Donald May, best known for the role of attorney Adam Drake on “The Edge of Night” TV series, has died at 94.
May died Friday at his home in Kent, New York, according to published reports. His second wife, Carla Borelli, revealed that he was recently diagnosed with larynx cancer. He also suffered a stroke five years ago.
May’s first professional acting gig was in a play in Albany, New York. He kicked off TV career in 1956 with a role as Cadet Lt. Charles C. Thompson in “West Point,” after serving with the U.S. Navy in the Korean War.
He also starred in popular shows like Western series “Colt .45,” and “The Roaring 20s,” in which he played New York reporter Pat Garrison who followed gangland crime.
May appeared on 2,840 episodes as Adam Drake in “The Edge of Night” over 10 years, splitting his time between the soap opera and off-Broadway productions.
May died Friday at his home in Kent, New York, according to published reports. His second wife, Carla Borelli, revealed that he was recently diagnosed with larynx cancer. He also suffered a stroke five years ago.
May’s first professional acting gig was in a play in Albany, New York. He kicked off TV career in 1956 with a role as Cadet Lt. Charles C. Thompson in “West Point,” after serving with the U.S. Navy in the Korean War.
He also starred in popular shows like Western series “Colt .45,” and “The Roaring 20s,” in which he played New York reporter Pat Garrison who followed gangland crime.
May appeared on 2,840 episodes as Adam Drake in “The Edge of Night” over 10 years, splitting his time between the soap opera and off-Broadway productions.
- 1/31/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Donald May, a major Daytime actor during the 1960s and ’70s through his longrunning role as attorney Adam Drake on The Edge of Night, died Friday, Jan. 28, at his home in Kent, New York. He was 92.
His death was announced by his family on a Facebook page devoted to The Edge of Night.
From 1967 to 1977, May played the good-guy attorney Adam Drake, first making his mark on the soap in a notable 1968 episode during which May delivered the episode’s only dialogue: a 22-minute trial summation in which he argued for the innocence of his client, a singer accused of murder. The jury found the client guilty and sentence her to be hanged, but Drake went into detective mode to find the real killer, saving the singer at the last minute.
May joined The Edge of Night following a steady TV career that began in 1956 with a starring role in...
His death was announced by his family on a Facebook page devoted to The Edge of Night.
From 1967 to 1977, May played the good-guy attorney Adam Drake, first making his mark on the soap in a notable 1968 episode during which May delivered the episode’s only dialogue: a 22-minute trial summation in which he argued for the innocence of his client, a singer accused of murder. The jury found the client guilty and sentence her to be hanged, but Drake went into detective mode to find the real killer, saving the singer at the last minute.
May joined The Edge of Night following a steady TV career that began in 1956 with a starring role in...
- 1/31/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
1981: Another World's Cecile and Jamie were held captive.
1986: The Young and the Restless' Sven charmed Katherine.
1994: All My Children's Erica broke down at Mona's grave.
2002: Barbara interrupted Hal and Emily's wedding on As the World Turns'."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1969: On The Doctors, amnesiac Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) realized she was becoming good friends with the husband she didn't remember, Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon).
1980: On Texas, Reena Cook (Carla Borelli) was pleased when Kevin (Lee Patterson) vowed to make their marriage...
1986: The Young and the Restless' Sven charmed Katherine.
1994: All My Children's Erica broke down at Mona's grave.
2002: Barbara interrupted Hal and Emily's wedding on As the World Turns'."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1969: On The Doctors, amnesiac Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) realized she was becoming good friends with the husband she didn't remember, Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon).
1980: On Texas, Reena Cook (Carla Borelli) was pleased when Kevin (Lee Patterson) vowed to make their marriage...
- 8/12/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1981: Gh's Laura was offered the "Miss Star Eyes" job.
1982: Barrington and Burgess plotted on Capitol.
1987: Guiding Light's Johnny Bauer saw it snow.
2007: A dollhouse came to life on As the World Turns."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) called Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) and told him to meet him at the Blue Whale because "the worst possible thing that could happen, has happened." At the Inn, Sam gleefully announced that Laura, Roger's wife, had come home.
1982: Barrington and Burgess plotted on Capitol.
1987: Guiding Light's Johnny Bauer saw it snow.
2007: A dollhouse came to life on As the World Turns."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) called Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) and told him to meet him at the Blue Whale because "the worst possible thing that could happen, has happened." At the Inn, Sam gleefully announced that Laura, Roger's wife, had come home.
- 12/22/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1981: Another World's Cecile and Jamie were held captive.
1986: The Young and the Restless' Sven charmed Katherine.
1994: All My Children's Erica broke down at Mona's grave.
2002: As the World Turns' Barbara interrupted Hal and
Emily's wedding."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1969: On The Doctors, amnesiac Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) realized she was becoming good friends with the husband she didn't remember, Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon).
1980: On Texas, Reena Cook (Carla Borelli) was pleased when Kevin (Lee Patterson) vowed to make their marriage work regardless of living in Houston or Bay City.
1981: On Another World,...
1986: The Young and the Restless' Sven charmed Katherine.
1994: All My Children's Erica broke down at Mona's grave.
2002: As the World Turns' Barbara interrupted Hal and
Emily's wedding."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1969: On The Doctors, amnesiac Althea Davis (Elizabeth Hubbard) realized she was becoming good friends with the husband she didn't remember, Nick Bellini (Gerald Gordon).
1980: On Texas, Reena Cook (Carla Borelli) was pleased when Kevin (Lee Patterson) vowed to make their marriage work regardless of living in Houston or Bay City.
1981: On Another World,...
- 8/12/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1955: Search for Tomorrow's Joanne married Arthur.
1981: Another World's Sandy told Mac that he was his son.
2003: As the World Turns' Jack tracked Carly down in Montana.
2004: General Hospital's Carly interrupted Jason and Sam's wedding."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1944: NBC Radio aired the final episode of its soap opera Kitty Foyle, which starred Julie Stevens as Kitty.
1955: On Search for Tomorrow, Joanne Barron...
1981: Another World's Sandy told Mac that he was his son.
2003: As the World Turns' Jack tracked Carly down in Montana.
2004: General Hospital's Carly interrupted Jason and Sam's wedding."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1944: NBC Radio aired the final episode of its soap opera Kitty Foyle, which starred Julie Stevens as Kitty.
1955: On Search for Tomorrow, Joanne Barron...
- 6/12/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1981: Gh's Laura was offered the "Miss Star Eyes" job.
1982: Barrington and Burgess plotted on Capitol.
1987: Gl's Johnny saw it snow. 2007: A dollhouse came
to life on Atwt."History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) called Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) and told him to meet him at the Blue Whale because "the worst possible thing that could happen, has happened." At the Inn, Sam gleefully announced that Laura, Roger's wife, had come home.
1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) had a hard time processing the revelation Hannah...
1982: Barrington and Burgess plotted on Capitol.
1987: Gl's Johnny saw it snow. 2007: A dollhouse came
to life on Atwt."History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) called Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) and told him to meet him at the Blue Whale because "the worst possible thing that could happen, has happened." At the Inn, Sam gleefully announced that Laura, Roger's wife, had come home.
1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) had a hard time processing the revelation Hannah...
- 12/21/2017
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
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