Soap Opera Icon, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Writer, Dies at 94

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Margaret DePriest, a well-known actress from daytime TV, has died at the age of 94. Her daughter, Sara Kimbell, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that she passed away peacefully at her home in Greenwich Village on September 29th.

DePriest started her career as an actress, appearing on well-known soap operas like The Edge of Night (as Abby Cameron) and The Doctors (as Mrs. Berger, a social worker). In 1969, she collaborated with her mentor, Lou Scofield, to create the CBS soap opera Where the Heart Is. Kimbell remembered that network executives at the time complimented her by saying she “wrote like a man.”

I remember when I first started really getting into daytime dramas, and this writer was a huge force behind some of my favorites! She quickly became a head writer, beginning with Love of Life back in ’75. She even went back to The Doctors for a bit before landing at General Hospital from 1978 to 1981. That’s where she really made her mark – she was instrumental in creating some of the show’s most unforgettable storylines, like Luke and Laura’s wedding, which everyone still talks about!

DePriest went on to become head writer for Days of Our Lives on NBC for three years. Working with Pat Falken Smith and Sheri Anderson, she revamped the show’s setting, the town of Salem, by adding new families like the Bradys and new locations. She was also the driving force behind the suspenseful storyline featuring the Salem Strangler and helped create the memorable 1985 wedding of Bo and Hope, a popular couple on the show.

DePriest continued her career writing for several popular soap operas, including Another World, All My Children, One Life to Live, and Sunset Beach, where she worked with producer Aaron Spelling. She received multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for her writing on shows like General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, All My Children, and One Life to Live.

Kimbell remembered her mother as someone who demanded excellence and wasn’t afraid to question those in charge. She also noted that her mother preferred stories with powerful female characters and complex plots that explored themes of social issues, class, and personal identity.

Margaret DePriest significantly impacted daytime TV with her daring stories and unforgettable characters. She was particularly celebrated for creating powerful female characters who broke traditional molds.

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2025-10-30 20:45