Harding Lemay (March 16, 1922 – May 26, 2018), also known as Pete Lemay, was an American screenwriter and playwright. He was best known for his stint as head writer of the

soap opera 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''.

Career

Lemay was head writer of the soap opera '' Another World'', from 1971 to 1979. The series earned a

Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences ...

for Outstanding Drama Series in 1976. By 1979, Lemay decided not to continue writing the series for a ninth straight calendar year, and first handed over the reins to a new writer before exiting for good later that year. He also wrote out three of the show's most popular actors George Reinholt (

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( Alice Matthews Frame), and

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(Mary Matthews), in 1975. Lemay co-created ''

Lovers and Friends ''Lovers and Friends'' is an American soap opera that aired on NBC from January 3 to May 6, 1977. When the show didn't catch on immediately, NBC put the show on hiatus for seven months, and then brought it back on December 6, 1977 as a retooled sh ...

'' with

Paul Rauch Paul Rauch (1930 – December 10, 2012) was an American television and film producer. Rauch's work was primarily in American soap operas. Career Rauch's earlier jobs included Vice President, Programs-East Coast for CBS, Supervising Producer for ...

, later retooled and referred to as ''For Richer, For Poorer''. Lemay was also a playwright, whose works have been produced both off-Broadway and on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. He was also a friend and mentor to

Douglas Marland Douglas Marland (born Marland Messner; May 5, 1934 – March 6, 1993) was an American writer, known for his work as the head writer of several soap operas. Career Marland began his career as an actor, appearing on the Irna Phillips series ''The B ...

, who served as his subwriter on ''Another World'' and later became one of daytime's most prolific writers, serving as head writer for '' Guiding Light'', '' General Hospital'' and ''

As the World Turns ''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other s ...

''.

Personal life

Lemay was born on March 16, 1922, near the Mohawk Indian reservation in North Bangor, New York, where his mother grew up; he ran away to New York City at age 17. There, he attended the

Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre is a full-time professional conservatory for actors in New York City. First operational from 1915 to 1927, the school re-opened in 1928 and has been active ever since. It is the birthplace of th ...

. From September 1947 to 1953, he was married to Priscilla Amidon. He married his second wife, Dorothy Shaw on September 19, 1953; she died in 1994. His third wife was Gloria Gardner. Lemay died on May 26, 2018, at the age of 96.

Positions held

'' Another World'' * Story Consultant (1995–1997) *Head writer (1971–1979; 1988) ''

'' *Story Consultant '' The Doctors'' *Head writer (1981–1982) '' Guiding Light'' *Consultant (1995) *Writer (1980-1981) ''

''/''For Richer, For Poorer'' *Co-Creator *Head writer (1977) '' One Life to Live'' *Story Consultant (1998–1999)

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (N ...

WINS *(1975; Best Writing; ''Another World'') *(1981; Best Writing; ''Guiding Light'') NOMINATIONS *(1977 & 1996; Best Writing; ''Another World'')

HW Tenure

Works

* *

References

External links

1997 Interview with Soap Opera Digest
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemay, Harding 1922 births 2018 deaths American soap opera writers Place of death missing Daytime Emmy Award winners People from Bangor, New York People from Fire Island, New York Screenwriters from New York (state)