Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Eileen "Mike" Pollock Dead at 86

Eileen "Mike" Pollock has died at age 86, according to The Desert Sun.

Along with husband, Robert (Bob) Pollock, she wrote for LOVE OF LIFE, then THE DOCTORS in the early 1970s, which earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Best Writing for a Drama Series in 1974.

After a five year run, they moved out West and wrote for GENERAL HOSPITAL.  She created characters such as Monica Quartermaine and Heather Webber that are still active on the show to this day.

She was best known as a writer and producer for DYNASTY in the 1980s as well as its spin-off series, THE COLBYS, and miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. She joined DYNASTY in Season 2 and brought the character of Alexis to life.

"It had to be Alexis," Ms. Pollock recalled to New York magazine in a 1985 interview about the naming of the character. "Within 72 hours, we had her plotted out to her 80th birthday. She was inevitable. We went to a meeting with (producer) Aaron Spelling and told him, 'If you get rid of this character in four episodes, you are throwing away millions of dollars.' We also told him Sophia Loren wasn't right for the part." Joan Collins, they decided, was right.

In 1997, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to the couple.

Born Eileen Prince, the radio actress met her husband while working on an ABC radio soap opera, MY TRUE STORY. They fell in love and wed seven months later. "Miss Prince" became "Mrs. Pollock" and husband Bob changed "Eileen" to "Mike" because they had met across a microphone. A charmed marriage followed for sixty-five years.

Six months ago Ms. Pollock suffered a massive stroke, followed by two more strokes. Finally, three weeks after her 65th wedding anniversary she passed away.

According to the paper, her longtime husband "stood, bereft, as her coffin was placed in its crypt. He said a last goodbye to his 'most beautiful girl in the world.'"

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