Soap great Beverlee McKinsey passes on - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jude The Obscure · 05-05-2008, 01:13 AM

Beverlee McKinsey
McKINSEY, Beverlee Died May 2nd, 2008 in Los Angeles from
complications due to a kidney transplant. She was 72 years old. Ms.
McKinsey was an actor best known for roles in daytime television. She
created the character Iris Carrington on NBC's Another World, and
played the part from 1970-1979. She also created the role of Alexandra
Spaulding on CBS's Guiding Light, and performed it from 1984-1992. In
1980, NBC developed the program Texas to capitalize on the popularity
of her character, Iris Carrington; and Ms. McKinsey was the first and
only performer in the history of daytime drama to receive star
billing. In 1998, the editors of Soap Opera Magazine voted her the
best actor in the history of daytime television. TV Guide's, Michael
Logan, wrote of her in 1992, "For my money, Beverlee McKinsey is the
greatest actress ever to grace daytime drama." Ms. McKinsey performed
the lead role of Corie on Broadway in the original production of Neil
Simon's, Barefoot in the Park, where she was directed by Mike Nichols,
and co-starred with Robert Redford. She also originated the role of
Honey in the London production of Edward Albee's, Who's Afraid of
Virginia Woolf? She guest starred on multiple prime time television
series, including The FBI, Hawaii Five-0, The Mod Squad, Mannix and
The Defenders. She appeared in films for Clint Eastwood (Bronco
Billy), Sidney Pollack (They Shoot Horses, Don't They?), and Mark
Rydell (The Reevers). Ms. McKinsey was nominated four times in the
lead actress category for a National Daytime Emmy Award. She is
survived by her son, Scott, (who directed her on Guiding Light), and
her grandson, Marley. No memorial service is planned.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on 5/4/2008.

Mr. Television · 05-05-2008, 01:25 AM

Oh man. I always liked her. I remember watching her with my Mom on Another World in the 1970's and then again on Guiding Light in the 1980's and 90's. R.I.P. Beverlee.

catlover79 · 05-05-2008, 01:39 PM

God bless her - she was a soap icon in every sense of the word. She was on AW before I was born, but I saw some of her clips on youtube. WOW!! My mom says shes always remembered Iris and her "DADDY!" whine. My sympathies to her son and family.

Scoobiedoo30 · 05-05-2008, 03:54 PM

Rest in peace

JT · 05-05-2008, 11:43 PM

Unfortunately, I'm one of the many younger soap fans who have never had the opportunity to have the authentic Beverlee McKinsey experience. But, almost immediately after I become obsessed with daytime drama and its history, I was taught to respect Beverlee McKinsey and to appreciate Beverlee McKinsey. Even if I went my entire life without seeing a single scene of hers, I still had to acknowledge her genius and her ability to make soap opera the highly dignified, completely respected genre it was in its heyday.

She was and will always be *the* soap opera actress. A legend, a class act, a true acting genius. RIP.

catlover79 · 05-06-2008, 12:45 AM

Here's the first (and so far, only) daytime actor to get star billing on a soap opera: Beverlee McKinsey of TEXAS.

Mr. Television · 05-06-2008, 01:14 AM

Here's another picture of Beverlee.

Dr. Jazz · 05-06-2008, 02:16 PM

I watched soaps religiously for over 30 years and still keep up with them (thought not religiously anymore), I consider myself a "soap historian" of sorts and I echo Michael Logan's proclamation from his 1999 column on "Another World" coming to an end, that Ms. McKinsey truly was daytime's greatest actress - and I've seen a lot of great actresses on soaps over the years. For years her bio said she was born in 1940 (which would make her 68) but 72 sounds more accurate. I'd like to thank that she's up there with Doug Watson and Connie Ford playing their parts like only they could. RIP

catlover79 · 05-06-2008, 03:54 PM

Ms. McKinsey played a bit part on AW in 1972 as one of Steve Frame's poor siblings, and so impressed head writer Harding Lemay and executive producer Paul Rauch that they wrote Iris Cory Carrington with her in mind. Mike Hammett, who played her son Dennis, called her a second mom.

http://www.igs.net/~awhp/iris.html
http://www.igs.net/~awhp/1dennis.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=482b9if-bxE

80sTrivia · 05-10-2008, 07:37 AM

Beverlee was an amazingly gifted actress with such an incredible presence. When she left Guiding Light (and soap acting altogether), she left a very large void that has never been filled. She was a true great and she will be missed by many.

bry · 05-18-2008, 01:40 AM

DANG...loved her on TEXAS. never cared for Another World, but i do recall seeing her on there alot.

catlover79 · 04-05-2009, 02:39 PM

I just found this sweet tribute to Ms. McKinsey:

http://www.redroom.com/blog/jennifer...d-lady-daytime

05-05-2008, 01:13 AM	#1
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Soap great Beverlee McKinsey passes on Beverlee McKinsey McKINSEY, Beverlee Died May 2nd, 2008 in Los Angeles from complications due to a kidney transplant. She was 72 years old. Ms. McKinsey was an actor best known for roles in daytime television. She created the character Iris Carrington on NBC's Another World, and played the part from 1970-1979. She also created the role of Alexandra Spaulding on CBS's Guiding Light, and performed it from 1984-1992. In 1980, NBC developed the program Texas to capitalize on the popularity of her character, Iris Carrington; and Ms. McKinsey was the first and only performer in the history of daytime drama to receive star billing. In 1998, the editors of Soap Opera Magazine voted her the best actor in the history of daytime television. TV Guide's, Michael Logan, wrote of her in 1992, "For my money, Beverlee McKinsey is the greatest actress ever to grace daytime drama." Ms. McKinsey performed the lead role of Corie on Broadway in the original production of Neil Simon's, Barefoot in the Park, where she was directed by Mike Nichols, and co-starred with Robert Redford. She also originated the role of Honey in the London production of Edward Albee's, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She guest starred on multiple prime time television series, including The FBI, Hawaii Five-0, The Mod Squad, Mannix and The Defenders. She appeared in films for Clint Eastwood (Bronco Billy), Sidney Pollack (They Shoot Horses, Don't They?), and Mark Rydell (The Reevers). Ms. McKinsey was nominated four times in the lead actress category for a National Daytime Emmy Award. She is survived by her son, Scott, (who directed her on Guiding Light), and her grandson, Marley. No memorial service is planned. Published in the Los Angeles Times on 5/4/2008.

05-05-2008, 01:25 AM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Oh man. I always liked her. I remember watching her with my Mom on Another World in the 1970's and then again on Guiding Light in the 1980's and 90's. R.I.P. Beverlee.
	__________________ Sonny

05-05-2008, 01:39 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	God bless her - she was a soap icon in every sense of the word. She was on AW before I was born, but I saw some of her clips on youtube. WOW!! My mom says shes always remembered Iris and her "DADDY!" whine. My sympathies to her son and family.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-05-2008, 03:54 PM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Rest in peace
	__________________ Who Dat

05-05-2008, 11:43 PM	#5
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,219	Unfortunately, I'm one of the many younger soap fans who have never had the opportunity to have the authentic Beverlee McKinsey experience. But, almost immediately after I become obsessed with daytime drama and its history, I was taught to respect Beverlee McKinsey and to appreciate Beverlee McKinsey. Even if I went my entire life without seeing a single scene of hers, I still had to acknowledge her genius and her ability to make soap opera the highly dignified, completely respected genre it was in its heyday. She was and will always be the soap opera actress. A legend, a class act, a true acting genius. RIP.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

05-06-2008, 12:45 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Here's the first (and so far, only) daytime actor to get star billing on a soap opera: Beverlee McKinsey of TEXAS. Attached Images

05-06-2008, 01:14 AM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Here's another picture of Beverlee. Attached Images

05-06-2008, 02:16 PM	#8
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,074	I watched soaps religiously for over 30 years and still keep up with them (thought not religiously anymore), I consider myself a "soap historian" of sorts and I echo Michael Logan's proclamation from his 1999 column on "Another World" coming to an end, that Ms. McKinsey truly was daytime's greatest actress - and I've seen a lot of great actresses on soaps over the years. For years her bio said she was born in 1940 (which would make her 68) but 72 sounds more accurate. I'd like to thank that she's up there with Doug Watson and Connie Ford playing their parts like only they could. RIP

05-06-2008, 03:54 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Ms. McKinsey played a bit part on AW in 1972 as one of Steve Frame's poor siblings, and so impressed head writer Harding Lemay and executive producer Paul Rauch that they wrote Iris Cory Carrington with her in mind. Mike Hammett, who played her son Dennis, called her a second mom. http://www.igs.net/~awhp/iris.html http://www.igs.net/~awhp/1dennis.html www.youtube.com/watch?v=482b9if-bxE Attached Images

05-10-2008, 07:37 AM	#10
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Beverlee was an amazingly gifted actress with such an incredible presence. When she left Guiding Light (and soap acting altogether), she left a very large void that has never been filled. She was a true great and she will be missed by many.
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

05-18-2008, 01:40 AM	#11
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	DANG...loved her on TEXAS. never cared for Another World, but i do recall seeing her on there alot.
	__________________ that's Y-A-T-E-S.

04-05-2009, 02:39 PM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I just found this sweet tribute to Ms. McKinsey: http://www.redroom.com/blog/jennifer...d-lady-daytime