Rachel Ames

Last updated
Rachel Ames
Judith (Rachel) Ames headshot.jpg
Ames, c. 1950
Born
Rachel Kay Foulger

(1929-11-02) November 2, 1929 (age 94)
Other namesJudith Ames
Alma mater University of California, Los Angeles
OccupationActress
Years active1951–2007, 2009–2015
Spouses
Jack Genung
(m. 1952,divorced)
(m. 1968;died 2012)
Children2
Parents

Rachel Kay Foulger (born November 2, 1929), known professionally as Rachel Ames, is an American film and television actress.

Contents

The daughter of actors Byron Foulger and Dorothy Adams, she was raised in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, California. She attended University High School and the University of California, Los Angeles [1] [2] studying drama before signing an acting contract with Paramount Pictures, using the stage name Judith Ames. She made her film debut in the studio's science-fiction film When Worlds Collide (1951), followed by Ricochet Romance (1954). [3]

She went on to have a prolific career in television, where she became best known for her role as Audrey March Hardy on the soap opera General Hospital , beginning in 1964. Ames's role is the longest-running in the series' history, spanning over 50 years and earning her multiple Emmy Award nominations. [4]

Early life

Ames was born Rachel Kay Foulger on November 2, 1929 [2] [5] in Portland, Oregon, [5] [6] the eldest child of actress (and later college drama instructor) [7] Dorothy Adams and actor Byron Foulger. Her sister, Mary Amanda Foulger, was born on May 16, 1942. Through her father, she is of English descent, the fourth generation of English immigrants from Norfolk, who settled in the Salt Lake City area. [6]

Ames spent her early life in Portland, but relocated to California so her parents could work, performing and teaching at the Pasadena Playhouse. [8] She graduated from University High School and later enrolled at UCLA, where her mother was a professor in the university's drama department. [9]

Career

Early work

Rachel Ames 1954 Rachel Ames 1954.jpg
Rachel Ames 1954

Ames debuted professionally in 1949 in Pilgrimage Play, and she joined her parents in acting in One Foot in Heaven at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California. [9] She transitioned into film under the stage name Judith Ames, and was under contract with Paramount Pictures for three years in the early 1950s; her first feature film was When Worlds Collide (1951), a science-fiction thriller based on the 1933 novel of the same name. [9] The same year, she had appeared in "Toast to Our Brother", a short film documenting fraternity life at UCLA, where she was a student at the time.

She had an uncredited role in the film noir The Turning Point (1952), followed by a minor part in the Western Arrowhead (1953) with Charlton Heston. The following year, she had a supporting role in the Western comedy Ricochet Romance (1954). In her only regular role on primetime television, Ames played Policewoman Sandy McAllister on The Lineup in that program's final season during 1959. Ames also had dozens of other guest-starring appearances in television, on series such as The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp , The Virginian , Ironside , Wagon Train , Trackdown , Ben Casey , Perry Mason , Alfred Hitchcock Presents , and six different appearances on Science Fiction Theater . In "The Jodie Tyler Story" episode of the series Whispering Smith , she played the title role, billed as Rachel Foulger. Her mother, Dorothy Adams, was in the same episode, though they had no scenes together. She appeared in a lead role in the 1960 Western Gunfighters of Abilene , opposite Buster Crabbe and Barton MacLane.

General Hospital

Ames as Audrey March in General Hospital, 1973 Rachel Ames General Hospital 1973.jpg
Ames as Audrey March in General Hospital , 1973

On February 23, 1964, Ames debuted on ABC's daytime serial, General Hospital , playing Audrey Hardy, R.N. [10] [11] Her tenure in the part is the longest-running role in the network's history, spanning five decades. [4] She also played Audrey Hardy on the General Hospital spin-off series Port Charles in the late 1990s. Her contract was not renewed for General Hospital in 2003, but she still appeared as a recurring character from 2003 until 2007, and made a brief appearance in 2009. On February 13, 2013, Genie Francis (Laura Spencer) announced on Katie that Ames returned to the show on March 29, 2013. She reprised the role again for one episode on October 30, 2015. [12]

Ames has been nominated three times for a Daytime Emmy Award as Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama for her role on General Hospital. In 2004, Ames was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. [13] [14] In 1997, she appeared on ABC's special two-hour primetime preview of new daytime series Port Charles, a spin-off of General Hospital. Ames played her role of Audrey Hardy.

Later career

Cast of General Hospital 1973 (top): John Beradino, Emily McLaughlin (bottom): Martin West, Rachel Ames, Peter Hansen General Hospital Cast 1973.jpg
Cast of General Hospital 1973 (top): John Beradino, Emily McLaughlin (bottom): Martin West, Rachel Ames, Peter Hansen

In 2007, Ames retired from General Hospital after 43 years. On October 1, 2009, she was announced to be reappearing as Audrey in mid-October after a two-year absence from the show. [15] She reprised Audrey again in April 2013, to coincide with General Hospital's 50th anniversary and again on October 30, 2015. [12]

Personal life

Ames married Jack Genung on January 31, 1952, in Los Angeles. [16] Her second husband, Canadian-born actor Barry Cahill, and she had two daughters, Christine and Susan, and two grandchildren, Jocelyn and Marc (one source says that Susan was Ames's daughter by her first marriage). [9] Cahill died in April 2012, after 42 years of marriage. [17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1951 When Worlds Collide Julie Cummingsas Judith Ames
1951Toast to Our Brother Short film; as Judith Ames
1952 The Turning Point GirlUncredited
1953 Arrowhead Mrs. KirkUncredited
1954 Ricochet Romance Betsy Williamsas Judith Ames
1957 Oregon Passage Marionas Judith Ames
1960 Gunfighters of Abilene Alice Hainlineas Judith Ames [18]
1969 Daddy's Gone-A-Hunting Dr. Parkington's NurseUncredited

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1954 Your Favorite Story Lucy Kilgore1 episode
1954 City Detective June1 episode
1954-55 I Led 3 Lives Comrade Jeanette / Margaret2 episodes
1955 Soldiers of Fortune Ellen Thayer1 episode
1955–57 Science Fiction Theatre Multiple6 episodes
1955–1960 The Millionaire Jessica March / Georgette French2 episodes
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents LauraSeason 1 Episode 34: "The Hidden Thing" (credited as Judith Ames)
1956 Dr. Christian Julie1 episode
1956 You Are There Mrs. Fowler1 episode
1956 Highway Patrol Anne Reynolds1 episode
1956 Studio 57 Janet / Jenny2 episodes
1956 Broken Arrow Terry Wilson1 episode
1956 The Loretta Young Show Nurse Holste / Alice Fuller2 episodes
1956–57 Crossroads Edith Brissie3 episodes
1956–59 State Trooper Various3 episodes
1957 Cavalcade of America Carol1 episode
1957 Whirlybirds Eve Douglas1 episode
1957 General Electric Theater Edith Duncan / Mary2 episodes
1957–58 Tales of Wells Fargo Maude Kimball / Ellen Craig2 episodes
1957–59 The Californians Madge Dorsett2 episodes
1958The Adventures of McGrawSue Walters1 episode
1958 Telephone Time Joan Yedor1 episode
1958 Trackdown Melinda Curry / Jenny Krail2 episodes
1958 M Squad Greta Loder1 episode
1958 Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mrs. Armstrong1 episode
1958 Perry Mason Marian Shaw1 episode
1958The Silent ServiceJeanne1 episode
1958 Lassie Mrs. Bridell1 episode
1958–1960 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Various3 episodes
1958-1964 Wagon Train Florence Yeager/Emily Dawson5 episodes
1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Muriel1 episode
1959 Man with a Camera Lila1 episode
1959 Cimarron City Emily Barton1 episode
1959Frontier DoctorNancy Turner1 episode
1959 Wanted Dead or Alive Sarah Buchanan / Ellie Morgan2 episodes
1959 Union Pacific Sarah Morgan1 episode
1959–1960 The Lineup Sandy McAllister15 episodes
1960 Thriller Betty Follett1 episode
1960 Laramie Mrs. LuBell / Helen Bentley2 episodes
1961 Stagecoach West Cecilia Barnes1 episode
1961 Whispering Smith Jodie Tyler (billed as Rachel Foulger)1 episode
1962 G.E. True Kate1 episode
1963 77 Sunset Strip Agnes1 episode
1963 The Andy Griffith Show Rosemary1 episode
1963 The Fugitive Ann Gerard1 episode
1964 Ben Casey Ethel Beldon1 episode
1964Arrest and TrialMrs. Harmon1 episode
1964–2015 General Hospital Audrey March Hardy 1,799 episodes [19]
Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award
1968 Off to See the Wizard Nellie Malone1 episode
1969 Ironside Carolyn Channing1 episode
1969 The Virginian Mary Kinkaid1 episode
1970 The Name of the Game Mrs. Bailey1 episode
1997–2003 Port Charles Audrey March Hardy695 episodes [19]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations received by Rachel Ames [4]
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResults
1974 1st Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
1975 2nd Daytime Emmy Awards Nominated
1979 6th Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2004 31st Daytime Emmy Awards Lifetime Achievement AwardWon

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References

  1. "About the Actors - Rachel Ames - General Hospital on Soap Central". Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Onofrio 1999, pp. 2–3.
  3. "Rachel Ames". TV Guide. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "About GH: About the Actors: Rachel Ames". Soap Central. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Aaker 2006, p. 13.
  6. 1 2 Foulger, Bryan. "Fourth Generation". Brian Foulger Family History. Retrieved May 25, 2016. RACHEL KAY FOULGER, born 1929 Portland Oregon
  7. "Rachel Ames Signed To Play Policewoman On 'Lineup' Series". The Oil City Derrick. The Oil City Derrick. September 19, 1959. p. 23. Retrieved October 21, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. Wittbeck, Charles (July 14, 1967). "Soaper Actress Has Army of Fans". The Toledo Blade. p. 18.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Aaker 2006, pp. 13–14.
  10. Kleiner, Dick (September 20, 1985). "Soap eliminated her tears". Rome News-Tribune. Showbeat.
  11. Terrace 1985, p. 62.
  12. 1 2 Staff (October 29, 2015). "Rachel Ames Returns to General Hospital". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  13. "The National Television Academy Announces the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients". PR Newswire. February 2, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  14. "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Hosts Reception In Honor Of 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards". NYC.gov. May 20, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  15. "General Hospital Spoilers!". Daytime Confidential. October 2, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  16. "Marriages" (PDF). Billboard. March 1, 1952. p. 52. Retrieved October 21, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. "Barry Cahill obituary". Los Angeles Times . April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  18. Vermilye 2006, p. 186.
  19. 1 2 "Rachel Ames Credits". TV.com. Retrieved May 26, 2016.

Works cited