Norma Connolly
Norma Connolly (August 27, 1927 – November 18, 1998) was an American actress having a career spanning five decades and known for her roles on "The Young Marrieds" as Lena Karr Gilroy and "General Hospital" as Ruby Anderson. Early life. Connolly was born on August 27, 1927, in Boston, Massachusetts to Beulah and Archie Connolly, where her father owned a lumber business. She graduated from Brandeis University in 1958. Connolly studied acting with Morris Carnovsky at the Leland Powers School of Drama, with both Harold Clurman and Stella Adler at Actors Studio, and at the Cushing Academy. Career. Connolly  started her career as a guest star on "Pulitzer Prize Playhouse" in 1951. She next was in "Celanese Theatre" as Marcia in 1952. Connollly would guest star in a number of television programs such as "Danger", "Naked City", "The Twilight Zone", "Dr. Kildare", "Mr. Novak", "The F.B.I.", "I Dream of Jeannie", "", "Columbo", "Little House on the Prairie", and "Charlie's Angels". She starred in the Made-for-TV-Movies "Mr. and Mrs. Cop" and "F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood". Connolly starred the miniseries "QB VII" as Corinne. She is best known for her roles as Lena Karr Gilroy in "The  Young Marrieds" from 1964 to 1966 and Ruby Anderson on "General Hospital" from 1979 to 1998. She was in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man" (1956), Robert Lewin's "Third of a Man" (1962), Robert Mulligan's "The Other" (1972), and James Goldstone's "They Only Kill Their Masters" (1972). On stage, Connolly was in "A Streetcar Named Desire", "Night of the Iguana" and "The Crucible". She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as Ruby Anderson in 1985 at the 12th Daytime Emmy Awards. Personal life and death. Connolly married Howard Rodman in 1954; the marriage  ended when he died on December 5, 1985. Together, they had three children: two sons and one daughter. She was active in the battle against AIDS, serving on the board of Hollywood Helps. Connolly addressed the concerns of actresses in their limited roles in television and film productions. She died on Wednesday, November 18, 1998, from complications of a stroke.