Rita McLaughlin (Patty's Double) 1951 - 2022 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 12-28-2022, 08:34 PM

https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/new...d-turns-carol/

On December 26, David McLaughlin, the brother of former As the World Turns star Rita Walter, reported that she had died a day earlier, on the anniversary of her exit from the soap in 1981 following an 11-year run as Carol Deming Hughes Stallings Andropoulos Frazier.

“My sweet, loving sister Rita was called to Jesus… on His birthday,” read his message. “She was a well-known actress as well as dedicated server of the Lord Jesus.

“May you rest in peace, sis. I love you forever,” he added. “You’ve taken my heart with you.”

Walter, who has three children with her reverend husband, got her big break in the 1960s when she landed the uncredited role of Patty Duke’s double on The Patty Duke Show. Six years later, the budding soap star made her daytime debut as Wendy Phillips on The Secret Storm.

But it was the role of As the World Turns’ plucky Carol that really put Walter on the map. Introduced to the Oakdale scene as a college student working for much-married Lisa, the heroine tied the knot with her boss’ son, Tom, only to have second husband Jay Stallings cheat on her with her ex’s subsequent wife, Natalie!

Later, Carol, who seemed to attract calamities like flames do moths, wound up adopting Natalie’s daughter with Jay, who was killed in a construction accident from which he could’ve been saved by colleague Steve Andropoulos, who, needless to say, became her next husband. Following their split — Carol wouldn’t put her daughter’s neck on the line so that Steve could conduct shady business with James Stenbeck — art imitated life when she married a reverend and left town.

Since retiring from showbiz, Walter, 71 when she passed away, had been working as an optician.

stevea · 12-28-2022, 08:42 PM

RIP. I guess she's the one who, most of the time, had her back to the camera, with the appropriate wig.

Glad she got some face time on The Secret Storm.

CosmicCharlie · 05-19-2025, 08:21 PM

this

Dude111 · 05-20-2025, 07:13 AM

Very sad...

stevea · 05-20-2025, 10:47 AM

Interesting photos--never saw those.

BestTVever · 05-20-2025, 11:14 AM

Oh you mean Patty did not have a real lookalike cousin?

Cathy_Lane · 05-28-2025, 01:13 AM

She didn’t? Then who have I been all these years?

Just kidding. Of course she didn’t.

12-28-2022, 08:34 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Rita McLaughlin (Patty's Double) 1951 - 2022 https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/new...d-turns-carol/ On December 26, David McLaughlin, the brother of former As the World Turns star Rita Walter, reported that she had died a day earlier, on the anniversary of her exit from the soap in 1981 following an 11-year run as Carol Deming Hughes Stallings Andropoulos Frazier. “My sweet, loving sister Rita was called to Jesus… on His birthday,” read his message. “She was a well-known actress as well as dedicated server of the Lord Jesus. “May you rest in peace, sis. I love you forever,” he added. “You’ve taken my heart with you.” Walter, who has three children with her reverend husband, got her big break in the 1960s when she landed the uncredited role of Patty Duke’s double on The Patty Duke Show. Six years later, the budding soap star made her daytime debut as Wendy Phillips on The Secret Storm. But it was the role of As the World Turns’ plucky Carol that really put Walter on the map. Introduced to the Oakdale scene as a college student working for much-married Lisa, the heroine tied the knot with her boss’ son, Tom, only to have second husband Jay Stallings cheat on her with her ex’s subsequent wife, Natalie! Later, Carol, who seemed to attract calamities like flames do moths, wound up adopting Natalie’s daughter with Jay, who was killed in a construction accident from which he could’ve been saved by colleague Steve Andropoulos, who, needless to say, became her next husband. Following their split — Carol wouldn’t put her daughter’s neck on the line so that Steve could conduct shady business with James Stenbeck — art imitated life when she married a reverend and left town. Since retiring from showbiz, Walter, 71 when she passed away, had been working as an optician.

05-19-2025, 08:21 PM	#3
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,416	this Attached Images

12-28-2022, 08:42 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,190	RIP. I guess she's the one who, most of the time, had her back to the camera, with the appropriate wig. Glad she got some face time on The Secret Storm.

05-20-2025, 07:13 AM	#4
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,378	Very sad...

05-20-2025, 10:47 AM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,190	Interesting photos--never saw those.

05-20-2025, 11:14 AM	#6
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	Oh you mean Patty did not have a real lookalike cousin?

05-28-2025, 01:13 AM	#7
Cathy_Lane Identical Cousin Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2010 Location: Brooklyn Heights Posts: 116	She didn’t? Then who have I been all these years? Just kidding. Of course she didn’t.