Agnes Nixon, Creator of AMC & OLTL, Passes Away

— The daytime community is mourning the loss of soap opera legend Agnes Nixon, who passed away on September 28 at the age of 93.

Nixon is best known as the creator of ABC’s All My Children and One Life to Live. Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, released the following statement: “It is with a heavy heart I mourn the passing of television pioneer Agnes Nixon, someone I was proud to call a friend. Agnes’ impact on daytime television and pop culture is undeniable. She was the first to champion socially relevant topics, and the towns and characters Agnes brought to life leave an incredible imprint on television that will be remembered forever. On behalf of Walt Disney and ABC, I want to extend our deepest condolences to her family.”

Often referred to as the “Queen of Modern Soap Operas,” Nixon trained under Irna Phillips and wrote for As the World Turns, Search for Tomorrow, Guiding Light and Another World before moving to ABC to create OLTL in 1968 and AMC in 1970. Nixon co-created Loving with Douglas Marland and was brought on as a creative consultant for its spinoff, The City. Nixon received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Nixon created the classic soap queens such as Another World’s Rachel, All My Children’s Erica, One Life to Live’s Viki as well as some of the more “modern” vixens like AMC’s Kendall and Greenlee. Nixon made cameo appearances on both AMC and OLTL towards the end of their runs on ABC and even consulted on their short-lived online revivals.

Susan Lucci (Erica, All My Children) took to Instagram to honour the legend: “I adored her and admired her — and I am forever grateful to her! May this liveliest and loveliest of women rest in peace.”

Erika Slezak (Viki, One Life to Live) shared the following on her website: “I am so terribly saddened by the death of Agnes Nixon. She was more than a great writer, producer and boss, she was a warm, loving and wonderful woman with a truly delightful and somewhat wicked sense of humour. It was my very great privilege to have known her and to have worked for her. When she hired me to play Viki on OLTL, she changed my life and career and I will be forever grateful to her. I wish her peace and angels all around her. She deserves that!”

Robin Strasser (Dorian, OLTL; ex-Rachel, Another World) tweeted: “I once asked Agnes about the afterlife. She said she believed that someday she’d be reunited with her beloved husband. Few can match the accomplishments of Agnes Nixon. Her genius was a gift to many! She was generous, exacting, imaginative! Truly incomparable!”

Josh Duhamel (Leo, AMC) shared a message on Instagram: “So sad to hear of the passing of Agnes Nixon. I’m thankful every day that she created All My Children and the character that gave me my first shot in the business. She will be missed.”

Rebecca Budig (Greenlee, AMC; now Hayden on General Hospital) tweeted: “Agnes created on of the best characters I’ve ever played and was brilliant and kind. Love and prayers to her family.”

Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC) added on Twitter: “It was such a pleasure to know you and be part of your Pine Valley family.”

Breaking Bad vet Bryan Cranston (Douglas, Loving) tweeted: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of Agnes Nixon. Talented and kind, she gave me my start 33 years ago on Loving. Sweet passage dear one.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer vet Sarah Michelle Gellar (Kendall, AMC) took to Facebook to pay her respects: “This incredible woman Agnes Nixon not only created my incredible character Kendall Hart, she created All My Children. And more importantly, she was the epitome of class. I learned a lot from you Agnes.”

Former One Live to Live and General Hospital head writer Ron Carlivati attended Nixon’s service and shared a few photos which included a classic quote from the All My Children series bible:

The Great and the Least
The Weak and the Strong
The Rich and the Poor
In Sickness and in Health
In Joy and Sorrow
In Tragedy and Triumph
You are All My Children

Celebrating the life of Agnes Nixon today and wanted to share this with all her children… #AgnesNixon #AllMyChildren pic.twitter.com/w5gneIjjRj

— Ron Carlivati (@carlivatiron) October 1, 2016

— Daytime actor Larkin Malloy passed away on September 29 at the age of 62, following complications of a heart attack. Malloy was known to television audiences as Jefferson Brown and Schuyler Whitney on Edge of Night in the early 1980s before joining the cast of Guiding Light as Kyle Sampson from 1984-87 and later as Travis Montgomery on All My Children. He later became an acting coach on As the World Turns and even made a cameo as Dr. Weston in 2002.

ABC daytime released the following statement: “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of actor Larkin Malloy. He will forever be remembered to our ABC audience for his captivating portrayals of Travis Montgomery on All My Children and Schuyler Whitney on The Edge of Night. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

— Coming up this week on The Young and the Restless (CBS/Global): Jack (Peter Bergman) lays a trap for revenge on Monday (October 3; Canadian episode). Sharon (Sharon Case) forms an alliance. Victor (Eric Braeden) takes control of the situation. Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) plays mediator on Tuesday (October 4) while Victoria (Amelia Heinle) learns about Travis’ (Michael Roark) past. Dylan (Steve Burton) promises to protect his family.

Billy (Jason Thompson) encounters trouble on Wednesday (October 5). Hilary’s (Mishael Morgan) career gets off to a rough start. Jill (Jess Walton) opens up to Victor.

— Coming up this week on Days of our Lives (NBC/Global): Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) breaks down in Steve’s (Stephen Nichols) arms over Joey’s (James Lastovic) predicament on Monday (October 3). Andre (Thaao Penghlis) pitches the idea to Chad (Billy Flynn) of taking advantage of the Kiriakis blunder and move in on their business on Tuesday (October 4). Hope (Kristian Alfonso) delivers upsettings news to Rafe (Galen Gering) on Wednesday (October 5).

On Thursday (October 6), Marlena (Deidre Hall) enlists Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) help to expand her profile about Clyde (James Read). John (Drake Hogestyn), Roman (Josh Taylor), Steve, JJ (Casey Moss) and Paul (Christopher Sean) prepare to meet the convicts’ demands on Friday (October 7). Nicole (Arianne Zucker), Marlena and Victor (John Aniston) meet to discuss Xander (Paul Telfer), and what makes him tick. Next week: The stress of the siege gets to Theresa (Jen Lilley).

— Coming up this week on The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS/CTV Two): Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) searches for a way to free her family of Quinn (Rena Sofer) on Monday (October 3). Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) tries to contact Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) about Eric (John McCook). Ridge makes sure that Quinn knows she isn’t welcome in the Forrester mansion on Tuesday (October 4). Eric’s family stays by his side as the doctors diagnose him. Caroline (Linsey Godfrey) returns to town on Wednesday (October 5). Ridge must decide between protecting his family and doing right by Eric.

On Thursday (October 6), Quinn learns the repercussions of crossing a Forrester while Wyatt (Darin Brooks) takes an unexpected stance. Ivy (Ashleigh Brewer) tries to reunite with Liam (Scott Clifton) on Friday (October 7). Carter reconsiders keeping Ridge’s secret. Coming up: Will Wyatt convince Ridge that Quinn has changed?

— Don Diamont (Bill) will be making appearances at the National Women’s Show in Ottawa and Toronto! He’ll be in Ottawa on October 24 and in Toronto on November 6. Click here for tickets in Ottawa and here for tickets for Toronto.

— Former All My Children co-stars Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan) and Josh Duhamel (ex-Leo) reunited in London recently.

— Coming up this week on General Hospital (ABC/City): A distraught Dillon (Robert Palmer Watkins) makes a promise on Monday (October 3). Morgan (Bryan Craig) confesses to Andre (Anthony Montgomery) and is inspired to apologize to his loved ones. Kiki (Hayley Erin) confides in Franco (Roger Howarth). Hayden (Rebecca Budig) and Finn (Michael Easton) overhear disturbing news about the hospital. On Tuesday (October 4), Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly (Laura Wright) face some big challenges. Curtis (Donnell Turner) gives Nina (Michelle Stafford) a harsh reality check. A worried Nelle (Chloe Lanier) turns to Sonny for advice. Claudette (Bree Williamson) fills Griffin (Matt Cohen) in on her past. Kiki and Nelle compare notes about working with Carly. Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) tries to be the voice of reason on Wednesday (October 5). Sonny does damage control. Jordan (Vinessa Antoine) receives an unlikely tip. Ava (Maura West) dodges a bullet. The walls are closing in on Morgan.

Sonny reels as Griffin questions his faith on Thursday (October 6). Nelly offers Morgan a friendly shoulder to lean on. Ned (Wally Kurt) and Olivia (Lisa LoCicero) reignite their relationship. Griffin confides in Anna (Finola Hughes). A tipsy Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) has an unexpected visitor. Morgan makes yet another impulsive decision on Friday (October 7). Sonny has a crisis of conscience. Alexis takes a turn for the worse. Kiki reveals her true feelings. Jason (Billy Miller) receives some vital information. Next week: Tracy (Jane Elliot) and Dillon share an emotional moment.

— Tequan Richmond is back as TJ for a few episodes beginning Friday, October 7.

— As they don’t have any good long-term storylines to showcase, General Hospital whipped up two new promos this week featuring the men and women on ABC’s remaining soap.