Ann Marcus Dead at 93

Ann Marcus

Emmy Award-winning writer Ann Marcus died December 3 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 93.

She had been battling several age-related conditions, said her daughter, Ellyn Lindsay.

Marcus, who wrote for programs such as Peyton Place, One Life to Live and Knots Landing, in addition to sitcoms and variety shows, served several terms on the Writers Guild of America West board. She was an outspoken activist in the fight against the graylisting of older writers in youth-oriented Hollywood, a problem she said had gotten worse in the 1990s.

Among her early writing credits were episodes of the 1960s sitcoms Dennis the Menace and Please Don't Eat the Daisies.

'Peyton Place' Star Ed Nelson Dead at 85

Actor Ed Nelson died on Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. He was 85.

Nelson had a prominent role on ABC primetime soap opera Peyton Place as Michael Rossi, a New York doctor who sets up practice in the fictional town and is quickly caught up in its romantic intrigues. Nelson appeared in 436 episodes of the show, which ran from 1964 to 1969 and was seen three times a week at its peak. He also appeared in a 1977 television movie spinoff, Murder in Peyton Place, as well as 1985's Peyton Place: The Next Generation.

Edwin Stafford Nelson was born on December 21, 1928, in New Orleans. He attended Tulane University there but left after two years to study acting in New York City. He returned to New Orleans to work in local television before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He served in the Navy as a radioman on the light cruiser Dayton.

In 1972 he completed his college degree at Tulane.

Ruby Dee Has Passed Away at age 91

Legendary stage and screen actress Ruby Dee, who won acclaim on stage, film and television and became a notable figure in the U.S. civil rights movement, died peacefully at home, a friend of the family said on Thursday.

The actress, who was 91 years old, died on Wednesday night in New Rochelle, New York, surrounded by her family.