‘70s soap opera star, Emmy-nominated actress dies at 82

An Emmy-nominated actress who appeared in numerous soap operas and plays has died. She was 82.

Jennifer Harmon died in New York City on Tuesday, May 9, according to a memorial page set up by her family.

The actress was known as a lead actress in the NBC soap opera “How to Survive a Marriage” (1974-75) and as the villainous Cathy Craig in the ABC soap opera “One Life to Live” (1976-78). For her role in “One Life to Live,” Harmon received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Harmon was born in Pasadena, California on Dec. 3, 1943, and raised in New Orleans, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actress attended the University of Mississippi and the University of Michigan before moving to New York.

Harmon later joined the APA-Phoenix Repertory Company, which took her to Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in 1965 in “You Can’t Take It With You.” She went on to appear in multiple plays, including “The Wild Duck,” “The Cherry Orchard,” “The Show-Off,” “Blithe Spirit,” “The Sisters Rosensweig,” “The Little Foxes,” “The Dinner Party,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Seascape,” “Barefoot in the Park” and “Other Desert Cities,” according to IMDb.

During her time on Broadway, Harmon often served as an understudy for stars, including Stockard Channing, Judi Dench, Jessica Lange, Marian Seldes and Blythe Danner, PEOPLE reported.

In “How to Survive a Marriage,” Harmon played Chris Kirby, who got divorced, remarried and battled alcoholism. She returned to “One Life to Live” in the early ’90s to play an attorney representing Erika Slezak’s Viki Lord. Harmon also appeared in other soaps such as “Another World,” “Guiding Light” and “Loving,” according to THR.

Harmon’s other television credits include work on “Barnaby Jones,” “Dallas,” “The White Shadow,” “St. Elsewhere,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Oz,” “Rescue Me” and “The Good Wife.”