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In the iconic sitcom, Golden Girls, friends and housemates Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanche had countless memorable visitors show up at their Miami residence. One character who plopped down on the retirees' peach sofa was able to rile Dorothy in a way no other character could -- Dorothy's little sister Gloria. Gloria married a wealthy man and lived on a beautiful estate in California, making recently divorced Dorothy feel like a failure. Gloria was an important part of Dorothy's character development as she learned how to rebuild her life after her painful divorce from ex-husband Stan Zbornak.

In addition to being an integral part of Dorothy's story, Gloria is also a part of one of the many mysteries of Golden Girls. Initially played by Doris Belack, known for playing Judge Margaret Barry on Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the actress did not return in...

1968: Agnes Nixon's One Life to Live premiered on ABC."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...

1940: On The Guiding Light, Rose Kransky (Ruth Bailey) and Charles Cunningham had dinner together after a chance meeting on the street.

The episode opened with the following narration: "Where we are free to act, we are also free to refrain from acting. And where we are able to say no, we are also able to say yes. And yet it seems so strange that so many times what we will to be,...

1968: Oltl's Jim asked Price to assist with Carla's case.

1980: The Edge of Night's Geraldine interrupted Raven's plans.

1985: Days of our Lives' Patch attacked Hope.

2010: General Hospital's Mike appeared for the final time."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...

1968: Joan Crawford made the second of four appearances on The Secret Storm as Joan Borman Kane, substituting for her sick daughter Christina Crawford.

1968: On One Life to Live, Joe (Lee Patterson) told Anna (Doris Belack) about his feelings for her, which went beyond the boundaries of friendship. Meredith (Trish Van Devere) had left...

1985: General Hospital's Frisco broke Felicia's heart.

1990: Beverly Hills, 90210 premiered on Fox.

2001: Chuck Pratt's primetime soap Titans premiered on NBC.

2010: Camila Banus debuted as Gabi on Days of our Lives."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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) took Burke and Dr. Woodard down to the basement to show them the coffin, but it was not there.

1976: On Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Mary (Louise Lasser) recuperated at Fernwood Psychiatric Hospital after her nervous breakdown during her guest appearance on "The David Susskind Show." Mary received flowers from Susskind, and praise...

1968: Agnes Nixon's One Life to Live premiered on ABC."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...

1940: On The Guiding Light, Rose Kransky (Ruth Bailey) and Charles Cunningham had dinner together after a chance meeting on the street.

The episode opened with the following narration: "Where we are free to act, we are also free to refrain from acting. And where we are able to say no, we...

Veteran actress Doris Belack has died at the age of 85.

The Tootsie star passed away in New York City on Tuesday, just four months after the death of her theatre producer husband Philip Rose. She is believed to have died of natural causes.

Belack began her career with a number of TV roles in the 1950s, and in 1955 she performed on the Poetry of the Negro with Sidney Poitier - a record produced by her husband, Rose.

She went on to appear in movies such as Tootsie, Fast Forward and Batteries Not Included, before returning to TV with guest roles in Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, Sisters and Ellen.

Belack made regular appearances as Judge Margaret Barry in cop shows Law & Order and Law & Order: Svu and her last TV role came in a 2003 episode of Sex and the City.

A public memorial for Belack and Rose will be held on 17 October at New York's Ambassador Theater.

Filed under: Reality-Free, TV News, Celebrities and Gossip

Doris Belack, a recurring 'Law & Order' judge and the original Anna Wolek on 'One Life to Live,' has died. She was 85.

According to Variety, the actress died of natural causes in New York City.

Besides her time on the judges' bench for both 'Law & Order' and 'Law & Order: Svu,' Belack is known for her film work, including memorable roles in 'Tootsie' and 'What About Bob?'

 

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