Q: I saw an article that an actor named Yale Summers died last week. His picture looked very familiar. Was he ever on a soap opera? — Melanie in Toms River, N.J.

A. Yes. Summers' first daytime role was as the good looking and rule breaking Dr. Bob Ayres on "General Hospital" in 1963. In 1972, he played Rodney Harrington in the soap "Return to Peyton Place," which was a spinoff of the hot prime ime soap "Peyton Place." The nighttime role was created by Ryan O'Neal.

In 1965, he jumped to primetime television in the show "Daktari," which took place in Africa and revolved around a veterinary practice. Summers played the young romantic lead.

While he continued to act, Summers' career focus pivoted toward his work as a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Summers was a founding member and chair of the SAG Awards Committee, and in that capacity was one of the producers of the Screen Actors Guild Awards from the kudocast's founding in 1995 until its 15th anniversary in 2009.

He served on the guild's national board of directors and the national executive committee for many years and had been national recording secretary and national treasurer at different times. Summers was also a SAG Producers Pension and Health Plans trustee and a SAG Foundation board member.

Former SAG president Ed Asner said: "Yale was a good man and a good friend who was totally dedicated to his belief in the union. He was completely unbiased and never took sides. He had a purist vision of how the guild should be run and wasn't swayed by the influence of special interest groups. He put the best interest of the guild and union first. I'm deeply sorry for his passing."

Summers was also a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, for which he served on both the Los Angeles local board and national board of directors.

The actor received SAG's Ralph Morgan Award, presented for service to the guild, in 2008.

Summers was born in New York City, graduated with honors with a degree in business from Cornell in 1955 and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Summers is survived by his wife, Suzie Summers, two children and two grandchildren.

Summers was one of many actors who toiled on soaps to serve on the SAG board. Dean Santoro (Paul Stewart on "As the World Turns") was very involved in the group. Sadly the actor, the first soap star I ever interviewed, succumbed to AIDS in the early 1970s.

Santoro was the perfect first soap interview to have. He was gracious and exuberant. Asner was also struck by his death at a young age. Kathleen Noone (Ellen on "All My Children") has also been an active member.

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