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Actress Helen Wagner, best known as Nancy Hughes in the CBS soap opera "As The World Turns," has died. She was 91 years old. Wagner opened "As the World Turns" when it premiered on April 2, 1956, with the words: "Good morning, dear." She held the Guinness World Record for playing the same role on television for the longest amount of time.
Actress Helen Wagner, best known as Nancy Hughes in the CBS soap opera As The World Turns, has died. She was 91 years old.
Wagner passed away on Saturday, According to the AP. The AP gave no further details about her death.
Wagner opened As the World Turns when it premiered on April 2, 1956, with the words: "Good morning, dear." She held the Guinness World Record for playing the same role on television for the longest amount of time.
While Wagner, who was born in Lubbuck, Texas, was seen less often in later decades, said in 1998, "It has been fun to keep the character true to herself, no matter who is writing it at the moment."
She was still part of the cast with a small presence in December 2009 when CBS announced that As the World Turns was being canceled and its last episode would air in September 2010.
"All of us at As the World Turns are deeply saddened by Helen's passing," executive producer Christopher Goutman said in a statement. "She is loved by generations of fans, and while we will miss her greatly Helen will always remain the heart and soul of As the World Turns."
In 2002 Wagner received a plaque on the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame in her hometown and in 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
She married producer Robert Willey in 1954, and over the years he served as her manager and agent.
