Ellen Holly, a pioneering Black actress known for her groundbreaking role in the U.S. soap opera “One Life to Live,” has passed away at the age of 92. Holly died on December 6 at a hospital in the Bronx, New York, as confirmed by her publicist Cheryl L. Duncan. The cause of her death was not disclosed.
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Born in Manhattan in 1931, Holly grew up in Queens and graduated from Hunter College. She made her Broadway debut in 1956 with “Too Late The Phalarope” and appeared in numerous Broadway and Joseph Papp New York Shakespeare Festival productions. Her most notable role was as Carla Benari Hall in “One Life to Live,” which she played from 1968 to 1980 and again from 1983 to 1985.
Holly’s casting in this role, which followed an op-ed she wrote about the challenges of finding roles as a light-skinned Black woman, marked a significant moment in television history. Her character, Carla, initially passed as white on-screen before revealing her Black heritage, becoming involved in a love triangle that explored themes of racial identity.
Holly’s performance not only led the show to success but also sparked controversy, with the show’s producer receiving hate mail over its depiction of an interracial relationship. This led to one station in Texas ceasing to air the show.
Beyond “One Life to Live,” Holly also appeared in “The Guiding Light” as Judge Frances Collier from 1988 to 1993 and in “In The Heat of the Night” as Ruth Peterson from 1989 to 1990. She continued acting into the early 2000s, starring in the TV movie “10,000 Black Men Named George” in 2002.
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After retiring from acting, Holly worked as a librarian at the White Plains Public Library. Though she never married, she is survived by grand-nieces and extended family members. Respecting her wishes, there will be no funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Obama Presidential Center or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her memory. Holly’s legacy as a trailblazer in television remains a significant part of her enduring impact on the entertainment industry.
