Gretchen Oehler (December 13, 1943 – September 8, 2001) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

actress, most recognized for her long-running role as Vivien Gorrow on the

soap operas A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

'' Another World'' and '' Texas''. Oehler attended the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, now the theatre department at DePaul University, winning the prestigious Sarah Siddons Society scholarship for the 1964–65 school year. In January 1965, Oehler played Miss Amelia Evans to rave reviews in a special adaptation for the Goodman Theater stage of ''The Ballad of the Sad Café'' by playwright Edward Albee.In October 1977, she debuted as Miss Wells in the hugely successful Broadway revival of

Dracula ''Dracula'' is a novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897. As an epistolary novel, the narrative is related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist, but opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taking ...

. Oehler continued in the part for 900 performances, appearing opposite Frank Langella and later fellow soap actor

Christopher Bernau Christopher Bernau (born Herbert Augustine Bernau, June 2, 1940 – June 14, 1989) was an American actor. Filmography *(''Dark Shadows'') (1969-1970) (Phillip Todd/Opening Voiceover) *(Broadway on Showtime) (1980) (Dracula) *(''Guiding Light'') ...

(

Alan Spaulding Alan Spaulding is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light''. He was played by Christopher Bernau from the time of the character's introduction in 1977 until 1984, and from 1986 to June 1988, when Bernau left the role due to ...

, ''

Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the third longest-running drama in television in American history. ''Guiding Light'' a ...

'') in the title role. Concurrent with her Broadway run, Oehler joined the cast of the NBC daytime soap ''Another World'' in May 1978 as Vivien Gorrow, the eccentric but lovable maid of spoiled Iris Cory (first played by

Beverlee McKinsey Beverlee McKinsey (August 9, 1935 – May 2, 2008) was an American actress. She is best known for her roles on daytime serials, including Iris Wheeler, Iris Cory Carrington on ''Another World (TV series), Another World'' and the spin-off series ...

and then by

Carmen Duncan Carmen Joan Duncan (7 July 1942 – 3 February 2019) was an Australian-born stage and screen actress and activist, with a career locally and internationally in the United States that spanned over 50 years. She was nominated for the AFI Award ...

). Oehler remained on ''Another World'' until February 1981, when she crossed over to AW's sister soap '' Texas'' in episode 134. After ''Texas'' was cancelled on December 31, 1982, the actress returned to ''Another World'' as Vivien for two additional runs (February 1983-May 1984 and September 1988-December 1990). In the 1990s, Gretchen Oehler was diagnosed with cancer. She died in

Moose, Wyoming Moose is an unincorporated community in Teton County, Wyoming, in the Jackson Hole valley. It has a US Post Office, with the zip code of 83012. The town is located within Grand Teton National Park along the banks of the Snake River. It is populat ...

External links

* *
Clips from ''Texas'' episodes
2001 deaths Deaths from cancer in Wyoming DePaul University alumni Place of birth missing American soap opera actresses 1943 births 20th-century American actresses {{US-tv-actor-1940s-stub