July 9th 2024.
It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the passing of Joan Benedict, a beloved soap and TV icon. At the age of 96, the actress, known for her roles in shows such as General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, peacefully passed away on June 24th at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. A spokesperson for her family confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, July 8th, that Joan had succumbed to complications from a stroke she had suffered.
Joan was a true talent, with a career that spanned over several decades. She made appearances in shows like Candid Camera, the original Steve Allen Show, and even took on a challenging role in a theatre production where she played Leona Helmsley. In the show Leona, she showcased her incredible abilities by performing solo within the confines of a jail cell. She also starred in the autobiographical one-woman show, The Loves of My Life.
Joan was married to John Myhers, who was best known for his role in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Sadly, John passed away in 1992 after contracting pneumonia. But Joan found love again, this time with Academy Award winner Rod Steiger. The two were married from 2000 to 2002, but their time together was cut short when Rod also succumbed to pneumonia and kidney failure after undergoing surgery for a gallbladder tumor. The couple had the opportunity to work together on two projects, A Month of Sundays and the TV film The Flying Dutchman.
Aside from her successful acting career, Joan also had a love for the stage and cinema. She appeared in several films and theatre productions throughout her life. And even though she faced heartbreak with the passing of her husbands, Joan found comfort and strength in her relationships. She was in a loving partnership with One Life to Live actor Jeremy Slate until his death in 2006 at the age of 80 from cancer. In a 2016 interview with Women Fitness, Joan fondly spoke of her husbands and partner, saying, "They were all wonderful men who respected me as an actress. It is bittersweet to remember them as they all passed away from different forms of cancer, but I have no regrets."
In recent news, it was announced that CBS is working on a new daytime drama called The Gates. The network, which is already home to popular soap operas like The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and The Restless, will be producing this new show which follows the lives of a wealthy Black family living in a gated community. The series will be written by soap opera legend Michele Val Jean, who has worked on shows such as General Hospital and Santa Barbara.
The Gates will be CBS's first new daytime serial drama since the debut of The Bold and The Beautiful in 1987, and the first on TV since Passions in 1999. While it is not yet known if the show will have a UK broadcaster, fans can join the 10,000-strong Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community to get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on the link and select 'Join Chat' to become a part of the community. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you never miss out on the latest spoilers. Michele Val Jean has an impressive resume in the daytime drama world, and we can't wait to see what The Gates has in store for us. It seems unlikely that the show will find a UK broadcaster, as other popular American soaps like The Bold and The Beautiful and General Hospital have yet to find a home on UK TV.
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