Ellen Holly, the pioneering Black actress who played a lead role in the soap opera “One Life to Live,” passed away at the age of 92. She died on Wednesday at a hospital in the Bronx. Her publicist, Cheryl L. Duncan, confirmed her death in a statement, but no cause was given.
Born in Manhattan on January 16, 1931, Ellen Holly grew up in the Richmond Hill neighborhood of Queens. She made her Broadway debut in 1956 and went on to perform in several other Broadway productions after graduating from Hunter College.
Ellen Holly rose to fame as the star of the hit ABC show “One Life to Live” from 1968 to 1985. Her portrayal of the character Carla made her the first Black person to have a leading role in a soap opera. She was chosen for the role by television producer Agnes Nixon, who was inspired by a New York Times column written by Holly in 1968, where she discussed the challenges faced by Black women with lighter skin in finding acting roles.
In “One Life to Live,” her character, Carla, initially passed as white before revealing her true identity as a Black woman. This storyline involved a love triangle with two doctors, one white and the other Black.
Ellen Holly’s autobiography, titled “One Life: The Autobiography of an African American Actress,” was published in 1996. Throughout her career, she also wrote opinion columns for The New York Times, focusing on topics such as the arts, race, and civil rights.
She is survived by several grand-nieces, cousins, and other family members.