Helen Wagner American actress Date of Birth: 03.09.1918 Country: USA

1. Helen Wagner
2. Guinness World Record Holder
3. A Witness to History
4. A Rollercoaster Journey on the Show
5. Personal Life and Final Years on the Show
6. Legacy

Helen Wagner

Helen Wagner was an American actress best known for her role as Nancy Hughes McClosky in the soap opera "As the World Turns". She also appeared in another popular soap opera, "Guiding Light", in the early 1950s. Born in Lubbock, Texas, Wagner made her debut as Nancy Hughes on April 2, 1956, and continued to play the role until her death.

Guinness World Record Holder

In the Guinness Book of Records, Wagner is credited with the longest portrayal of a single character on television. She uttered the first line of the first episode of the series, saying "Good morning, darling," and witnessed numerous significant changes in the show over its 50-year run. "As the World Turns" initially aired as 30-minute episodes, becoming one of the first soap operas to adopt this format, as previous episodes were only 15 minutes long. Advertisers were initially skeptical about the change, but soon realized that the creators of the show had made the right decision, as the ratings skyrocketed in the first three years.

A Witness to History

On November 22, 1963, Wagner unwittingly became a participant in one of the most significant events in global broadcasting. Approximately 10 minutes into the episode, a special news bulletin interrupted the show to announce the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. The news was conveyed through audio only, as the segment about the event had not been prepared yet. Wagner and her co-star Santos Ortega learned about the tragic news during the break.

A Rollercoaster Journey on the Show

Wagner had to say goodbye to Nancy Hughes several times throughout her career on the show. Sometimes it was voluntary, and other times it was not. Just six months after the show began, creator Irna Phillips fired Wagner because she didn't like how the actress poured coffee. However, the immense pressure from viewers prompted Phillips to bring Wagner back to the show. In the early 1980s, Wagner left the show on her own accord when a new producer decided to feature the Hughes family less in an attempt to attract younger viewers. She returned to the show in 1985.

Personal Life and Final Years on the Show

In 1986, Wagner's stage husband, Don MacLaughlin, passed away. After some time, Nancy Hughes remarried, but her second husband also passed away shortly after. Following the death of her second husband, Wagner took a backseat for a long period of time. She made a comeback in 2004 and appeared on the show an average of three times per month from 2005 to 2007. Many speculated that this decrease in appearances was due to health problems faced by her real-life husband, Robert Willey. However, it was later revealed that Wagner had been taken off the regular cast and would only be used for special occasions.

Legacy

Helen Wagner passed away on May 1, 2010, just a few months before the filming of the final episode of "As the World Turns", which had been on the air for 54 years. Many fans had hoped that Wagner, who delivered the first line in the series, would be given the honor of delivering the last line as well: "Good night, darling."