The television veteran best known as one of the original cast members of the hit soap opera 'All My Children' has passed away at the age of 93 from natural causes.
- June 30, 2021
AceShowbiz - "All My Children" veteran Ray MacDonnell has died aged 93.
The actor, who starred as Dr. Joe Martin in the U.S. soap opera, passed away at his home in Chappaqua, New York, on 10 June (21) from natural causes.
His daughter Sarah told Michael Fairman TV that there "will be a private memorial with close relatives and family" in the coming weeks.
MacDonnell was one of the first actors cast in "All My Children" back in 1970, and worked on the show until its production moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2009. He went on to make several guest appearances, and starred in the final episode when the programme ended two years later.
MacDonnell also reprised his role for a web series revival in 2013, but it was short-lived and only aired for three months that year.
As well as his role in "All My Children", MacDonnell starred in TV series "The Edge of Night" for eight years as Philip Capice and also took on various Broadway parts.
He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys in 2004.
MacDonnell is survived by his wife Patricia and their three children, Kyle, Daniel, and Sarah.
Former "All my Children" co-star Susan Lucci penned tribute on Instagram, "He was truly our AMC patriarch - and filled our studio with warmth and professionalism - and his delicious sense of humor -there were times during scenes that I couldn't dare make eye contact with him - just a look from his eyes with that ever-present gleam - would dissolve us into peals of laughter."
She continued, "Thank you so much, Ray, for gracing our show on-screen and off - with your great presence! My heartfelt sympathy to beautiful Pat and your family - RIP, RA."
