Ray MacDonnell (March 5, 1928 – June 10, 2021) was an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Joe Martin, patriarch of the Martin family, on the daytime soap opera ''

All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2013, via Hulu, Hulu Plus, and ...

'', a role he played for 40 years.

Early years

MacDonnell was born on March 5, 1928, in

Lawrence, Massachusetts Lawrence is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Merrimack River. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 89,143. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and Nort ...

. He attended

Amherst College Amherst College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. Founded in 1821 as an attempt to relocate Williams College by its then-president Zephaniah Swift Moore, Amherst is the third oldest institution of higher educati ...

subsequently receiving a Fulbright Scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Career

MacDonnell received a Daytime Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2004. Prior to appearing on ''

'', he played Philip Capice on the soap ''

The Edge of Night ''The Edge of Night'' is an American television mystery crime drama series and soap opera, created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble Productions. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that netwo ...

'' from 1961 to 69. Other credits included ''Mame'' on Broadway from 1966 to 1970, and as Dick Tracy in 1967. In 2009, MacDonnell retired from ''

''. Production of the show moved from New York to California, marking the end of his 40-year run. His retirement from

left

Susan Lucci Susan Victoria Lucci (born December 23, 1946) is an American actress, television host, author and entrepreneur, best known for portraying Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama ''All My Children'' during that show's entire network run from 1970 ...

, portrayer of

Erica Kane Erica Kane is a fictional character from the American ABC Daytime soap opera ''All My Children''. The character was portrayed by actress Susan Lucci from her debut on January 16, 1970, until the last broadcast television episode on September 23, ...

, as the only original cast member on the show. In 2011, it was announced that MacDonnell along with on-screen wife,

Lee Meriwether Lee Ann Meriwether (born May 27, 1935) is an American actress, former model, and the winner of the Miss America 1955 pageant. She has appeared in many films and television shows, notably as Betty Jones, the title character's secretary and daught ...

as Ruth Martin, would be making a limited return to ''

''. MacDonnell also returned to All My Children for its finale which aired on September 23, 2011.

Personal life and death

In 1961, MacDonnell married Patricia Anne Broderick. They had three children- Sarah, Kyle, and Daniel. He died at his home in

Chappaqua, New York Chappaqua ( ) is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of New Castle, in northern Westchester County, New York, United States. It is approximately north of New York City. The hamlet is served by the Chappaqua station of the Metro-N ...

, on June 10, 2021, at the age of 93.Ray MacDonnell Dies: Actor Who Appeared On ‘All My Children’ For More Than 40 Years Was 93
/ref>

References

External links

*
Obituary
1928 births 2021 deaths American expatriates in the United Kingdom American male film actors American male soap opera actors Amherst College alumni Male actors from Massachusetts People from Lawrence, Massachusetts {{US-tv-actor-1920s-stub