Kay Campbell Explained

Kay Campbell
Birth Name:Catherine Campbell
Birth Place:Kansas City, Missouri, US
Birth Date:August 12, 1904
Death Place:Greenwich, Connecticut, US
Occupation:American radio and television actress

Catherine "Kay" Campbell (August 12, 1904  - May 27, 1985) was an American actress.

Early years

Campbell began her career as a model in Chicago, and she was a graduate of the University of Chicago.[1]

Radio

In 1937, Campbell starred in Lucky Girl, a drama broadcast on WGN.[2] She was one of a "cast of outstanding Chicago radio talent" that performed The Living Bible, a weekly program that began September 24, 1939, on WGN.[3] In 1948, she began playing Lola Conway in Katie's Daughter on NBC.[4]

She played Laura Richardson on Lonely Women in 1942-1943 and Evey Perkins on Ma Perkins from 1945 to 1960[5] and was a member of the casta of The Flying Patrol in 1941-1942[6] and Sweet River in 1943–1944.

Television

Her first regular televised serial role was as Helene Benedict on The Guiding Light from 1957 until 1964. She went on to play Rose Pollock #3 on The Edge of Night.

She had retired following her role on The Edge of Night but she was coaxed out of retirement by soap opera writer and producer Agnes Nixon, who had created the role of "Kate" especially for Kay Campbell on the soap opera All My Children. Contrary to popular belief, she was not the first actress to play the role. Kate Harrington originated the character, was recast with Christine Thomas, who was in turn recast with Campbell. She portrayed Kate Martin from mid-1970 to her death in 1985.[1]

Publishing

From 1962 to 1970, Campbell was publisher of the New York Athletic Club Magazine.

Union

In 1946, Campbell was elected to the board of directors of the Chicago chapter of the American Federation of Radio Artists.[7]

Death

On May 27, 1985, Campbell died at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her death at age 80 followed her being injured in an automobile accident. She was survived by a son, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: Soap Opera Star Catherine Hibben Dies. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Associated Press. May 31, 1985. Ohio, Cincinnati. D-14. Newspapers.com. March 5, 2018.
  2. News: Today's Features. 4 May 2015. Chicago Daily Tribune. May 17, 1937. 17.
  3. News: Bible Stories to Be Portrayed in W-G-N Series. 4 May 2015. Chicago Sunday Tribune. September 24, 1939. Part 3-Page 7.
  4. News: Production. 5 March 2018. Broadcasting. April 5, 1948. 90.
  5. Book: Cox. Jim. The Great Radio Soap Operas. 2008. McFarland. 9781476604145. 111. 5 March 2018. en.
  6. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. 1999. McFarland & Company, Inc.. 978-0-7864-4513-4. 119.
  7. News: AFRA Meeting. 5 March 2018. Broadcasting. June 17, 1946. 44.
  8. News: Kay Campbell Is Dead at 80; Actress on 'All My Children'. 5 March 2018. The New York Times. Associated Press. May 30, 1985. https://web.archive.org/web/20180305013104/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/30/arts/kay-campbell-is-dead-at-80-actress-on-all-my-children.html. 5 March 2018.