One of daytime's grandest ladies died this week. Eileen Herlie (1918-2008) died on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in New York City of complications from pneumonia at the age of 90.

According to her bio on ABC.com, Ms. Herlie joined the cast of "All My Children" in 1976, playing the role of Myrtle Fargate, a character who became a second mother to Erica Kane (Susan Lucci), as well as to all the citizens of Pine Valley, offering her love, advice and wisdom. When the character first came on the scene she was a former carnival worker who knew all about the not so wonderful past of Phoebe's husband Langley. Langley, who claimed to be a professor, was a con artist supreme. Within a few years Myrtle opened up her home — almost every character lived at Myrtle's for a while — and she worked at and eventually owned the boutique where all of Pine Valley's society dames shopped.

Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Ms. Herlie worked for several years in the Scottish National Theatre and in the English theater in the company of Tyrone Guthrie. Among her first hit plays on the London stage was Jean Cocteau's "The Eagle Has Two Heads." On Broadway she starred as Queen Gertrude opposite Richard Burton's "Hamlet," and played the same role in the film with Sir Laurence Olivier. She also starred on Broadway with Ruth Gordon in "The Matchmaker," with Jackie Gleason and Walter Pidgeon in "Take Me Along," with Ray Bolger in "All American," and as Queen Mary in "Crown Matrimonial." Ms. Herlie's other film credits include "Freud" with Montgomery Clift and Sidney Lumet's "The Seagull" with Simone Signoret. Ms. Herlie guest starred as Myrtle on two other ABC daytime dramas: "Loving" and "One Life to Live." She is survived by her brother, Alfred, and her nieces and nephews.

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Jon Lindstrom (ex-Kevin, "General Hospital" and "Port Charles") is headed to "As the World Turns." On Dec. 3 Lindstrom takes on the role of mercurial Craig Montgomery. Lindstrom left the world of daytime five years ago. His run on GH and PC lasted a combined five years; in fact when he first arrived on "General Hospital" he played the twisted Ryan. After Ryan was sent away for various crimes his identical twin, Kevin, arrived. Yes, the old evil twin bit. Lindstrom was married to "Young and Restless'" Eileen Davidson (Ashley) for several years. As for Craig, the character was originated by Scott Bryce in January 1982. Bryce returned to the show in April 2007 and was let go earlier this year. Actors Hunt Block and Jeffrey Meek also took on the role. Block was twice nominated for a Daytime Emmy during his five-year run on the show. When last spotted in 2008, Craig was headed to the Cayman Islands. Expect Craig's return to cause problems for just about everybody in Oakdale.

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As any soap opera viewer knows, being happy can sound the death knell for a soap opera couple. "All My Children" viewers have seen JR (Jacob Young) and Babe (Amanda Baker) very much in love and happy in the past month. JR and Babe have decided to leave Pine Valley and make a new life with their son, Little Adam. Big Adam makes certain the couple returns just in time to be in town when a tornado lands in Pine Valley. Babe does not survive the natural disaster. With Babe's father, David (Vincent Irizarry), back in town Adam will have hell to pay. Babe's mom, Krystal (Bobbie Eakes), will mourn the loss of her eldest daughter — yes, again. Last year Babe was killed off, but it was a ruse. This death is the real deal. Babe is really, really, sincerely dead.

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Just as the folks in Pine Valley try to deal with the aftermath of the tornado, in sweeps Rebecca, the woman from Jesse's past. Laura Koffman (ex-Cassie, "One Life to Live") has the role that will cause Angie to doubt Jesse.

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It is not enough that 79-year-old Jeanne Cooper won the Best Daytime Actress Emmy this year for her role as "Young and Restless'" Kay; she has decided to take on double duty. In the early 1980s a brassy waitress named Marge, who looked just like Kay, added spice to the show. After almost 20 years the cashier is back. Kay tries to help her doppelganger, but it ends badly for Kay. The dual role starts in mid-October.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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