OBITUARY

At the end of today's episode of Guiding Light, the show put up a tribute card to Philip Dixson.

Known affectionately as Phil to all of his colleagues, Dixson, 64, died of complications from lung cancer at his home in Piermont, New York on Friday morning, November 10.

Dixson had spent the past 26 years working in the daytime television industry for the benefit of Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc. At the time of his death, he was the Senior Vice President, Managing Director of TeleVest Daytime Programs overseeing the production of As The World Turns and Guiding Light.

In November 1980, Dixson was recruited from CBS by the advertising agency Benton & Bowles, which at the time produced several Procter & Gamble dramatic serials including Another World, The Edge of Night, Search For Tomorrow and Texas. Dixson oversaw the program and production operations of all these shows at one time or another.

"With Phil’s passing, the entire daytime community and the television industry at large have lost a loyal friend," says Pat Gentile, North American Programming Manager for Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc. "He was a consummate professional even as his illness started to take its toll on him. I feel lucky to have had Phil as my mentor and personal tutor for the past 12 years and, as we all will, I’ll miss him dearly.”

Born on November 21, 1941 in Appleton, Wisconsin, Dixson began his entertainment career at the Attic Theatre in Appleton by lugging scenery and cases of soft drinks during intermission. Throughout his high school and college years, Dixson’s interest in theatre arts grew and he returned home each summer to work as a technical director, production manager or designer on 29 plays at the Attic. Dixson holds a B.A. in English from Holy Cross College and an M.F.A. from the Yale University School of Drama in Technical Production, Design, Lighting and Administration.

He was a trustee of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a member of the Board of Governors of the New York Chapter of N.A.T.A.S. and was a founding member, Vice President and Secretary of the New York Production Alliance.

He was also a huge fan and supporter of the daytime genre, its producers, actors, writers and staff and will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.