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General Hospital star Elizabeth MacRae dies at the age of 88

Elizabeth MacRae, who in Gomer Pyle, USMC. and appeared in General Hospital in the 1970s, has died. She was 88.

MacRae died peacefully on Monday, May 28 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, according to a local outlet City view And DeadlineAccording to her obituary, she leaves behind five stepchildren, several nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

“She had a wonderful life,” said her nephew Jim McRae City view“She was intelligent and articulate. She still received fan mail at Highland House.”

Elizabeth MacRae (right) with Jim Nabors on “Gomer Pyle, USMC” in 1968.

CBS Photo Archive/Getty


“Elizabeth had the ‘X-factor’ that is an important part of being an artist,” Mayon Weeks, who inducted MacRae into the Fayetteville Performing Arts Hall of Fame, told the outlet. “She ‘lit up’ the room when she was present, and that theatrical presence was in full bloom when she starred in the play. picnicat the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. A warm and pleasant person and a captivating performer in film and on stage. A treasured daughter of our Fayetteville community.”

MacCrae, who was born in Columbia, South Carolina and grew up in Fayetteville, began a career as an actress in 1956. After her education in Washington DC, she moved to New York City and became a courtroom witness on the CBS series “The The decision is yours two years later. She played in episodes of Naked City, Asphalt jungle, loner, Dr. Kildare, The Untouchables, loner And Smoking Colts.

In 1966 she got a recurring role as Lou-Ann Poovie in Gomer Pyle, USMC Lou-Ann was the girlfriend of Jim Nabors’ title character, and McCrae appeared frequently on the show until the series ended in 1969.

Elizabeth MacRae in “Rendezvous” in 1959.

CBS via Getty


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MacRae also booked roles in soap operas. She played Meg Baldwin in General Hospital from 1969 to 1973 and had roles in Another world, Days of our lives And Example.

MacRae has appeared in several films, including as the voice actress for Ladyfish in the comedy “Don Knotts” The Incredible Mr. Limpet and a role in Francis Ford Coppola’s The conversation with Gene Hackman.

In 1989, MacRae left Hollywood and returned to New York City, where she worked as a drug and alcohol counselor at the Freedom Institute. MacRae and her husband, the late Charles Halsey, later moved to Fayetteville, where she grew up. In April 2023, she was inducted into the Fayetteville Performing Arts Hall of Fame.

Donations in MacRae’s name may be made to the Fayetteville Animal Protection Society or St. John’s Episcopal Church. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.