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Ellen Holly

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Name
  
Ellen Holly

Role
  
Actress

Books
  
One life


Ellen Holly Ellen Holly Newcomer to Broadway she later played the


Born
  
January 16, 1931 (age 93) (
1931-01-16
)
New York City, New York, United States

Movies
  
School Daze, 10 - 000 Black Men Named G, Take a Giant Step, Cops and Robbers

Similar People
  
Agnes Nixon, Robert Townsend, Spike Lee, Aram Avakian, Philip Leacock

We love soaps tv extra ellen holly


Ellen Holly (born January 16, 1931) is an American actress.

Contents

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Ellen Holly on realizing that she was having issues at "One Life to Live"


Career

A life member of The Actors Studio, Holly began her career on stage appearing in the Broadway productions of Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright and A Hand Is on the Gate before embarking on a television and film career. She guest starred on Sam Benedict and The Nurses before landing the role of actress-turned-Judge Carla Gray on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, a role she played from 1968 to 1980, and again from 1983 to 1985. Holly came to the attention of Agnes Nixon, the creator of One Life to Live, after writing a letter to the editor of The New York Times about what it was like to be a light-skinned African American. Nixon created the role of Carla and offered Holly a role on her new show.

When Holly began on One Life to Live in October 1968, her African-American heritage was not publicized as part of the storyline; her character, named Carla Benari, was a touring actress of apparently Italian American heritage. Carla and a Caucasian physician, Dr. Jim Craig, fell in love and became engaged. But she was falling for an African-American doctor. When the two kissed onscreen, it was reported that the switchboards at ABC were busy by fans who thought that the show had shown an African-American and Caucasian kissing. The fact that Carla was actually the African-American "Clara Grey" posing as Caucasian was revealed when Sadie Grey, played by Lillian Hayman, was identified as her mother. Sadie would eventually convince her daughter to embrace her heritage and tell the truth.

Ellen Holly One Life to Live Where Are They Now Ellen Holly One Life to Live

Holly left the series in 1981, but returned in 1983. According to her autobiography, One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress, she was fired from the show by new executive producer Paul Rauch in 1985. Holly returned to daytime in the long-term recurring role of a judge on Guiding Light from 1989-1993. She made a return to the small screen in 2002, when she appeared as "Selena Frey" in the made-for-cable film 10,000 Black Men Named George, alongside Andre Braugher and Mario Van Peebles.

Personal life

Holly is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Offscreen, Holly had a relationship with costar Roger Hill, known for his role as Cyrus in the cult film The Warriors.





Ellen Holly WE LOVE SOAPS TV Extra Ellen Holly YouTube

Filmography

Actress
1968
One Life to Live (TV Series) as
Carla Gray / Carla Hall
- Wed Jan 5 2011 (2011) - Carla Gray
2002
10,000 Black Men Named George (TV Movie) as
Selena Frey
1988
Guiding Light (TV Series) as
Judge Frances Collier / Judge Collier
1989
In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) as
Ruth Peterson
- Lessons Learned (1990) - Ruth Peterson
- Brotherly Love: Part 2 (1990) - Ruth Peterson
- Brotherly Love: Part 1 (1990) - Ruth Peterson
- Intruders (1989) - Ruth Peterson
1988
School Daze as
Odrie McPherson
1986
Spenser: For Hire (TV Series) as
Betty Tymes
- Brother to Dragons (1986) - Betty Tymes
1985
ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) as
Mrs. Robbins
- High School Narc (1985) - Mrs. Robbins
1978
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force (TV Movie) as
Amy
1974
Great Performances (TV Series) as
Regan
- King Lear (1974) - Regan
1973
Cops and Robbers as
Ms. Wells
1963
The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) as
Natalia Cortez / Helena Fuentes
- The Skill in These Hands (1964) - Natalia Cortez
- The Unwanted (1963) - Helena Fuentes
1964
Dr. Kildare (TV Series) as
Lucille Mann
- The Middle of Ernie Mann (1964) - Lucille Mann
1963
Sam Benedict (TV Series) as
Elissa Reagan
- Accomplice (1963) - Elissa Reagan
1963
The Defenders (TV Series) as
Janet Lamb
- Man Against Himself (1963) - Janet Lamb
1959
Take a Giant Step as
The Girl in the Bar
1957
The Big Story (TV Series) as
Betty
- Bob Thomas of the Philadelphia Inquirer (1957) - Betty
Self
2018
Foundation Interviews (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Guest
- Ellen Holly on the Importance of Her Early "One Life to Live" Storyline (2018) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Holly on Realizing That She Was Having Issues at "One Life to Live" (2018) - Self - Guest
- Ellen Holly on Her Decision to Leave "One Life to Live" the First Time (2018) - Self - Guest
2018
The Interviews: An Oral History of Television (TV Series) as
Self
- Ellen Holly (2018) - Self
1999
Intimate Portrait (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Agnes Nixon (1999) - Self
1979
The 2nd Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV Special) as
Self
1978
Family Feud (TV Series) as
Self - Celebrity Contestant
- Valentine's Day Special (1978) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
1974
The 1st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Presenter of Emmy Awards
1973
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) as
Self - Co-Host
- Episode #13.80 (1973) - Self - Co-Host

References

Ellen Holly Wikipedia


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