"Bold & Beautiful" Darlene Conley (Sally Spectra) has died...

[HourglassGuy]

I wasn't sure where I should post this, so if this isn't the appropriate forum, feel free to move it.

Anyway, I just read that Darlene Conley (Sally Spectra) from CBS's "The Bold & The Beautiful" died last night in a Los Angeles hospital.

I am heartbroken. This woman is a part of my childhood!

God, I remember being a little boy and my mother drawing the drapes closed in the middle of the afternoon to watch Y&R and B&B. I was always bored to tears with soaps at that young age, but everytime Sally popped on screen, I was just fascinated. I had no clue what was going on... I was too young. But I loved watching her. I loved hearing her speak, and I loved that bright red hair. She had such a presence that just made you watch, and I loved her.

I don't watch the show, but it was always comforting to know that she was still there, and if I so desired, I could flip the channel and there would be Sally, just as flamoyant and crazy and outrageous as ever. The bright red lips, the bright red hair. The way she said Brrrrrrooke's name.

This woman better get an incredible farewell! She is my youngest soap memory.

 

[pianoman331]

I'm sorry to hear that. She was always my favorite character too on the B&B. May God bless her soul.

 

[DryIce]

Very sad. I've been watching B&B daily since around the time Darlene debuted as Sally Spectra, so she's been a part of my life for the past 18 years. She was one of the greatest comic relief characters in soap history, but was also capable of delivering very poignant performances when her storyline called for high drama. Who will forget all the great sparring between her and Susan Flannery's Stephanie or Dan McVicar's Clark (whom Sally affectionately nick-named "Bucky Boy")? Or dressing in drag to infiltrate Forrester Creations? One of her most memorable moments was when she met her lust object -- Fabio -- and proclaimed, "Oh my Fabio, it's God!"

Darlene has had a rough time these past couple of years, as has her character, Sally. In real life, she suffered a long and difficult recovery from a broken leg and was just getting back on track from that when she was diagnosed with cancer. On B&B, she suffered the loss of her beloved right-hand man, Saul, when the actor who played him died suddenly in real life. Sally's daugher, Macy (played by Bobbie Eakes, who has been on AMC as Krystal the past three years), died TWICE. And in July of last year, Sally's honorary daughter, Darla, was killed when she was run down by a car in one of the most tragic, high profile soap tear-jerkers of 2006.

May Darlene -- and Sally -- rest in peace.

 

[Andross]

Bye Sally. Unfortunately even soap stars are not immortal. Stephanie might be next...

 

[HourglassGuy]

Bye Sally. Unfortunately even soap stars are not immortal. Stephanie might be next...

I think that the next will be Frances Reid (Alice, Days). She's really getting up there... can barely even speak her lines.

 

[Paws]

I remember my sisters were into that soap when it was their turn for watching TV while I wanted to watch Simpsons that aired at the same time.

Saying you willingly watched this is just... gay?

 

[HourglassGuy]

I remember my sisters were into that soap when it was their turn for watching TV while I wanted to watch Simpsons that aired at the same time.

Saying you willingly watched this is just... gay?

Hmm, you don't say?

I find it quite rude of you to come into a thread mourning the passing of a beloved daytime icon and just talk about how gay it is. Moron.

 

[irydion]

I didn't like that (kind of) show(s) -people, though, were indeed beautiful- but as my mom and sis were great fans of it, I've seen / heard a lot of it. So it's part of my memories as well. Sad

 

[Paws]

My comment was aimed towards a fictional soap for couch potatoes, not the humans that acted in it.

 

[HourglassGuy]

My comment was aimed towards a fictional soap for couch potatoes, not the humans that acted in it.

LoL, why are soap viewers automatically considered couch potatoes? Because we watch a television show that happens to air during the day?

Back in the day, yes, women didn't work and stayed home and watched soaps. Do you not realize that the social climate has changed since then? Women are working as much as men. Some record the shows during the day while they're at work, and others work third shift and have days off.

Either way, that's an unfair generalization.

 

[DryIce]

LoL, why are soap viewers automatically considered couch potatoes? Because we watch a television show that happens to air during the day?

Back in the day, yes, women didn't work and stayed home and watched soaps. Do you not realize that the social climate has changed since then? Women are working as much as men. Some record the shows during the day while they're at work, and others work third shift and have days off.

Either way, that's an unfair generalization.

Well said, HourglassGuy.

I get up at 4am every day and watch the entire ABC line-up plus "Days of Our Lives" every morning on Soapnet while I'm doing chores around the house. Two days a week, I watch an entire week's worth of both Y&R and B&B while working out at home, and have the ripped abs to show for it. Plus, I work 10-12 hour days in addition to making time for my husband, my family and "kids," and leading an active social life. If that describes a "couch potato," than I am guilty as charged.

The daytime soaps are superior to anything on prime time television. The actual production standards are lower, but the acting far outranks anything you see on nighttime shows. The stories are well-written and intricately layered. Plus, soaps have always been pioneers when it comes to addressing timely and controversial social issues, which primetime then usually copies in contrived fashion.

Contrast that with the line-up of banal sitcoms, weary crime dramas, hackneyed reality shows, and sports events (can anything be more boring than watching a bunch of grown men chase a ball around for 3 hours like a bunch of neanderthal idiots?) that primetime has to offer. I'll take the daytime soaps anytime!

 

[HourglassGuy]

Well said, HourglassGuy.

I get up at 4am every day and watch the entire ABC line-up plus "Days of Our Lives" every morning on Soapnet while I'm doing chores around the house. Two days a week, I watch an entire week's worth of both Y&R and B&B while working out at home, and have the ripped abs to show for it. Plus, I work 10-12 hour days in addition to making time for my husband, my family and "kids," and leading an active social life. If that describes a "couch potato," than I am guilty as charged.

The daytime soaps are superior to anything on prime time television. The actual production standards are lower, but the acting far outranks anything you see on nighttime shows. The stories are well-written and intricately layered. Plus, soaps have always been pioneers when it comes to addressing timely and controversial social issues, which primetime then usually copies in contrived fashion.

Contrast that with the line-up of banal sitcoms, weary crime dramas, hackneyed reality shows, and sports events (can anything be more boring than watching a bunch of grown men chase a ball around for 3 hours like a bunch of neanderthal idiots?) that primetime has to offer. I'll take the daytime soaps anytime!

Please marry me, LoL

Honestly, soap operas are my life. I have loved this genre for as long as I can remember. I started watching Days at age 9 and have a complete love and respect for this entertainment genre. And despite all that, I still work a fulltime job, 12 hours a day. I'm hardly a 'couch potato.'

What do you think of the divine miss Victoria Rowell (Drucilla) on Y&R? That lady is WOW! I'm also loving Martha Madison (Belle) on Days right now... this custody story is kicking into high gear. Thank God for Hogan Sheffer reviving this show!

 

[smalllittleboy]

hmm are you sure she is dead? death and popcorn usually lists dead actors and actresses right away, and i don't see it listed on their site http://www.deathandpopcorn.com could be a rumor you heard !!

 

[DryIce]

Victoria Rowell is one of the most overlooked actresses on soaps. She has been playing Dru for the better part of the past 17 years and is capable of doing both comedy as well as high drama. I can't believe that gal has never won an Emmy. Perhaps this will be her year.

I much prefer Martha Madison in the role of Belle than Kirsten Storms, though I must say that Storms is doing a bang-up job on "GH" as a scheming vixen -- a complete 180 from the character of Belle.

Word has it that Phillip is going to be molded into one of the show's two new villains -- a Victor Kiriakis redux of sorts -- which oughta be interesting. E.J., of course, will be carrying the mantle of DiMera villainy on the show. Given that he has been revealed as the son of Stefano DiMera and Susan Banks, it would be interesting to see Eileen Davidson come back in the role of Susan and/or Kristen now that her run on "Y&R" has ended.

 

[HourglassGuy]

Victoria Rowell is one of the most overlooked actresses on soaps. She has been playing Dru for the better part of the past 17 years and is capable of doing both comedy as well as high drama. I can't believe that gal has never won an Emmy. Perhaps this will be her year.

I much prefer Martha Madison in the role of Belle than Kirsten Storms, though I must say that Storms is doing a bang-up job on "GH" as a scheming vixen -- a complete 180 from the character of Belle.

Word has it that Phillip is going to be molded into one of the show's two new villains -- a Victor Kiriakis redux of sorts -- which oughta be interesting. E.J., of course, will be carrying the mantle of DiMera villainy on the show. Given that he has been revealed as the son of Stefano DiMera and Susan Banks, it would be interesting to see Eileen Davidson come back in the role of Susan and/or Kristen now that her run on "Y&R" has ended.

I'm hoping like hell for Eileen Davidson to return to Days. Her run on Days as Kristen was a tour de force performance like no other in the 90's.

As for Victoria Rowell, I really think/hope that this will be her year. She's been a lead performer this year, and the woman is a goddess. I love her.

 

[DryIce]

hmm are you sure she is dead? death and popcorn usually lists dead actors and actresses right away, and i don't see it listed on their site http://www.deathandpopcorn.com could be a rumor you heard !!

I read it this a.m. on dlisted.com, and Wikipedia has updated their biographical page on Ms. Conley today to include her death from cancer yesterday.

 

[Cinilcjim]

I'm saddened to hear the passing of Darlene Conley/Sally Spectra. I am a big fan of B&B and of her. I've heard that she had surgery. One of her most touching performances was when Sally was looking through the hospital window helplessly as Darla died with Thorne standing over Darla's deathbed. Darlene's character, Sally, suffered so many losses, I'm wondering how the show is going to write her off the show. She was certainly my favorite character on the show and I too grew up watching her and will miss her.

 

[HourglassGuy]

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ACTRESS DARLENE CONELY
DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT

January 15, 2007, LOS ANGELES, CA … Internationally renowned daytime drama
actress Darlene Conley, who played the vividly colored, comedic and tough
dame with a heart of gold, Sally Spectra on The Bold and the Beautiful,
died on January 14, 2007 from cancer.

“Darlene understood better than anyone that each moment of airtime was
precious”, said Bradley P. Bell, Executive Producer and Head Writer of The
Bold and the Beautiful. “She constantly entertained us with every move,
every breath, every inflection of her voice. Whether she was the villain,
the damsel, the sexpot, or the comedienne, Darlene was brilliant. An
extraordinary actress of film, radio, stage and television, my family had
the privilege and honor of Darlene gracing our shows for three decades.
She was truly one-of-a-kind. We will miss her beyond measure.”

Born in Chicago, Illinois on July 18, 1934, of Irish-German heritage, she
was discovered at age 15 by legendary Broadway impresario Jed Harris who
cast her as the Irish maid in a touring production of the 19th century
melodrama The Heiress, which starred Basil Rathbone. After graduating
high school, she toured the country with classical theater companies
before appearing in Shakespearean roles on Broadway with the Helen Hayes
Repertory Theater. She later appeared in a Broadway revival of the Night
of the Iguana, with Richard Chamberlain, and in David Merrick’s musical
The Baker’s Wife. Her Los Angeles theater credits included Cyrano de
Bergerac and Night of the Iguana (both with Chamberlain), The Time of the
Cuckoo with Jean Stapleton and Ring Around the Moon with Michael York.

Alfred *beep* cast Conley in her first feature film, The Birds, and she
worked with John Cassavetes in Faces and Minnie & Moscowitz. Conley also
appeared in The Valley of the Dolls, Play it as it Lays and Lady Sings the
Blues, as well as Tough Guys, with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas.

Conley has appeared in a host of made for television films, mini-series
and vintage prime-time dramatic series including Robert Kennedy & His
Times, The Fighter, The Choice, Return Engagement and The President’s
Plane is Missing as well as The Cosby Show, Murder, She Wrote, Cagney &
Lacey, Little House on the Prairie, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Highway
to Heaven.

Daytime television became home to Conley, who once said “It (daytime) is
really the best medium today for women of a certain age to do something
really flashy; it’s where what we do well as actresses matters.” Conley
portrayed Edith Baker on Days of Our Lives, Louie on Capitol and Trixie
Monahan on General Hospital before being given the role of the nefarious
Rose de Ville, by the late William J. Bell, on The Young and Restless.
When Bell co-created The Bold and the Beautiful with his wife Lee
Phillip-Bell, he envisioned a special role for Conley, the role of Sally
Spectra. Conley showcased her dramatic range and abilities with the
character, and over the years has portrayed an exotic repertoire of
offbeat flamboyant characters within the role. As Sally, Conley was a
master of disguises including Mae West, a German spy, an Italian gigolo, a
nun, and even a rendition of another B&B character, Massimo Marone.

For her portrayal of Sally Spectra on The Bold and the Beautiful, Conley
was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards and six Soap Opera Digest
Awards.
Additionally, Conley has the distinction of being the only daytime star to
be chosen by the world famous Madame Tussaud’s to have her character,
Sally Spectra, displayed in their gallery of wax figures, in both
Amsterdam and Las Vegas.

Conley is survived by her son, Raymond Woodson, ex-husband Bill Woodson,
sisters Carol Fontana and Sharon Wilson, a host of nieces and nephews, her
long time friend and caretaker, Eva Hansen and her manager of 24 years,
Sandra Siegal. Service arrangements are pending

 

[NedNickerson]

I never watched The Bold and the Beautiful that much , but I do remember when she played Rose DeVille on The Young and the Restless way back in the early 80's... The character of Nina moved into a home for unwed mothers run by Rose. Unbeknownst to Nina, the home was actually a blackmarket baby ring. Just before her son was born, Nina had a change of heart about the adoption. But Rose abandoned Nina on the delivery table and kidnapped her newborn son. He was never found again.

Shortly after she left Young and the Restless, Darlene Conley began her role on The Bold and the Beautiful, but I never could get the visions of the nefarious Rose out of my mind...

A great actress...

Rest In Peace, Darlene...

 

[pinolian79]

I am so shocked and saddened by her passing. I can still remeber for years watching her everytime The Birds came on tv and not knowing till years later that she was Sally..