do all kinds of things, but you know as you get older it’s just not as easy to jump back into the work force."


A veteran of stage and film, Conwell’s résumé ran the gamut from Hamlet to co-starring opposite Tony Curtis in The Boston Strangler. She remained active in local theater until her retirement.


She is survived by her daughter and two sons.


http://soapcentral.com/yr/news/2012/1204-conwell_obit.php

:rip: Carolyn Conwell

So sad to hear of Carolyn's passing. Her scenes as Paul's mother Meddlesome Mary were some of the show's best. She will be missed... :(

Her scenes as Paul's mother Meddlesome Mary were some of the show's best.

Agreed. I had no idea she was ill or that Y&R approached her to reprise the role.

Link (http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=Carolyn-Conwell&pid=161544995#fbLoggedOut)

Carolyn Conwell of Long Beach, California, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on October 22, 2012.

Born in Chicago in 1930 to Ernest and Sigrid Maier, Carolyn grew up surrounded by music and song, and exuberantly participated when her uncle's barbershop troupe "Dixie Harris and the Variety Four" came to the house.

She became fond of the performing arts, graduating from Lawrence College in Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre Arts. She spent the following few years in summer stock with "The Peninsula Players" in Wisconsin, and often spoke fondly of having performed the role of Hedda Gabler during that time.

She went on to pursue a career in theatre, television and film, first in New York with the Dobbs Ferry Players, studying under Herbert Berghof, and finally in Los Angeles, studying with Jeff Corey. She played many roles, appearing in such films as 'The Torn Curtain' by Alfred Hitchcock, 'Adam at Six A.M.' starring Michael Douglas, and 'The Boston Strangler' starring Tony Curtis. Additionally, she appeared in many television series including 'Knots Landing', 'The Big Valley', 'Nanny and the Professor', 'Medical Center', and 'Little House on the Prairie'. In 1978 she was cast as Mary Williams on CBS's 'The Young & The Restless', a role she portrayed until 2004.

She was always so grateful to her fans throughout the world, her Y&R family, and particularly the hair and make-up crew. She also had a real mother-son bond with her on camera son played by actor Doug Davidson.

Carolyn enjoyed playing the piano, singing, playing golf, and animals. She had a deep appreciation for beauty, music and the stage. She will be remembered by all who knew and loved her for the passionate way in which she lived.

She is survived by her three children, Eric, Jim, and Ginger. A private memorial was held on December 2nd.

Carolyn was a long time donor to the World Wildlife Fund. Donations may be made in her honor at wwf.panda.org