TWO FOR TUESDAY TRIBUTE (1) - SUSAN BROWN

As the September salute to soap operas kicked off this past weekend, we got word about the deaths of two actresses who had daytime drama credentials.  This being Tuesday, we'll have  Two for Tuesday Tribute.

With this first post, we'll take a look at the sad news sent to me by Michael Trupia......

From Deadline:

Susan Brown, who is best known for her role as  Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin on 'General Hospital', died Friday after battling Alzheimer’s disease. She was 86.

'General Hospital' showrunner Frank Valentini took to Twitter to confirm her death saying, “It’s a very sad day in Port Charles as the wonderful Susan Brown (“Gail Baldwin”) passed away today. My sincerest condolences to her family and to all who knew this amazing woman.”

[Ms. Brown] stepped into the role of Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin in 1977. The character was Monica Webber’s foster mother who married Peter Hansen’s Lee Baldwin. It would only take two years before Brown would receive a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. She ended up leaving the soap on Dec. 12, 1985, but it wouldn’t be her last appearance on 'Port Charles'. She would pop in from 1989-1990 and made a comeback in 1992 when she was a recurring character.

She would also appear as the character of Victoria Lane’s mother, Janet, on 'Santa Barbara', as businesswoman Adelaide Fitzgibbons on 'As the World Turns' and in 'The Young and the Restless'. She scrubbed once more as Dr. Balwin in the General Hospital spin-off 'Port Charles'. She stayed on the soap until 2004.

She also played first First Lady Pat Nixon in the TV movie "The Final Days" as well as Nancy Reagan in "Without Warning: The James Brady Story".  

Let's take a look at the essential biography for Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin in Port Charles....

From the 'General Hospital' wiki:
Dr. Gail Adamson Baldwin came to Port Charles in 1977 as a psychiatrist. While in town, it was revealed that she was Monica Bard's former foster mother. Gail had known Monica since she was just a little girl living in the orphanage and she took Monica in and became her foster mother. Gail later met Lee Baldwin and discovered that they were both mourning the loss of their spouses. This bonded them as they grieved together. Lee's late wife Caroline Chandler Baldwin, had been lost at sea with her son and in order to help him move past his grief, Gail contacted Lee's son, Scott Baldwin. Scott came to town, got a job as a clerk at General Hospital and eventually fell in love with Laura Webber.

In the meantime, Gail counseled Monica about her tumultuous love life. Monica was torn between two lovers, Alan Quartermaine and Rick Webber and Gail was there to give her daughter much needed advice and guidance. Gail was shocked, saddened and appalled when she found out that her late husband Greg, had taken advantage of Monica and raped her when she was younger, but with the hard truth finally out, Monica and Gail were able to reconcile. Later when Monica gave birth to her son Alan Quartermaine Jr. during a snow storm, Gail was there and helped deliver her grandson.

In 1980, Gail and Lee married and became very involved in Scotty and Laura's love life, even to the extent that when Laura tried to divorce Scott, Lee burned up the divorce papers. In 1983, Lee ran against Luke Spencer for mayor of Port Charles. Lee hired Scott as his campaign manager and Scott played dirty, going after Luke, (the man who was responsible for destroying his marriage to Laura) hard. Scott planned on digging up and exposing lots of dirt on Luke, and he even planned to use Luke's sister Bobbie Spencer in his quest to bring Luke down. When Lee heard of his son's dirty tactics, he fired him as his campaign manager. Luke won the race, but resigned shortly thereafter and Lee became the mayor and Gail became the First Lady of Port Charles. A few years later, Lee and Gail left town.

In 1994, Gail and Lee were shocked to discover that young Karen Wexler was their granddaughter. She was conceived after Scott had an affair with his secretary Rhonda Wexler. In 1997, Scott returned to Port Charles with his young daughter named Serena Baldwin. Serena is Scott's daughter with the late Dominique Stanton and she was carried by surrogate Lucy Coe, who adopted her after Dominique's death. Gail and Lee were overjoyed to see Scott and their granddaughter Serena again.

A year later, when Dr. Julie Devlin was accused of being a serial killer who was attacking patients at General Hospital, Lee worked as her attorney and got her acquitted by placing the blame on Dr. Eve Lambert. However, a tape was discovered revealing that Julie really was the killer and when Julie was caught, Lee became her guardian. While under their care, Gail tried everything she could to get Julie committed to Ferncliffe, to get the help she so desperately needed.

In 1999, Lee suffered from a Pulminary Embolism, devastating Gail and many others, but due to the care and support of his loved ones, he made a full recovery. Also in 1999, Gail and Lee were overjoyed to gain another granddaughter when Scott and his then-wife, Lucy, adopted a baby girl. Gail was further honored when the baby was named, Christina Gail Baldwin at her christening. In 2003, Gail and Lee were devastated when Karen was killed after being struck by a speeding car. Gail comforted a grieving Scott, and helped him make the decision to donate Karen's blood to help save Lucy's life. The following year, when Lila Quartermaine passed away in her sleep, Gail and Lee attended the funeral and paid their respects. Following Lila's funeral, Gail quietly faded into the background and was written off the canvas.

She was widowed when Lee died in July 2017.

I found it interesting that she played First Ladies in two Republican administrations, Pat Nixon and Nancy Reagan.  As those were TV movies featuring historical actors who would be played by other actors in regular TV series.  To avoid recastaway problems, I usually send those productions off to any one of the other TV dimensions.  And in this case, since there were no overlap historical characters, it amuses me to have both "The Final Days" and "Without Warning: The James Brady Story" exist in the same TV dimension.  And if this Pat Nixon and this Nancy Reagan ever met face to face....?

Good night and may God bless, Susan Brown....