Wednesday, July 23, 2008

RIP: LARRY HAINES (STU; SEARCH FOR TOMORROW)

Larry Haines, a stage and television actor who gave a Tony Award-nominated performance as the humane Dr. Dreyfuss in Promises, Promises, a 1968 musical version of the Billy Wilder film "The Apartment," died July 17 in Delray Beach, FL. He was 89.... He brought in a steady income for 35 years playing the part of Stu Bergman on the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow." The actor joined the show two months after it premiered in 1951. He won two Emmys as Best Actor on a Daytime Series, and had a dedicated fan in First Lady Pat Nixon, who called him her favorite soap actor.

Entire Playbill obit, here.

Larry also appeared on Another World and Loving, and originated the role of Joe Roberts in 1950 on Guiding Light's radio broadcast. In 1997, he was personally invited by the producers of the Daytime Emmys to introduce and voice a tribute package honoring the show's 60th anniversary.

The self-deprecating actor joked at the time, "I played handsome, dashing reporter Joe Roberts. Remember, it was on radio."

Larry was also known to primetime audiences for several appearances on the sitcom, Maude. (Details, here)

To see him in his signature role as Stu, check out the current episodes of Search for Tomorrow on the AOL/PGP Classic Soaps Channel.

All of us at P&G Productions send our heartfelt condolences to Larry Haines' family and his many fans.

1 comment:

Jennifer said...

thank you for your tribute to Larry Haines. He will be missed.
I blogged about him and other comic characters on soaps here:
http://www.redroom.com/blog/jenniferkate/as-sand-goes-through-hourglass-theres-always-someone-make-us-laugh
Where I also mention PG shows like Another World and Guiding Light.