Millette Alexander
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Millette Alexander (born August 11, 1933 in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
) is an American
actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
and concert pianist, best known for having played Dr. Sara McIntyre Gantry Werner Blackford Thorpe on ''The Guiding Light'' from January 1969 to January 1983. She was the third and best-known actress to have portrayed the popular role. She also is known for her three roles on television's ''
The Edge of Night ''The Edge of Night'' is an American television mystery crime drama series and soap opera, created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble Productions. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that netwo ...
'' and for having played Sylvia Hill Suker, R. N. on ''
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 ...
''. Alexander originally was interested in being a concert pianist, but turned her attention to acting. She majored in theater at
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...
. Alexander is best remembered for playing three different characters on ''
The Edge of Night ''The Edge of Night'' is an American television mystery crime drama series and soap opera, created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble Productions. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that netwo ...
'' in the 1950s and 1960s. Those characters were named, Gail Armstrong (1958–1959), a commercial artist; Laura Hathaway Hillyer (1966–1967), a socialite, married to Orin Hillyer; and lastly, her long-lost identical twin sister, Julie (Hathaway) Jamison Hubbard Hillyer (1967–1968). She later appeared as gun moll Gloria Saxon on the short-lived series, ''
From These Roots ''From These Roots'' is an American soap opera that aired from June 30, 1958, to December 29, 1961. It was created and written by Frank Provo and John Pickard. The show was seen on NBC. Storyline Actress Ann Flood starred as Elizabeth "Liz" ...
''. When ''The Edge of Night'' was casting its lead female role Sara Lane in 1956, Millette was offered the role, but declined. She did not want to commit to the role which was to be a longtime commitment. She was later to play three very diverse roles (including one of the first dual roles on daytime television) which she enjoyed. She also played on ''
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 ...
'' from 1964 to 1966 in the role of nurse, Sylvia Hill Suker. Alexander assumed the role of Dr. Sara McIntyre #3 on the serial ''
The 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 ...
'' from January 1969 until January 1983, playing the adoptive mother of character T.J. Werner, a role portrayed by T.J. Hargrave (1974–1978) and later by
Kevin Bacon Kevin Norwood Bacon (born July 8, 1958) is an American actor. His films include the musical-drama film '' Footloose'' (1984), the controversial historical conspiracy legal thriller '' JFK'' (1991), the legal drama '' A Few Good Men'' (1992), t ...
(1980–1981), Christopher Marcantel (1981) and finally by Nigel Reed (1981–1982). Her character was married to Lee Gantry, Dr. Joe Werner, Dean Blackford and Adam Thorpe (father of infamous Roger Thorpe). The role had been created by actress Patricia Roe. Her character was written out of the storyline offscreen when Alexander left the show of her own accord. The move coincided with Alexander's wish to pursue the piano full-time professionally, with her piano duo partner Frank Daykin. The piano duo Alexander and Daykin has performed in Paris'
Salle Gaveau The Salle Gaveau, named after the French piano maker Gaveau, is a classical concert hall in Paris, located at 45-47 rue La Boétie, in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It is particularly intended for chamber music. Construction The plans for ...
and New York's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (three times) to critical acclaim. They have recorded two CDs for Connoisseur Society: Bach's "Die Kunst der Fuge" (winner of American Record Guide 10 Best New Releases of 1996), and "Paris Originals" (20th-century French masterworks for four hands). ''The New York Times'' said: "They make music as one." And the Toronto Citizen, in a review of the Bach CD hailed them as "surely one of the finest piano duos in the world today." Alexander's children are Adam, William, and Jennifer, and she also has several grandchildren. She was the daughter-in-law of Oscar Hammerstein II before she divorced her husband. Alexander is the founder of Chamber Music Central, a summer chamber music camp for children in Fairfield County, Connecticut.


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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Millette Living people American soap opera actresses Northwestern University School of Communication alumni 1933 births 21st-century American women