Helen Gallagher, Tony Award winner and ‘Ryan’s Hope’ star, dead at 98

nypost.com:

confirmed by Edith Meeks, the executive and artistic director at New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio, where Gallagher taught classes.

Playbill released a statement on Instagram about Gallagher’s death.“We are saddened to report that two-time Tony winner Helen Gallagher has passed away at the age of 98.

Our condolences go out to her family, friends, and fans,” the statement read.Gallagher received her first Tony for her role as Gladys Bumps in the 1952 revival of “Pal Joey.” She won her second Tony in 1971 for the show “No, No, Nanette,” where she played Lucille Early.

She also earned a Drama Desk Award for the performance.Gallagher had her first starring role on Broadway in 1953’s “Hazel Flagg.” She went on to appear in the musicals “The Pajama Game,” “Mame,” “Finian’s Rainbow” and “Sweet Charity,” which earned her another Tony nomination.She also performed in revivals of “Guys and Dolls” and “Brigadoon.”Gallagher’s final Broadway role was in “70, Girls, 70” in January 2000.The late star also found success on the ABC soap opera “Ryan’s Hope.” She played Irish matriarch Maeve Ryan for the show’s 13-year duration from 1975 to 1989.Gallagher’s performance won her three Daytime Emmy Awards out of five nominations.“Ryan’s Hope was the best,” Gallagher said in a 1997 interview with RyansBarOnline. “First of all, it was a half-hour show — wonderfully cast and wonderfully written.