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| Photo Credit: ABC |
Agnes Nixon, who created the iconic daytime dramas, “All My Children” and “One life to Live” as died at the age of 93. Nixon died from complications caused by Parkinson’s Disease and a stroke reports ABC News.
“I am devastated to learn that we have lost Agnes,” former “All My Children” star Susan Lucci. wrote on Instagram. “I adored her and admired her–and I am forever grateful to her!”
Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, which broadcast “All My Children and One Life to Live on ABC, called Nixon a “television pioneer” in a statement from ABC which broadcast both shows for over 40 years.
“Agnes’ impact on daytime television and pop culture is undeniable,” he said in a statement via ABC. “She was the first to champion socially relevant topics, and the towns and characters Agnes brought to life leave an indelible imprint on television that will be remembered forever.”
Nixon started her career as a writer for the CBS daytime drama “Search For Tomorrow.” Nixon would write for “Guiding Light,” “Another World” and “As the World Turns” before being sought out by ABC in 1968 to create “One Life to Live” and “All My Children” two years later in 1970.
Nixon helped establish ABC’s daytime programming block by having a hand in creating, “Loving”and “The City in the 80s and 90s.
Nixon’s dramas were the first to tackle subjects never shown on daytime television before such as war protest, uterine cancer, domestic abuse, abortion,same-sex marriage, AIDS, Dissociative identity disorder (Multiple personality disorder) and interracial relationships.
“All My Children” and “One Life to Live” were recognized with numerous Emmy Awards throughout their runs and introduced such memorable fictional characters as Erica Kane, Victoria Lord, Adam Chandler, Brooke English, Palmer Cortlandt, Carla Hall and Angie and Jessie Hubbard.
Many of Hollywood’s brightest cut their teeth on a Nixon created drama including Lucci, Kelly Ripa, Josh Duhamel, Michael B. Jordan, Nathan Fillion, Kim Delaney, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Consuelos, Judith Light, Cameron Mathison, Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Tommy Lee Jones to name a few.
The Daytime Emmy Awards gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1992. Achievement Award at the 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards. Writing stints on “As the World Turns,” “The Guiding Light” and “Another World” followed.
“All My Children” ended in 2011 and “One Life to Live” in early 2012. The following year, both shows made a brief return with original episodes running on Hulu for one season.
Check out a memorable moment from “All My Children” featuring Eric Kane below:
