Legendary Soap Star Alice Hirson Dies at 95

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Alice Hirson, who portrayed a close friend of Barbara Bel Geddes’ Miss Ellie Ewing on the series Dallas and the mother of Ellen DeGeneres’ character in the pioneering ABC sitcom, has passed away. She was 95 years old.

On Friday, Hirson passed away peacefully due to natural reasons at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital located in Woodland Hills. This information was confirmed by her son, Daniel Hirson, to The Hollywood Reporter. For approximately a year prior, she had been residing there.

Between 1969 and 1982, Hirson was a recurring character in several daytime soap operas. These included Stephanie Martin on CBS’ The Edge of Night, Marsha Davis on NBC’s Another World and its spinoff, Somerset, Eileen Siegel on ABC’s One Life to Live, Mrs. Van Gelder on ABC’s General Hospital, and Dr. Lisa Helman on ABC’s Loving.

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From 1969 to 1882, Hirson made appearances in various daytime soap operas. These roles included Stephanie Martin on CBS’ The Edge of Night, Marsha Davis on NBC’s Another World and its spinoff, Somerset, Eileen Siegel on ABC’s One Life to Live, Mrs. Van Gelder on ABC’s General Hospital, and Dr. Lisa Helman on ABC’s Loving.

In the large movie screen, she portrayed Colonel Thornbush, leader of the renowned paratrooper team called the Thornbirds, in the 1980 film “Private Benjamin”, and she was the character Anthony Edwards’ mother named Gilbert Lowe in the 1984 movie “Revenge of the Nerds”.

I had the privilege of playing Mavis Anderson, Miss Ellie’s cherished friend and wife of Punk Anderson (Morgan Woodward), in a total of 26 episodes of CBS’ iconic series “Dallas” from 1982-88. Incidentally, my real-life partner, Stephen Elliott, graced the show as lawyer Scotty Demerest during this period.

In the thrilling world of sitcoms, I graced “Ellen” for a stunning 28 episodes during its 1994-98 reign. My character, Lois Morgan, and her husband, Harold (Steven Gilborn), were blissfully unaware that our daughter was gay. This shocking revelation unfolded in April 1997, in what became known as “The Puppy Episode.” (You might recall that I had just announced my own identity as a lesbian in real life at this time.)

Alice Corinne Thorsell, who later became known as Hirson, was born in Brooklyn on March 10, 1929. She spent her childhood in West Hempstead on Long Island. Her mother, May, worked as a homemaker, while her father, Carl, specialized in electrical engineering.

In 1948, she completed her studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. During her summer performances in New Hampshire, she was discovered and given the role of Lucy Shmeeler in a traveling production of “On the Town,” which also starred Nancy Walker. Alice Pearce, well-known for her role in “Bewitched,” played her character on Broadway and in the 1949 movie version of this play.

1952 saw her debut on the television anthology series known as the Hallmark Hall of Fame. During this year, she also tied the knot with Roger O. Hirson. Later, he worked together with composer Stephen Schwartz to create the successful Broadway musical “Pippin”. However, their marriage ended in the ’70s.

In 1964, she achieved Broadway success with the play “Traveller Without Luggage”. A year later, in 1966, she participated in “The Investigation”, a courtroom drama that was first staged simultaneously in 14 theaters across Germany and London. This production had premiered a year prior in both cities. In 1971, she appeared in “Solitaire/Double Solitaire”.

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She first made it to Broadway with “Traveller Without Luggage” in 1964. A year later, she was part of the cast for “The Investigation”, a play set in the courtroom during the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials, which had its premiere in 14 theaters across Germany and London a year before. In 1971, she featured in “Solitaire/Double Solitaire”.

She moved to the Los Angeles area in 1976.

Later in her career, Hirson became a frequent cast member on the 1992 NBC sitcom “Home Fires,” and she played Jenny Jackson, the mother of Annie Camden (portrayed by Catherine Hicks), on the WB-CW drama “7th Heaven” from 1996 to 2006.

Hirson made regular appearances on the 1992 NBC sitcom “Home Fires,” and she played the role of Jenny Jackson, who was Annie Camden’s (played by Catherine Hicks) mother on the WB-CW drama “7th Heaven” between 1996 and 2006.

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In her career, Hirson became a common face in the 1992 NBC sitcom “Home Fires,” and she played Jenny Jackson, the mother of Annie Camden (played by Catherine Hicks) in the WB-CW drama “7th Heaven” from 1996 to 2006.

Her work history featured appearances on several popular TV shows such as Maude, The Waltons, Family, Barnaby Jones, Flamingo Road, Barney Miller, Murphy Brown, St. Elsewhere, NYPD Blue, and Full House. She also starred in various films like The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971), Being There (1979), Mass Appeal (1984), Blind Date (1987), The Big Picture (1989), The Glass House (2001) and The Lost (2006).

Hirson crossed paths with Elliott within the circles of “The Unencumbered Traveler,” and their union lasted from 1980 up until his passing in 2005.

David Hirson, a writer for Broadway plays, shared that his mother viewed herself primarily as a thespian of the stage, and he was amazed at her ability to balance raising a family with the countless hours she spent acting in soap operas.

She is survived by another son, Christopher, a musician, and a grandson, Daniel.

On Instagram, General Hospital star Chris McKenna paid tribute to her.

He expressed, “We bid farewell to a luminous spirit and a daytime icon. Alice Hirson graced this world with her light for an amazing 95 years. My family and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had her in our lives, even if it was just for a short while. An unforgettable woman. Her last words were ‘It’s pleasant to have an audience.’ Thank you, Alice. Good night. A legend.

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2025-02-21 03:25