Soaps - Anna Lee (Lila Q. - GH) passed away...

¤}{îÖ¤ · 05-16-2004, 01:40 PM

Hey guys, sad news. I just read this in SZ. I knew whe was sick and wasn't attending the Emmy's but I didn't know it was so bad.

On Friday evening, May 14, 2004 Anna Lee died at her home with her son Jeffrey (Bryon) by her side. "It was very peaceful and mom died with dignity and grace, just as she lived her life." Said Byron.

May she rest in peace

SweetSymphony · 05-16-2004, 01:59 PM

awww

rachem_chul · 05-16-2004, 02:30 PM

Liliya · 05-16-2004, 03:02 PM

That is really sad.

**-Bianca-** · 05-16-2004, 04:00 PM

She had such a regal presence on GH.

My condolences to her friends and family.

Jasper1975 · 05-16-2004, 10:00 PM

She will be missed. She has been a presence on the show ever since I started watching the show in the mid-80's. Wow! Anna Lee was a special person...

I loved her in The Sound of Music. And as Lila.

My condolences with her family and for her family of friends at General Hospital!

**Casandra** · 05-16-2004, 10:18 PM

That's so sad.

May she have peace now. The industry has certainly lost a wonderful talent. My prayers go out to her family and friends

Mapledonuts · 05-16-2004, 10:20 PM

I don't watch GH anymore. Is Lila still on the show? That's so sad! I really liked how she balanced out Edward...it was cute. She's gonna be missed for sure.

**NikNak** · 05-17-2004, 10:43 AM

Aww. Sad.

Quote:

Originally posted by Mapledonuts
I don't watch GH anymore. Is Lila still on the show?

No, she wasn't.

**Casandra** · 05-17-2004, 11:23 PM

There's actually quite a bit of controversy surrounding Anna Lee's exit from GH. She was in essence fired when her contract was up last October. Her son had said at the time that it was going to devastate her, because working at GH was her great love.

Fans are out for Frons head right now, saying that she didn't pass from a pnemonia, but from a broken heart.

Here's some additional information:

Quote:

On the evening of Friday, May 14 actress Anna Lee passed away at her home with her son Jeffrey Bryon by her side. She was 91.

In a family statement released via Wubs.net, "We will miss mom very much but she will always be a part of our lives."

Lee was known for her role as Lila Quartermaine on ABC Daytime�s General Hospital, which she played until early this year following her decision to retire. On Friday, May 21 the actress was expected to take home her first Emmy Award, the Lifetime Achievement award along with nine others. There is no word on who will accept the award on her behalf at this time.

Cards, Letters, etc can be sent to the family at the following address:
The Family of Anna Lee
c/o Garrett Associates & Icons PR
P.O. Box 215
New Canton, VA 23123

An ABC Spokesman confirms that Lee's son, Jeffrey is expected to accept the actresses Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his mother during the Emmy telecast airing Friday, May 21 at 9 PM, EST/PST on NBC.

OBITUARY
ANNA LEE, BELOVED STAR OF ABC�S �GENERAL HOSPITAL,� DIES AT AGE 91

Anna Lee, who played beloved matriarch Lila Quartermaine for over 20 years on ABC Daytime�s �General Hospital,� died of pneumonia Friday in Los Angeles at age 91.

Ms. Lee, born Joan Boniface Winnifrith, originated the role of Lila Quartermaine in 1978. Born in Kent, England, she was encouraged to pursue an acting career by her father, a clergyman. Ms. Lee trained at London�s Royal Albert Hall and later started appearing in English films, working her way from extra roles to featured parts where she would earn the �unofficial� title of �Queen of the Quota Quickies.� In the late 1930s she and husband/director Robert Stevenson relocated to Hollywood, as she starred in stateside productions and worked at the John Ford stock company.

Ms. Lee made her screen debut in �Ebb Tide� in 1932 and appeared in more than 60 motion pictures, including �The Sound of Music,� �Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?,� �King Solomon�s Mines,� �Fort Apache,� �The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,� �The Unsinkable Molly Brown� and �The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,� as well as in numerous television programs.

Ms. Lee is to be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award during the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards this Friday. She was a recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Award and received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January, 1993, for her services to the film and television industry.

Ms. Lee, the goddaughter of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, has two children, a daughter, Venetia, and a son, Jeffrey.

And from her official site's webmaster:

Quote:

From Suzanne, webmaster of this site: I am very saddened by this news. Back in October when ABC fired Ms. Lee, her son Jeffrey predicted that this might happen because Anna Lee lived for her work. It was what kept her going, he said. ABC was terrible to this great lady. I realize they are a corporation and make decisions based on financial reasons, but the way they treated Ms. Lee, who was a great actress, and have treated other seniors such as John Ingle (Edward) and Rachel Ames (Audrey, the last original cast member) is horrible and heartless. Companies do not have to treat their employees in such a callous manner. I have not enjoyed seeing what NBC has done to many of their seniors on "Days of Our Lives", but at least they did not get rid of them all, for starters. They treated each one with respect, sitting them down and preparing them for the news, and giving them a good story before they wrote them off. They give every exiting cast member a party with a cake, and for Frances Reid they even gave her a very expensive diamond and sapphire ring. They hired John Ingle with a contract after ABC's callous treatment of him.

When Ms. Lee's contract was up in October, ABC did not even bother to phone her, let alone talk to her face-to-face, or give her any story to exit. After we went around publicizing what they did on the internet, ABC put out a press release, trying to say that they weren't firing her, just putting her on recurring status, and they planned to use her in the future. They were lying. They never planned to use her again and in fact didn't even bring her back for the usual Thanksgiving or Christmas episodes. They were trying to do damage control because they knew the fans were objecting to the way they treated Ms. Lee. Shame on ABC.

Ms. Lee was a dedicated actress who devoted her life to her work and to her family. She kept in touch with many fans who are pouring in their well-wishes and sad regards via email. She was loving and hard-working. Even after ABC's treatment of her, she was too much of a lady to complain to the press about ABC or being out of a job. I'm sure that she would have thought that was undignified. I know she was greatly hurt by what they did.

This website will stay up so that fans worldwide can learn about her great career and remember her through the pictures. We will continue to add information and pictures as we find them. Thank you!

And here's Anna Lee's Memorial Page

jayta · 05-18-2004, 01:01 AM

And here they are posting press releases that say that she retired?

ABC is a complete bastard!

RIP Anna.

Cantbehrit · 05-18-2004, 07:52 AM

Her son had said that GH is what kept Anna going - that it fulfilled her life & he didn't know what this would do to her - when they FIRED her. He actually decided to tell her quietly & waited until the time was right - that is what he said a while back.

ABC has done this to quite a few of the original actors on GH. Anna was to be honored this coming Friday but wasn't planning to attend. Her son will accept the Lifetime Achievment Award for her.

Very sad..

Cantbehrit

spazzie · 05-18-2004, 12:15 PM

I stopped watching GH a few months ago. Her passing is so sad. Sniff. I always adored her as Lila.

pacifierrocks · 05-18-2004, 02:35 PM

I'll miss her on GH. I stopped watching, but i always enjoyed her on screen.

MichaelsPatience · 05-18-2004, 08:49 PM

Thank you so much for posting the address, link and additonal information. I didn't know they were giving her the Lifetime Achievement Award. I am watching award ceremony solely to see this presented to her son, and know I'll be in tears. I loved Lila so much, and Anna was such a wonderful actress. Over the years I was lucky enough to come across a few of the movies she was in, she was beautiful and had that lovely smile always.