Sunday, May 5, 2013

Jacqueline Brookes Dead at 82

Jacqueline Brookes, an actress and teacher who appeared on stage and film for more than four decades, passed away on April 26 at age 82.

Brookes, born July 24, 1930, made her Broadway debut in 1955's "Tiger at the Gates" and would go on to dozens of stage roles, including off-Broadway's "Six Characters In Search of An Author" and "The Cretan Woamn," which earned her an Obie Award and a Theatre World Award respectively.

For a year and a half starting in April 1975, Brookes played Beatrice Gordon, the Cory housekeeper, on ANOTHER WORLD. Beatrice left Bay City to take care of her son Ray's children in California. Ray was played by Ted Shackelford, who had just exited the soap.

Her other soap roles included Sister Mary Joel in RYAN'S HOPE, Mrs. Barens in GUIDING LIGHT, Ursula Winthrop on THE SECRET STORM, Miss Thompson in AS THE WORLD TURNS, and Flora Perkins on A FLAME IN THE WIND.

Brookes taught acting techniques at Circle in the Square Theatre School. A former Fulbright scholar at RADA, she also appeared in films and on television including roles in GHOST STORY, WITHOUT A TRACE, THE GAMBLER and LOSING ISAIAH.

Circle in the Square released the following statement via its Facebook page on April 26: "Circle's Acting Technique teacher, Jacqueline 'Jackie' Brookes, died today at the age of 82. Jackie, you touched many hearts, minds, and lives, and your dedication, wisdom, and love will live on for generations. We miss you. Let's all 'hum something.' "

She is survived by her nephews Richard Brookes, Alan Brookes, Tom Brookes, and her niece, Mary Brookes.

6 comments:

  1. Did she play Holly's prison warden on Guiding Light? I think I recognize her from the German dvd set.

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  2. If so, that would be at least her third role on GL. I recall her as a judge in the Phillip/Beth storyline and then later she was Meredith's nurse for a few episodes of GL.

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  3. Patrick, yes! I had forgotten about that. She was Mrs. Barnes, Holly's warden.

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  4. Thanks for the confirmation. I looked and looked - online and in my GL books - for any credit. I knew I had seen her before (but forgot about her being the nurse or the judge!). I *really* miss the dvds. Thanks for all of your work on those!

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  5. I wish they were still coming out! I'm going to check to see if I have any old clips of Holly's prison days.

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  6. Miss Brookes also played 1st Woman Of Corinth in the 1982 PBS Broadcast of Euripides's Medea opposite Tony Award Winners Zoe Caldwell (Medea) & Dame Judith Anderson (Medea's Nurse, ex-Minx Lockridge, Santa Barbara).

    Rest In Peace, Jacqueline Brookes!

    Brian :-|

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