Bruce French, the supernaturally blinded but all-knowing Father Lonigan in Passions, passed away on February 7 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. He was 79.
Daily Drama News: Bruce French, RIP
His resume was lengthy and varied. He appeared in such soapy fare as Dallas, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, and Beverly Hills 90210, journeyed throughout the 22nd and 24th centuries in various guises in Stark Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager, and Enterprise, and guested on L.A. Law, Who’s the Boss?, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Criminal Minds, Eli Stone, Crash and The Riches.
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His film credits include Mr. Deeds, Fletch, Jurassic Park III, and Mission: Impossible III.
French is survived by his wife of 34 years, actress Eileen Barnett.
Daily Drama News Nuggets
* David Anthony ‘Tony’ Roberts, a featured player in Woody Allen’s vast repertory company, probably best known to daytime audiences for his turn as Lee Pollock in The Edge of Night, died on February 7 following a valiant battle with lung cancer. He was 85.
The character actor trod the boards on The Great White Way, starred in several silver-screen flicks, and even headlined ABC’s familycom The Thorns.
* Per TMZ, who obtained the death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, David Lynch, the wild-haired, singular-imaginative who conceived such seminal pictures as Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Inland Empire, and Mulholland Drive, passed from cardiac arrest due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Lynch’s January 15, 2025, death was confirmed by his family via Facebook. They wrote in part: “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole. It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.’”
* The next installment of The Daily Drama Podcast will feature Sofia Mattsson (Sasha Gilmore, General Hospital) as special guest.
* Josh Kelly (Cody Bell, General Hospital) will appear in tonight’s (February 10, 2025) episode of NCIS: Origins. Titled ‘Moonsoon,’ it features the team investigating “the brutal murder of a veteran who fell on hard times after serving in Vietnam, leading Franks to reflect on his own struggles following the war. Also, Gibbs considers a new path forward.”
Kelly, it should be noted, is a veteran of the United States Army who served three tours in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq as an Army Ranger.
NCIS: Origins airs Monday nights at 10PM EST / PST on the CBS Television Network, and streams on Paramount+. Austin Stowell, Kyle Schmid, Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, Diany Rodriguez, and Caleb Foote star. NCIS’ former headliner, Mark Harmon, serves as EP and narrator.
* Reality show maven and jobbing actress Lisa Rinna (ex-Billie Reed, Days of our Lives) and her ever-loving hubby, Harry “Don’t Talk About My Husband” Hamlin, will guest on Live with Kelly & Mark on Valentine’s Day — how apropos! — alongside Dancing with the Stars’ Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov, and Steve Patterson.
Rinna and Hamlin have been wed since March 29, 1997 are the (uber) proud parents of two daughters: Delilah Belle and Amelia Gray, both of whom joined Mommy and Daddy in appearing in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And yes, Hamlin’s pasta sauce still brings Rinna and all the other ladies to the yard!
* On February 8th, Eric Braeden [Victor Newman] marked 45 years as The Young and the Restless’ reigning anti-hero. In the lead-up to the momentous moment, the CBS sudser’s official ‘Insider’ YouTube account shared testimonials from several of Braeden’s costars which you can view via the embed below:
The account also provided a guided tour ’round its newest set: Billy Abbott’s (Jason Thompson) picture-perfect abode:
* Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin, The Young and the Restless) is set to become a grandmother…again! The glowing actress recently feted eldest son Austin Recht (which she shares with her former husband, Ronald Recht), daughter-in-law Antonia Burchman, and “their baby girl to be Isabella Rae!”
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