Celeste Holm Dead at 95

Celeste Holm in 1974 with her husband
(and future LOVING co-star) Wesley Addy.

Academy Award winner Celeste Holm has died at age 95, according to a report on TV's NY1.

Holm's soap opera credits include roles as Clara and Lydia Woodhouse (guest appearance in 1986) and Isabella Alden In LOVING (1991-1992), Lauren Roberts In AS THE WORLD TURNS (1981) , Anna Rossini In FALCON CREST (1985). She earned an Emmy nomination for her guest appearance in LOVING in 1987 (John Wesley Shipp won that year). She told reporters at the time that when she taped her appearances as bag lady Clara on the streets of New York, no one recognized her. She taped her last appearance on LOVING 20 years ago today.

During her LOVING appearances Holm was married to Wesley Addy, who played the role of Cabot Alden on the series. They were married in 1966 and stayed together until his death in 1996.

Celeste Holm with FALCON CREST
co-star Anne Archer.

Holm appeared in over two dozen Broadway shows, including her debut in 1938 in "Gloriana," and including "Oklahoma" (she originated the role of Ado Annie), "Bloomer Girl," "The King and I," "Mame," "Candida," and her most recent Broadway appearance in 1991's "I Hate Hamlet."

In 1964, she received an Obie Award for her work in an Off-Broadway production of "A Month in the Country."

Holm earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film, Gentlemen's Agreement, and received Oscar nominations for Come to the Stable and All About Eve. Her other films included The Tender Trap, High Society and Three Little Girls in Blue.

In addition to her Daytime Emmy nomination for LOVING, she earned Emmy Award nominations for INSIGHT and BACKSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. Holm appeared as the Fairy Godmother in the 1965 television version of Cinderella and in numerous television series, including NANCY, ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE, THE BEAT and PROMISED LAND.

She is survived by her husband, Frank Basile, and her sons.

Last July the New York Times published a very sad story about Holm's failing health and the battle for control of her dwindling fortune.