Joe LaDue Dead at 70

Actor Joseph "Smokey Joe" LaDue died on May 26. He was 70.

LaDue starred as Derek Thurston on CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1977-1980. In 1983, he briefly appeared in NBC daytime drama Days of our Lives as Detective Harry Frost.

LaDue's other credits include Emergency!, The Rookies, Starsky and Hutch, Casino, Luckytown and Ocean's Eleven.

In recent years, LaDue had suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Services were held on Sunday, July 29 at the Foursquare Church in Blue Diamond, Nevada.

RELATED:
* Victoria Mallory Dead at 64

Comments

The Complete Story of 'The Doctors' (1963-1973)

Daytime TV covered the world of soap operas for decades before finally folding in the 1990s. In the mid-70s, the magazine did an excellent series titled "The Complete Story of..." recounting the history of a soap opera from its inception. Below is the historical feature on the first 10 years of NBC's The Doctors (1963-1973), which is currently being aired on Retro TV. Some of the interesting tidbits include: * The Doctors did not start as a serial; it began as a "half-hour anthology series of medical dramas, set in the large metropolitan Hope Memorial Hospital, and with the four principals alternating daily in the lead role, according to NBC's original announcement. The roles were Dr. William Scott (played by Jock Gaynor), Dr. Jerry Chandler (portrayed by Richard Roat), Dr. Elizabeth Hayes (played by Margot Moser) and Rev. Samuel Shafer, a hospital chaplain (played by Fred J. Scollay). * Later in the first season, Herb Kenwith and Paul Lammers became

Melody Thomas Scott Memoir 'Always Young And Restless' Out This Summer

Emmy Award-nominated Melody Thomas Scott admits she is nothing like her The Young and the Restless role, which has seen it all in her forty-one-year tenure on America’s highest-rated daytime serial. But the high drama, angst, and catastrophes aren’t confined to her character’s plotlines. In her first-ever book, the captivating memoir "Always Young And Restless" (Diversion Books; July 14, 2020, available for pre-order now; $26.99, Hardcover; ISBN 978-1635-766943), Melody reveals the intimate and complicated truths of her upbringing as well as behind-the-scenes tales of her own riveting journey to becoming an icon and searching for “normal.” “Even though I have spent almost my entire life as an actress and performer, I have kept my private life well behind the scenes,” said Scott. “Now, I am ready to share these stories of survival and success that have shaped me into who I am today.” As Nikki Newman went from impoverished stripper to resourceful, vivacious heroine—with m

Justin Gocke Dead at 36

Former child actor Justin Gocke died on September 8. He was 36. Justin Earle Gocke was born on January 31, 1978 in Los Angeles, California. Justin Gocke and Farrah Fawcett in The Burning Bed . He started in the entertainment business at age 6, landing the first job he auditioned for, The Burning Bed movie starring Farrah Fawcett. He continued to work until age 14, ending his acting career shortly after he started high school. His credits included the role of Brandon Capwell in NBC daytime soap opera Santa Barbara , for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1989. "It was such a fun and memorable day," Gocke recalled in a 2009 interview. He was nominated again in 1991. Gocke shared his most memorable Santa Barbara scenes with Robin Mattson (Gina) and Justin Deas (Keith). "We were like family, on and off screen," Gocke said.

Serial Scoop

Search This Blog