Tag

Ellen Holly

All articles tagged with #ellen holly

entertainment2 years ago

Ellen Holly, Trailblazing Soap Opera Star, Passes Away at 92

Ellen Holly, the actress known for her role as Carla Gray on "One Life to Live," has passed away at the age of 92. Holly, who made history as the first Black person to star in a soap opera, portrayed a character struggling with racial identity and gained attention for her controversial storyline. Despite her contributions to the show's success, she spoke out about being underpaid and mistreated by show executives. In addition to her soap opera work, Holly appeared on "Guiding Light" and worked as a librarian. She was also part of a family with notable activists and had been working on a documentary about her family's achievements.

obituary2 years ago

Ellen Holly, Trailblazing Black Soap Opera Star, Dies at 92

Ellen Holly, the first Black actor to star in a soap opera with a lead role on "One Life To Live," has passed away at the age of 92. Holly began her career on Broadway and went on to work with notable actors such as James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson. Her role on "One Life to Live" came after she published a column in The New York Times in 1968, highlighting the challenges she faced as a Black woman with lighter skin in the entertainment industry. She later appeared in other television series and became a librarian in the 1990s. Holly is remembered as a trailblazer and her family hopes her life and career will inspire others.

entertainment2 years ago

Trailblazing Black Actress Ellen Holly, Star of 'One Life to Live,' Passes Away at 92

Ellen Holly, the first Black actor to play a lead role on daytime television, has passed away at the age of 92. Holly gained fame for her groundbreaking role as Carla on the soap opera "One Life to Live," where her character initially passed as white before revealing her true identity as a Black woman. She used her platform to challenge racial prejudices and promote dialogue on civil rights. After retiring from acting, Holly worked as a librarian and wrote opinion columns for The New York Times. She leaves behind a legacy as a trailblazer in the entertainment industry.

entertainment2 years ago

Trailblazing Black Soap Opera Star Ellen Holly Dies at 92

Ellen Holly, the first Black actress to have a leading role on a daytime soap opera, has passed away at the age of 92. Holly's portrayal of Carla Benari on ABC's One Life to Live in the late 1960s was a groundbreaking moment in television history, as her character explored issues of racial identity and entered into a love triangle with two doctors. Despite her contributions to the show's success, Holly spoke out about being underpaid and mistreated by OLTL executives. Throughout her career, she also appeared on Broadway and in other TV shows and movies.

entertainment2 years ago

Trailblazing Soap Opera Star Ellen Holly Dies at 92

Ellen Holly, the first Black star of a daytime television series for her role in "One Life to Live," has passed away at the age of 92. Holly's portrayal of Carla Gray on the long-running soap opera addressed racial issues and paved the way for similar storylines in other shows. In her autobiography, she revealed the mistreatment and underpayment of Black actors on the set. Holly had a successful career in theater and television, including roles in "The Guiding Light" and Spike Lee's "School Daze." She later became a librarian and is survived by her family. Donations can be made in her name to The Obama Presidential Center or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

entertainment2 years ago

Pioneering Black Soap Star Ellen Holly Dies at 92

Ellen Holly, the first Black person to star in a soap opera with her lead role on One Life to Live, has passed away at the age of 92. She played the groundbreaking character Carla Gray on the hit ABC show from 1968 to 1980 and 1983 to 1985. Holly's role helped launch viewership of the soap opera into high ratings and paved the way for Black storylines on other shows. She also spoke out about being underpaid and mistreated by show executives. In addition to her acting career, Holly was a published author and a librarian.

entertainment2 years ago

Remembering Ellen Holly: Trailblazing Black Soap Opera Star Dies at 92

Ellen Holly, the first Black actress to gain stardom on a daytime soap opera for her role as Carla on ABC's One Life to Live, has passed away at the age of 92. Holly, who faced challenges in her career due to her light-skinned appearance, made significant contributions to the show and generated high ratings. Despite facing difficulties with salary, storylines, and reduced workload, she left a lasting legacy as a trailblazer for Black actresses in the industry.

entertainment2 years ago

Trailblazing Black Soap Opera Star Ellen Holly Passes Away at 92

Ellen Holly, the pioneering Black actress known for her role as Carla on the soap opera "One Life to Live," has passed away at the age of 92. Holly made history as the first Black actress to gain stardom on a daytime soap opera, but faced challenges in her career due to being a light-skinned African American. Despite the success and popularity she garnered on the show, Holly experienced difficulties with her salary, storylines, and reduced workload, leading her to quit in 1980. She later returned to the show but ultimately faced mistreatment from producers. Holly's legacy as a trailblazer in the industry will be remembered.