Rachel Ames
Rachel Kay Foulger (born November 2, 1929), known professionally as Rachel Ames, is an American film and television actress.
Rachel Ames | |
|---|---|
Ames, c. 1950 | |
| Born | Rachel Kay Foulger November 2, 1929 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Other names | Judith Ames |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Years active | 1951–2007, 2009–2015 |
| Spouse(s) | Jack Genung (m. 1952; div. 19??) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Byron Foulger Dorothy Adams |
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] 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).[2]
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.[3]
Early life
Ames was born Rachel Kay Foulger on November 2, 1929[1][4] in Portland, Oregon,[4][5] the eldest child of actress (and later college drama instructor)[6] 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.[5]
Ames spent her early life in Portland, but relocated to California so her parents could work, performing and teaching at the Pasadena Playhouse.[7] She graduated from University High School and later enrolled at UCLA, where her mother was a professor in the university's drama department.[8]
Career
Early work
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.[8] 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.[8] 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
On February 23, 1964, Ames debuted on ABC's daytime serial, General Hospital, playing Audrey Hardy, R.N.[9][10] Her tenure in the part is the longest-running role in the network's history, spanning five decades.[3] 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.[11]
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.[12][13] In 1997, she appeared on ABC's special two-hour primetime preview of new daytime series Port Charles, a spin-off of the long-running, Emmy-winning hit General Hospital. Ames played her signature role of Audrey Hardy.
Later career
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.[14] She reprised Audrey again in April 2013, to coincide with General Hospital's 50th anniversary and again on October 30, 2015.[11]
Personal life
Ames married Jack Genung on January 31, 1952, in Los Angeles.[15] 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).[8] Cahill died in April 2012, after 42 years of marriage.[16]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | When Worlds Collide | Julie Cummings | as Judith Ames |
| 1951 | Toast to Our Brother | Short film; as Judith Ames | |
| 1952 | The Turning Point | Girl | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Arrowhead | Mrs. Kirk | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Ricochet Romance | Betsy Williams | as Judith Ames |
| 1957 | Oregon Passage | Marion | as Judith Ames |
| 1960 | Gunfighters of Abilene | Alice Hainline | as Judith Ames[17] |
| 1969 | Daddy's Gone-A-Hunting | Dr. Parkington's Nurse | Uncredited |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Your Favorite Story | Lucy Kilgore | 1 episode |
| 1954 | City Detective | June | 1 episode |
| 1954-55 | I Led 3 Lives | Comrade Jeanette / Margaret | 2 episodes |
| 1955 | Soldiers of Fortune | Ellen Thayer | 1 episode |
| 1955–57 | Science Fiction Theatre | Multiple | 6 episodes |
| 1955–1960 | The Millionaire | Jessica March / Georgette French | 2 episodes |
| 1956 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Laura | 1 episode |
| 1956 | Dr. Christian | Julie | 1 episode |
| 1956 | You Are There | Mrs. Fowler | 1 episode |
| 1956 | Highway Patrol | Anne Reynolds | 1 episode |
| 1956 | Studio 57 | Janet / Jenny | 2 episodes |
| 1956 | Broken Arrow | Terry Wilson | 1 episode |
| 1956 | The Loretta Young Show | Nurse Holste / Alice Fuller | 2 episodes |
| 1956–57 | Crossroads | Edith Brissie | 3 episodes |
| 1956–59 | State Trooper | Various | 3 episodes |
| 1957 | Cavalcade of America | Carol | 1 episode |
| 1957 | Whirlybirds | Eve Douglas | 1 episode |
| 1957 | General Electric Theater | Edith Duncan / Mary | 2 episodes |
| 1957–58 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Maude Kimball / Ellen Craig | 2 episodes |
| 1957–59 | The Californians | Madge Dorsett | 2 episodes |
| 1958 | The Adventures of McGraw | Sue Walters | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Telephone Time | Joan Yedor | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Trackdown | Melinda Curry / Jenny Krail | 2 episodes |
| 1958 | M Squad | Greta Loder | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Mrs. Armstrong | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Perry Mason | Marian Shaw | 1 episode |
| 1958 | The Silent Service | Jeanne | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Lassie | Mrs. Bridell | 1 episode |
| 1958–1960 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | Various | 3 episodes |
| 1958-1964 | Wagon Train | Florence Yeager/Emily Dawson | 5 episodes |
| 1959 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse | Muriel | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Man with a Camera | Lila | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Cimarron City | Emily Barton | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Frontier Doctor | Nancy Turner | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Wanted Dead or Alive | Sarah Buchanan / Ellie Morgan | 2 episodes |
| 1959 | Union Pacific | Sarah Morgan | 1 episode |
| 1959–1960 | The Lineup | Sandy McAllister | 15 episodes |
| 1960 | Thriller | Betty Follett | 1 episode |
| 1960 | Laramie | Mrs. LuBell / Helen Bentley | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Stagecoach West | Cecilia Barnes | 1 episode |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith | Jodie Tyler (billed as Rachel Foulger) | 1 episode |
| 1962 | G.E. True | Kate | 1 episode |
| 1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Agnes | 1 episode |
| 1963 | The Andy Griffith Show | Rosemary | 1 episode |
| 1963 | The Fugitive | Ann Gerard | 1 episode |
| 1964 | Ben Casey | Ethel Beldon | 1 episode |
| 1964 | Arrest and Trial | Mrs. Harmon | 1 episode |
| 1964–2015 | General Hospital | Audrey March Hardy | 1,799 episodes[18] Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 1968 | Off to See the Wizard | Nellie Malone | 1 episode |
| 1969 | Ironside | Carolyn Channing | 1 episode |
| 1969 | The Virginian | Mary Kinkaid | 1 episode |
| 1970 | The Name of the Game | Mrs. Bailey | 1 episode |
| 1997–2003 | Port Charles | Audrey March Hardy | 695 episodes[18] |
References
- ^ a b Onofrio 1999, pp. 2–3.
- ^ "Rachel Ames". TV Guide. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ a b . Soap Central. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ a b Aaker 2006, p. 13.
- ^ a b Foulger, Bryan. "Fourth Generation". Brian Foulger Family History. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
RACHEL KAY FOULGER, born 1929 Portland Oregon
- ^ "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.
- ^ Wittbeck, Charles (July 14, 1967). "Soaper Actress Has Army of Fans". The Toledo Blade. p. 18.
- ^ a b c d Aaker 2006, pp. 13–14.
- ^ Kleiner, Dick (September 20, 1985). "Soap eliminated her tears". Rome News-Tribune. Showbeat.
- ^ Terrace 1985, p. 62.
- ^ a b Staff (October 29, 2015). "Rachel Ames Returns to General Hospital". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ "The National Television Academy Announces the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients". PR Newswire. February 2, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Hosts Reception In Honor Of 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards". NYC.gov. May 20, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
- ^ "General Hospital Spoilers!". Daytime Confidential. October 2, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ^ "Marriages" (PDF). Billboard. March 1, 1952. p. 52. Retrieved October 21, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Barry Cahill obituary". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- ^ Vermilye 2006, p. 186.
- ^ a b "Rachel Ames Credits". TV.com. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
Works cited
- Aaker, Everett (2006). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members in American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948-1959. McFarland. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-786-42476-4.
- Onofrio, Jan (1999). Oregon Biographical Dictionary. Somerset Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-0-403-09841-5.
- Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. Vol. 2. New York Zoetrope. ISBN 9780918432612.
- Vermilye, Jerry (2006). Buster Crabbe: A Biofilmography. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-49570-2.
External links
- Rachel Ames at IMDb
- Rachel Ames at AllMovie
- Rachel Ames at the TCM Movie Database
- Rachel Ames at the Internet Archive