Peter White, known for his role as Linc Tyler on the long-running soap opera All My Children, has passed away at the age of 86. The actor died at his home in Los Angeles after battling melanoma, according to his All My Children co-star Kathleen Noone.
In addition to his iconic role on All My Children, White also made appearances on other popular television shows. He portrayed Arthur Cates, the attorney for Sable Colby, on the primetime soap The Colbys from 1985 to 1986. He also had a recurring role as the deceased doctor dad on the NBC drama Sisters from 1991 to 1996.
White first portrayed Linc Tyler on All My Children from 1974 to 1980, and later returned for several stints in the role. His portrayal of Linc, the son of Pine Valley matriarch Phoebe Tyler, made him a beloved figure among soap opera fans. White’s involvement in the series spanned over four decades.
Apart from his television work, White also had a successful stage career. He starred as Alan McCarthy in Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band, which opened off-Broadway in 1968. The play, a groundbreaking piece of American theater, depicted the lives of a group of gay men attending a birthday party. White noted that the play was significant in its portrayal of gay characters, as most previous portrayals had been veiled or demonized. The play later became a landmark 1970 film adaptation, directed by William Friedkin.
Born in New York City in 1937, White began his acting career on the soap opera The Secret Storm in the mid-1960s. He later appeared on various television shows and films, including a guest spot on the popular series N.Y.P.D. in 1968. Despite initial reservations, White went on to take the role in The Boys in the Band, which became a huge success and ran for over 1,000 performances.
White returned to the soap opera world in 1971, appearing as Dr. Sanford Hiller on Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing. He also had a brief stint on Broadway in 1975, starring in P.S. Your Cat Is Dead. Throughout his career, White made numerous guest appearances on popular television shows and appeared in films such as Dave, Mother, Flubber, Armageddon, Thirteen Days, and First Daughter.
In recent years, White dedicated his time to coaching aspiring actors, helping them prepare for auditions. He was a beloved figure in the entertainment industry and will be remembered for his contributions to both soap operas and the theater world.
White was not married and did not have any children, according to Noone. News of his death was first reported by the SoapHub website. His passing marks the end of an era in the soap opera and theater communities, as fans and fellow actors mourn the loss of a talented and beloved performer.