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The star of a popular 1960s soap opera dies aged 90 after losing his cancer battle

Rodolfo Vieira
By Rodolfo Vieira
Apr 16, 2018
11:01 A.M.

Some people leave their mark in history and become known as true legends, even though some of their work might not be as recognized by the public as it should be.

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Tim O'Connor was one of those people. The actor played many roles throughout his career, but his most famous one was as Elliot Carson in Peyton Place. Unfortunately, he passed away on April 5, 2018.

The reason behind his death was cancer, as his stepson, Garth Kant, informed. He was one of television's oldest gems and he left behind a legacy difficult to match, as reported by The New York Times.

O'Connor's image made him a success among the female audience; his piercing blue eyes, frame and stern features were able to break hearts wherever he went.

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But those features also gave him a chance to portray authority figures and heavy-past characters. One of the actor's greatest qualities was his ability to provide depth to those same characters.

According to the source, no matter what the script had in it, O'Connor made sure to study the character and mold it to be the way he pictured it, even if it went against the director's wishes.

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His television career began in the 50s, with appearances on programs such as Sunday Showcase and The DuPont Show of the Month. For the next forty years, he made several appearances on many different shows.

O'Connor could be seen in Gunsmoke, Mannix, The Defenders, M.A.S.H., The Twilight Zone, Maude, Murder, She Wrote and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Truly a career full of prestigious roles.

As reported by The New York Times, his most famous role was Elliot Carson. O'Connor played the part of the newspaperman for over 400 episodes of Peyton Place and was able to squeeze out the character regarding background and likability.

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