All My Children to dedicate episode to Mary Fickett

ABC soap All My Children will dedicate one of its last episodes to the actress Mary Fickett who passed away earlier this month.

The actress passed away on 8th September and to millions of fans will forever be known as Ruth Parker Brent in All My Children. Fickett was an original cast member on the ABC soap appearing in 1970 and remaining with the soap until 1996 when she announced her desire to scale back her work. However, All My Children was not her only soap work; prior to the launch of the series she also appeared in The Edge of Night in 1961 as Sally Smith and later returned as Dr. Katherine Lovell between 1967 and 1968.

“In memoriam, the network will dedicate the September 21 episode … which focuses on the Martins,…..As we honor All My Children’s 41 years on ABC, we cannot help but recognize and remember Mary’s wonderful depiction of Pine Valley’s revered Ruth…Ruth’s marriage to chief of staff Dr. Joe Martin provided the bedrock upon which the town of Pine Valley was built. Their marriage was always a stabilizing force that represented ‘home’ for many…. We extend our deepest sympathy and thoughts to Mary’s family and longtime fans.” – ABC statement

When All My Children launched in 1970 Flickett’s character of Nurse Ruth was married to an alcoholic who later died and she then married Dr. Joe Martin (Ray McDonnell, who is returning to All My Children for some of its final episodes). In 1973 the actress won a Emmy for a storyline in which she protested about her son being drafted into the army during the Vietnam War.

Fickett left All My Children in 1996 and actress Lee Meriwether took over the role but despite the recasting the actress reprised her role several times afterwards – as did Meriwether after such re-appearances by Fickett. The final episode of All My Children will air on ABC 23rd September and just two days after an episode is dedicated to Mary Fickett.