Ruth Warrick

Ruth Warrick was born June 29, 1916 in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was an singer, actress and activist. She wrote and essay in high school called ?Prevention and Cure of Tuberculosis and won a contest making her Missouri?s paid ambassador to New York City.

Warrick began her career in the 1940s as a radio singer where she met and married 1st husband Eric Rolf. Her big break came when she was hired by Orson Welles for the classic film ?Citizen Kane?. Then she began a long career in many films such as ? Journey Into Fear?, ?The Corsican Brothers?, and ?Daisy Kenyon?.

In the mid 50?s she befriended soap inventor Irna Phillips and Agnes Nixon. Warrick became a cast member on the soap opera The Guiding Light. Then she a role on As The World Turns.

During the 60?s she starred in the television series Father of The Bride, Peyton Place, Dallas and Dynasty. In 1970 she debuted on All My Children as Phoebe Tyler. The new soap was an instant hit. Warrick?s health problems from old age started a reduction of airtime in the 1990s. She broke her hip while on vacation in Greece in 2001 and was confined to a wheelchair. Her final screen appearance was on the 35th anniversary show on January 5, 2005. When she was wheeled into the building the cast and crew gave a standing ovation.

Warrick was a longtime supporter of African-American rights. In her senior years she became a spokeswoman for the rights of senior citizens and the disabled. She was also appointed to the U.N. World Womens Committee on Mental Health. I had the pleasure of hearing her speak in North Carolina in the 1980s at a signing of her autobiography, ?The Confessions of Phoebe Tyler (co-written by Don Preston).

Ruth Warrick died of complications related to pneumonia at the age of 89, on January 15, 2005. The January 24, 2005 episode of All My Children was dedicated ?In Loving Memory of Ruth Warrick?.

After her death her family put much of her estate in an action by the Dawson and Nye action house. Her extensive collection of art and photographs as will as books signed by President Clinton and his wife Hilary. Signed scripts from Peyton Place, All My Children and the 25th anniversary reprint script of Citizen Kane signed by Warrick , Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles, one of only 100.