Pamela Blair on March 30, 1983.Photo:ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Pamela Blair, an actress known forAll My Childrenand originating the role of Val inA Chorus LineonBroadway,has died at the age of 73.
The star died following a lengthy illness at her home in Phoenix on Sunday, according toDeadline, which first reported the news.
Several of Blair’s family and friends, including herChorus Linecostar Baayork Lee, shared touchingtributes to the actresson social media following her death.
“I am very sad to say my Sagittarian sister Pam Blair has gone to play with her [A Chorus Line] Colleagues among the clouds,” Lee, 76, wrote in a Monday Facebook post.
Pamela Blair photographed in costume on Nov.23, 1983.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
The actress went on to note that she and Blair “shared the same birthday” of Dec. 5, and “always wrote to one another no matter where we were on that day.”
“What a colorful character she was as depicted in the Val monologue in the show,” Lee recalled of Blair’s nightly performance, which included the popular“Dance: Ten; Looks: Three.”
She continued of Blair, “She brought the house down every night as well as a woman standing at the edge of the orchestra shouting, ‘Wash your mouth out.’ ”
“You are free now Pammie so dance, dance, dance among the stars,” Lee ended her post.
Pamela Blair performing inA Chorus Line.Getty Images
Getty Images
Blair was born on Dec. 5, 1949, in Bennington, Vermont, and studied drama withCleopatraactor Herbert Berghof at the HB Studio in New York City, per abiography on IMDB.
She made her Broadway debut in 1968’sPromises, Promisesand went on to star in the ensemble of showsSugarandSeesaw. She eventually landed a bigger part, playing the only female role in 1974’sOf Mice and Men, as Curley’s wife.
Blair then went on to star as Valerie “Val” Clarke inA Chorus Line, a character based partly on her own life and experiences which she helped develop during workshops of the show,according to a tweetfrom the official account of lateChorus Linecomposer Marvin Hamlisch.
The actress and singer had been a part of the musical since its first-ever workshop in 1974. “Our thoughts are with her loved ones and fans,” Hamlisch’s account said.
Pamela Blair and Bryan Cranston on the showLovingon Jan. 19, 1984.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
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Among the accolades Blair received over the course of her career was a Theatre World Award forA Chorus Line, as well as nominations for a Drama Desk Award and DaytimeEmmy Awardfor her performances inThe Best Little Whorehouse in TexasandAll My Children, respectively.
source: people.com
