Rachel Ames

Rachel Ames (born Rachel Kay Foulger; November 2, 1929)^[1] is an American actress. She is known for playing the role of Audrey Hardy on the ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital (1964 to 2007, returning for appearances in 2009, 2013, and 2015). At her last appearance on the show, Ames' GH role as Audrey was the longest-running and earliest appearing, spanning over 50 years and earning her three Daytime Emmy Award nominations. She received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Ames also played the role of Audrey on Port Charles, a spin off of General Hospital, from 1997 to 1998.

Early life

Ames was born Rachel Kay Foulger on November 2, 1929, in Portland, Oregon.^[2][3][4] She is the daughter of actress (and later college drama instructor) Dorothy Adams and actor Byron Foulger.^[5] At the time of her birth, her father was employed as a director for the Portland Civic Theatre.^[6] She has one younger sister, born in 1942. Through her father, she is of English descent, the fourth generation of English immigrants from Norfolk, who settled in the Salt Lake City area.^[4]

Ames spent her early life in Portland, but her family relocated to California so her parents could work, perform and teach at the Pasadena Playhouse.^[7] She graduated from University High School and later enrolled at University of California, Los Angeles, where her mother was a professor in the university's drama department.^[8][1][2] Ames performed in theater productions during high school and college. She left UCLA after eighteen months when she was signed to a film contract with Paramount Pictures.^[5]

Career

1949-1954: Early work

In 1949, Ames made her professional acting debut in Pilgrimage Play. She co-starred with her parents in One Foot in Heaven at the Pasadena Playhouse.^[8][9] She also appeared in productions of Broadway Jones, The Circle, and King of Hearts at the same venue. She co-starred with her father on stage in Cradle Song. Ames' other theater credits include The Immortalist, Mary Rose, and Golden Boy.^[9]

She transitioned into film under the stage name Judith Ames. She was under contract with Paramount Pictures for three years in the early 1950s. Her first feature film was When Worlds Collide (1951), a science-fiction thriller based on the 1933 novel of the same name. She played the role of Julie Cummings.^[10][8] The same year, she appeared in Toast to Our Brother, a short film documenting fraternity life at UCLA, where she was a student at the time.^{[citation needed]}

She had an uncredited role in the film noir The Turning Point (1952).^[11] She also had an uncredited role as Mrs. Kirk in the Western film Arrowhead (1953), co-starring with Charlton Heston.^[12] The following year, she had a supporting role as Betsy Williams in the Western comedy film Ricochet Romance (1954).^[13]

1954-1964: Television

In the mid–1950s, Ames, began appearing on television (still using the stage name Judith Ames). From 1954 to 1957, she guest starred on The Public Defender, I Led 3 Lives, Science Fiction Theatre, The Millionaire, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, You Are There, Highway Patrol, Broken Arrow, The Loretta Young Show, Cavalcade of America, General Electric Theater, Tales of Wells Fargo, and The Californians.^{[14][1][15][5]} She made a brief return to film, playing Marion Erschick in the Western Oregon Passage (1957).^[16]

From 1958 to 1959, Ames guest starred on Telephone Time, Trackdown, Perry Mason, Man Without a Gun, Lassie, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, Wagon Train, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Cimarron City, and Wanted Dead or Alive.^[5][1][15] In her only regular role on primetime television, Ames played Policewoman Sandy McAllister on The Lineup in the series' final season in 1959.^[9][1][5]

She played Alice Hainline in the Western film Gunfighters of Abilene (1960), co-starring with Buster Crabbe and Barton MacLane.^[17][18] Ames guest starred on Thriller, Laramie, Stagecoach West, Whispering Smith, 77 Sunset Strip, The Andy Griffith Show, The Fugitive, Arrest and Trial, and Ben Casey.^[5][19][1]

1964-2015: General Hospital

On February 23, 1964, Ames debuted on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital, playing Audrey Hardy (then known as Audrey March).^[1] Ames was initially put on contract for only thirteen weeks because Audrey was dying from lymphoma. Her performance was well received by the show's producers and the illness was eventually forgotten.^[20][21] Ames' tenure in the role became the longest running in the network's history, spanning five decades.^[1] The character, a registered nurse, was paired romantically with Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino).^[22] When Audrey and Steve were married, Ames' father, Byron Foulger, played the priest who performed the ceremony.^[7]

During her time on General Hospital, Ames had an uncredited role as Dr. Parkington's Nurse in the thriller film Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969), co-starring with her husband, Barry Cahill.^[23] The same year, she guest starred on Ironside and The Virginian.^[1]

In 1974, Ames was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work on General Hospital.^[24] She was nominated again in the same category in 1975.^[25] In 1979, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.^[26]

In 1997, she appeared as Audrey Hardy on ABC's special two-hour primetime preview of a new daytime soap opera Port Charles, a spin-off of General Hospital. Ames had a recurring role as Audrey on Port Charles from 1997 to 1998.^[1]

Her contract was not renewed for General Hospital in 2003, but she still appeared as a recurring character.^[27][22] In 2004, Ames was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.^[28][29][30] In 2007, Ames retired from General Hospital after 43 years. She made a return appearance as Audrey on October 20, 2009, after a two-year absence from the show.^[22]

Ames returned to General Hospital for the show's 50th anniversary on March 29, 2013.^[31][22][32] She reprised the role of Audrey again for one episode on October 30, 2015.^[32]

Personal life

Ames married Jack Genung on January 31, 1952, in Los Angeles. They had one daughter.^{[33][citation needed]}

She married her second husband, Canadian-born actor Barry Cahill in June 1968. They had a daughter and two grandchildren.^[1][8] Cahill died in April 2012. They had been married for 43 years.^[34]

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

1. ^ "About the Actors - Rachel Ames - General Hospital on Soap Central". Archived March 28, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
2. ^ Onofrio 1999, pp. 2–3.
3. ^ Aaker 2006, p. 13.
4. ^ Foulger, Bryan. "Fourth Generation". Brian Foulger Family History. Retrieved May 25, 2016. Rachel Kay Foulger, born 1929 Portland Oregon
5. ^ "Rachel Ames Signed to Play Policewoman On 'Lineup' Series – The Oil City Derrick". newspapers.com. September 19, 1959. Archived August 31, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
6. ^ Hunt, Harold (November 11, 1932). "Here and Hereafter". The Oregon Journal. p. 12. – via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ Wittbeck, Charles (July 14, 1967). "Soaper Actress Has Army of Fans". The Toledo Blade. p. 18.
8. ^ Aaker 2006, pp. 13–14.
9. ^ Rout, Nancy E. & Buckley, Ellen (1992). The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama. Todd Publications. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-915344-23-9.
10. ^ "When Worlds Collide". Turner Classic Movies. Archived April 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
11. ^ "The Turning Point". Turner Classic Movies. Archived June 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
12. ^ "Arrowhead". Turner Classic Movies. Archived June 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
13. ^ "Ricochet Romance - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived August 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
14. ^ "Public Defender Season 2 Episodes". TV Guide. Archived August 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
15. ^ "Credits: Judith Ames". TV Guide. Archived August 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
16. ^ "Oregon Passage". Turner Classic Movies. Archived May 17, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
17. ^ Vermilye 2006, p. 186.
18. ^ "Gunfighters of Abilene". Turner Classic Movies. Archived November 8, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
19. ^ "Credits: Rachel Ames". TV Guide. Archived June 19, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
20. ^ Kleiner, Dick (September 20, 1985). "Soap eliminated her tears". Rome News-Tribune. Showbeat.
21. ^ Terrace 1985, p. 62.
22. ^ "Who's Who in Port Charles: Audrey March Hardy". Soap Central. Archived April 16, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
23. ^ "Daddy's Gone A-Hunting - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived August 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
24. ^ "The First Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1974)". Soap Central. Archived August 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
25. ^ "The Second Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1975)". Soap Central. Archived August 30, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
26. ^ "The Sixth Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1979)". Soap Central. Archived May 18, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
27. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 5, 2003). "Rachel Ames discharged from GH". Soap Central. Archived August 31, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
28. ^ "The National Television Academy Announces the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients". PR Newswire. February 2, 2004. Archived June 29, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
29. ^ "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Hosts Reception In Honor Of 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards". NYC.gov. May 20, 2004. Archived June 30, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
30. ^ McClintock, Pamela (February 3, 2004). "10 clean up at Daytime Emmys". Variety. Archived June 18, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
31. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (February 15, 2013). "Rachel Ames returning for GH's 50th anniversary". Soap Central. Archived March 28, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
32. ^ "Rachel Ames Returns to General Hospital". Soap Opera Digest. October 29, 2015. Archived December 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
33. ^ "Marriages". Billboard. March 1, 1952. p. 52. Retrieved October 21, 2015.^{[dead link]}
34. ^ "Barry Cahill obituary". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.

Works cited

• Aaker, Everett (2006). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members in American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948-1959. McFarland. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-786-42476-4.
• Onofrio, Jan (1999). Oregon Biographical Dictionary. Somerset Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-0-403-09841-5.
• Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. Vol. 2. New York Zoetrope. ISBN 9780918432612.
• Vermilye, Jerry (2006). Buster Crabbe: A Biofilmography. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-49570-2.

External links

• Rachel Ames at IMDb
• Rachel Ames at the Internet Archive