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Daytime Great Beverlee McKinsey Dead at 72
From the Los Angeles Times:
"Beverlee McKinsey died May 2nd, 2008, in Los Angeles from complications due to a kidney transplant. She was 72 years old. Ms. McKinsey was an actor best known for roles in daytime television. She created the character Iris Carrington on NBC's Another World, and played the part from 1970-1979. She also created the role of Alexandra Spaulding on CBS' Guiding Light, and performed it from 1984-1992. In 1980, NBC developed the program Texas to capitalize on the popularity of her character, Iris Carrington; and Ms. McKinsey was the first and only performer in the history of daytime drama to receive star billing.
"In 1998, the editors of Soap Opera Magazine voted her the best actor in the history of daytime television. TV Guide's Michael Logan wrote of her in 1992, 'For my money, Beverlee McKinsey is the greatest actress ever to grace daytime drama.'"
GuidingLight.net will feature a vintage "Alexandra" clip in the coming weeks as a tribute to McKinsey.
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May 5, 2008 12:16 PM
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People will say she's one of the greats. I say the greatest.
She is still missed on GL 16 years later.
There aren't many who can put as many emotions in one scene like she could.
I'll never forget the last image of her on GL....her looking through the window.
Sniff.
RIP Ms. McKinsey....Thank you for the memories.
Prayers going out to her son Scott.
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May 5, 2008 1:23 PM
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What a shock.
Her last soap role was a brief stint as Myrna Slaughter on General Hospital in 1994.
IMDb lists her birth year as 1940, which would only make her 68. I wonder which age is correct.
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May 5, 2008 1:56 PM
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I remember when she and Mary Kay Adams as India Spaulding would go at it on GUILDING LIGHT over Phillip, her nephew. Loved how she adored him, but didn't trust Alan any farther than she could throw him. Good times! She maintained her femininity and grace while being powerful. Thank you for being so entertaining, Ms. McKinsey.
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May 5, 2008 2:37 PM
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She was an amazing actress. My favorite s/l on GL was when Alex was married to Roger but in love with her best pal Fletcher. Classic Daytime!!! Classy Woman!!! She'll be missed.
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May 5, 2008 3:51 PM
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What a sad day for the long time fans of GL and daytime TV in general. She was truly one of a kind and a phenomenal actress.
Totally agree with Logan's assessment about being the greatest.
RIP Madame, you will be missed. 
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May 5, 2008 3:56 PM
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Bev, you were the greatest lady in daytime! May God bless your family!
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May 5, 2008 4:42 PM
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I am sorry that my viewership of GL began in her last year on the show but I saw enough to make me believe.
She will live on in our memories, VCR tapes, and YouTube.
I hope she's in heaven with her husband.
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May 5, 2008 5:05 PM
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This is a sad shock.
I loved Michael Logan's last interview with her. He never wavered from his contention that McKinsey was the best.
I'm heartbroken - I was hoping we'd yet see her come back and give us another glimpse at Alexandra her way.
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May 5, 2008 7:52 PM
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IMDb lists her birth year as 1940, which would only make her 68. I wonder which age is correct.
Chappy, I seem to remember that she turned 50 in conjunction with GL's 50th anniversary in 1987. So I'm assuming she was, indeed, 72 at the time of her death.
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May 5, 2008 7:55 PM
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omg, i'm in shock, i just read this today. I am just 42 years old, but Beverless left such an impression on me back in my early days of soap watching and ever since. I never thought she could bring as much to daytime as she did playing Iris, but i was wrong -- she was phenomenal as Alexandra as well. How i've always missed seeing her daily, and that old triumpant(sp) trumpet theme song on GL, and what multiple expressions her face would show minute to minute. Whenever any board talks about the greats, i always make sure to put in my two cents that they can have their Erika Slezaks and Susan Luccis. McKinsey was THE BEST. What a loss.
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May 5, 2008 11:15 PM
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She was one of the best. It's a shame that she has passed on. My thoughts are with her family.
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May 6, 2008 1:44 AM
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Such a wonderful actress I remember GL when Lujack came came into the show and it was revieled he was her son she was so powerful and so good.
Her rivalry on Another World with another daytime dynamo Victoria Wyndam was daytime at it's best. And her scenes with the late great Douglas Watson was some of her best too.
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May 6, 2008 7:03 AM
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I just saw the episode of Hawaii Five-O she did the other day. It was SO different from both Iris and Alexandra--a spoiled rich girl playing criminal games with two boyfriends. Her performance was, frankly, irritating (but it was supposed to be). I always thought it was such a shame she retired from acting when she had so much potential left to explore.
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May 6, 2008 10:59 AM
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