Claire Labine, a nine-time daytime Emmy winner who created Ryan’s Hope for ABC and wrote for numerous other soaps over her career died this week from undisclosed causes. She was 82.
An alum of the University of Kentucky and Columbia University’s School of Dramatic Arts, Labine began her writing career in the 1960s with a stint on Captain Kangaroo. After being fired two years into the job, she moved into Soaps, writing for CBS’s Where The Heart Is where, within 2 years she was made head writer.
After CBS cancelled Where The Heart Is in 1973, Labine became head writer on Love of Life, which brought her to the attention of ABC. ABC wanted a companion series to General Hospital, and Labine pitched the idea that would become Ryan’s Hope, which debuted July, 1975. The show would earn eight daytime Emmys over its run, including Outstanding Drama twice. She would be fired twice from Ryan’s Hope but was always asked back; the show ended in 1989.
Labine became head writer on General Hospital in 1993, during her tenure devising some of the show’s best-remembered storylines and winning another Emmy. Labine later served as head writer on One Life To Live and Guiding Light.
Several veterans of General Hospital mourned Labine on social media as the news became public.
