Rachel Kay Foulger (born November 2, 1929), known professionally as Rachel Ames, is an American film and television actress.
The daughter of actors
Byron Foulger
Byron Kay Foulger (August 27, 1898 – April 4, 1970) was an American character actor who over a 50-year career performed in hundreds of stage, film, and television productions.
Early years
Born in Ogden, Utah, Byron was the second of four ...
and
Dorothy Adams
Dorothy Adams (January 8, 1900 – March 16, 1988) was an American character actress of stage, film, and television.
Early years
Adams was born in Hannah, North Dakota. She later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and was educated there.
...
, she was raised in
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, and Los Angeles, California. She attended
University High School and the
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...
studying drama before signing an acting contract with
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...
, using the stage name Judith Ames. She made her film debut in the studio's science-fiction film ''
When Worlds Collide
''When Worlds Collide'' is a 1933 science fiction novel co-written by Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie; they also co-authored the sequel ''After Worlds Collide'' (1934). It was first published as a six-part monthly serial (September 1932 through Fe ...
'' (1951), followed by ''
Ricochet Romance
"Ricochet" (sometimes rendered "Rick-o-Shay" and also as "Ricochet Romance") is a popular music, popular song. The credits show it to be written by Larry Coleman (composer), Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel, without apportioning the w ...
'' (1954).
She went on to have a prolific career in television, where she became best known for her role as
Audrey March Hardy
Audrey Hardy is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, ''General Hospital''. She has been portrayed by Rachel Ames on a contract basis from 1964 to 2002, and on a recurring basis from 2002 to 2007, making guest appearances in 2009, 2013, an ...
on the soap opera ''
General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...
'', beginning in 1964. Ames's role is the longest-running in the series' history, spanning over 50 years and earning her multiple
Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
nominations.
Early life
Ames was born Rachel Kay Foulger on November 2, 1929 in Portland, Oregon,
the eldest child of actress (and later college drama instructor) Dorothy Adams and actor Byron Foulger. Her sister, Mary Amanda Foulger, was born on May 16, 1942. Through her father, she is of
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
descent, the fourth generation of English immigrants from
Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
, who settled in the
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
area.
[
Ames spent her early life in Portland, but relocated to California so her parents could work, performing and teaching at the ]Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...
. She graduated from University High School and later enrolled at UCLA, where her mother was a professor in the university's drama department.
Career
Early work
Ames debuted professionally in 1949 in ''Pilgrimage Play'', and she joined her parents in acting in ''One Foot in Heaven'' at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California
Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district.
I ...
. She transitioned into film under the stage name Judith Ames, and was
under contract with Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...
for three years in the early 1950s; her first feature film was ''When Worlds Collide'' (1951), a science-fiction thriller based on the 1933 novel of the same name. The same year, she had appeared in "Toast to Our Brother", a short film
A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...
documenting fraternity life at UCLA, where she was a student at the time.
She had an uncredited role in the film noir '' The Turning Point'' (1952), followed by a minor part in the Western ''Arrowhead
An arrowhead or point is the usually sharpened and hardened tip of an arrow, which contributes a majority of the projectile mass and is responsible for impacting and penetrating a target, as well as to fulfill some special purposes such as sign ...
'' (1953) with Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist.
As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten C ...
. The following year, she had a supporting role in the Western comedy ''Ricochet Romance'' (1954). In her only regular role on primetime television, Ames played Policewoman Sandy McAllister on '' The Lineup'' in that program's final season during 1959. Ames also had dozens of other guest-starring appearances in television, on series such as ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before ''Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely base ...
'', '' The Virginian'', '' Ironside'', ''Wagon Train
''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...
'', '' Trackdown'', ''Ben Casey
''Ben Casey'' is an American medical drama series that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols " ♂, ♀, ✳, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaff ...
'', ''Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...
'', ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents
''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...
'', and six different appearances on ''Science Fiction Theater
''Science Fiction Theatre'' was an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955 and ended on April 6, 1957, with a total of ...
''. In "The Jodie Tyler Story" episode of the series ''Whispering Smith
''Whispering Smith'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers. The supporting cast includes Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall and Donald C ...
'', she played the title role, billed as Rachel Foulger. Her mother, Dorothy Adams, was in the same episode, though they had no scenes together. She appeared in a lead role in the 1960 Western ''Gunfighters of Abilene
''Gunfighters of Abilene'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Buster Crabbe, Barton MacLane and Judith Ames. '', opposite Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...
and Barton MacLane
Barton MacLane (December 25, 1902 – January 1, 1969) was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his role as General Martin Peterson on the 1960s NBC ...
.
''General Hospital''
On February 23, 1964, Ames debuted on ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
's daytime serial, ''General Hospital
''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...
'', playing Audrey Hardy, R.N. Her tenure in the part is the longest-running role in the network's history, spanning five decades.[ She also played Audrey Hardy on the ''General Hospital'' spin-off series '']Port Charles
''Port Charles'' (commonly abbreviated as ''PC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from June 1, 1997, to October 3, 2003. It was a spin-off of the series ''General Hospital'', which has been running since 1963 and takes pl ...
'' in the late 1990s. Her contract was not renewed for ''General Hospital'' in 2003, but she still appeared as a recurring character from 2003 until 2007, and made a brief appearance in 2009. On February 13, 2013, Genie Francis
Eugenie Ann Francis (born May 26, 1962) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Laura Spencer (General Hospital), Laura Spencer on the television soap opera ''General Hospital'' from 1977 to present, for which she won a ...
( Laura Spencer) announced on ''Katie
Katie is an English feminine name. It is a form Katherine, Kate, Caitlin, Kathleen, Katey and their related forms. It is frequently used on its own.
People Sports
*Katie Boulter (born 1996), British tennis player
*Katie Clark (born 1994), Briti ...
'' that Ames returned to the show on March 29, 2013. She reprised the role again for one episode on October 30, 2015.
Ames has been nominated three times for a Daytime Emmy Award as Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama for her role on ''General Hospital''. In 2004, Ames was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions.
Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include:
A
* A.C. ...
at the 31st Daytime Emmy Awards
The 31st Daytime Emmy Awards, commemorating excellence in American daytime programming from 2003, was held on May 21, 2004 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Vanessa Marcil hosted. Creative Arts Emmy Awards were presented on May 15, 2004 ...
ceremony at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Nicknamed "The Showplac ...
in New York City. In 1997, she appeared on ABC's special two-hour primetime preview of new daytime series ''Port Charles'', a spin-off of the long-running, Emmy-winning hit ''General Hospital''. Ames played her signature role of Audrey Hardy.
Later career
In 2007, Ames retired from ''General Hospital'' after 43 years. On October 1, 2009, she was announced to be reappearing as Audrey in mid-October after a two-year absence from the show. She reprised Audrey again in April 2013, to coincide with ''General Hospital''s 50th anniversary and again on October 30, 2015.[
]
Personal life
Ames married Jack Genung on January 31, 1952, in Los Angeles. Her second husband, Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
-born actor Barry Cahill, and she had two daughters, Christine and Susan, and two grandchildren, Jocelyn and Marc (one source says that Susan was Ames's daughter by her first marriage). Cahill died in April 2012, after 42 years of marriage.
Filmography
Film
Television
References
Works cited
*
*
*
*
External links
*
*
*
Rachel Ames
at the Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ames, Rachel
1929 births
Living people
Actresses from Portland, Oregon
American people of English descent
American soap opera actresses
American television actresses
Daytime Emmy Award winners
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
Paramount Pictures contract players
University High School (Los Angeles) alumni
University of California, Los Angeles alumni