Claire Vaughn Labine (née Wood; June 28, 1934 – November 11, 2016) was an American soap opera writer and producer.[1][2]
Claire Labine | |
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Born | Claire Vaughn Wood (1934-06-28)June 28, 1934 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
Died | November 11, 2016(2016-11-11) (aged 82) Somers, Connecticut, U.S. |
Education | University of Kentucky (BA) Columbia University (MFA) |
Occupation | Screenwriter, producer |
Years active | 1971–2001 |
Spouse(s) | Roland Labine (Divorced) |
Children | 3, including Matthew and Eleanor |
This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. (November 2016) |
In 1993, Labine returned to daytime as head writer of ABC's General Hospital. She brought the show much critical acclaim, and won her seventh Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for her work on the show. She chose to depart the show in early 1996. During this time, she created a proposed General Hospital spin-off, Heart and Soul, about two families, one black, one white, both show business families. The black family was three generations of jazz musicians. Next door was a theatrical family. The show was not picked up by ABC or NBC; Wendy Riche's competing Port Charles was ABC's choice instead.
Labine co-wrote, with Judith Pinsker, the 1995 New York Times bestseller General Hospital tie-in novel Robin's Diary, based in the AIDS storyline between characters Stone Cates and Robin Scorpio.[3]
In 1996, Labine was offered the head writer role at As the World Turns but turned it down because she and her son Matthew Labine were trying to get HEART & SOUL [aka Union Place] on the air. "I had to turn it down because we were in the middle of that development. I said to Procter & Gamble, 'I am gratified by this offer, but if I have any chance at all...' I didn't think there was much chance but I thought it was worth a go to do our own show. And they were very lovely about it."
In late 1996, she was made head writer of ABC's One Life to Live because she had a year and a half left on her contract with ABC. She remained with the show until early 1998.
Most recently, Labine had a short stint at CBS' Guiding Light. She was head writer of the show from 2000 through 2001. Labine shared the reins of GL with her children, Matthew Labine and Eleanor Labine. Rumors abounded throughout Labine's tenure at GL that she, Executive Producer Paul Rauch, and Executive in Charge of Production Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin had frequent arguments about the show's direction.
At one point, it was announced in the soap press that the Labines were departing, only to have the announcement recanted a week later. P&G did eventually replace the Labines the following year with writers Lloyd Gold and Christopher Dunn.
In November 2009, Labine gave WeLoveSoaps.net an exclusive interview during which she discussed her struggles with ABC during Ryan's Hope, her enjoyment of writing General Hospital, and her less enjoyable experiences on One Life to Live and Guiding Light. She discussed details about her aborted project, Union Place, and insights into her illustrious career.[4]
Labine died on November 11, 2016 at her home in Somers, Connecticut at the age of 82 from undisclosed causes.[2]
Captain Kangaroo
Where the Heart Is
Love of Life
Ryan's Hope
9 Wins
12 nominations
National Academy Of New York Arts And Sciences Silver Circle Recipient
Wins
Nominations
Preceded by | Where the Heart Is (with Paul Avila Mayer) mid 1970 – March 1973 |
Succeeded by Show Ended |
Preceded by | Love of Life (with Paul Avila Mayer) March 1973 – July 1975 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by None |
Ryan's Hope (with Paul Avila Mayer) July 1975 – July 1982 |
Succeeded by Mary Ryan Munisteri |
Preceded by Mary Ryan Munisteri |
Ryan's Hope (with Paul Avila Mayer) January 1983 – December 1983 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Tom King & Millee Taggart |
Ryan's Hope (with Matthew Labine & Eleanor Labine) February 1987 – January 1989 |
Succeeded by Show Ended |
Preceded by Bill Levinson |
General Hospital (with Matthew Labine: November 1995 – March 1996) October 1993 – March 1996 |
Succeeded by Robert Guza Jr. Karen Harris |
Preceded by | One Life to Live (with Matthew Labine) June 1997 – March 29, 1998 |
Succeeded by Pam Long |
Preceded by James Harmon Brown and Barbara Esensten |
Guiding Light August 7, 2000 – July 2001 |
Succeeded by Lloyd Gold |
General | |
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National libraries |