Peter White, All My Children and Boys in the Band Actor, Dies at 86

 Posted on September 2, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  857 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

Peter White, known for his role as attorney Lincoln (Linc) Tyler on soap opera “All My Children” and for his role onstage and on screen in “The Boys in the Band,” died of melanoma at his home in Los Angeles on Nov. 1. He was 86.

In “Armageddon,” White played the Secretary of Defense, while he joined the U.S. government again as Secretary of Commerce in “Dave.” With a distinguished look, Whit was particularly in demand for parts as senators, college deans and ambassadors.

The actor, a graduate of Northwestern and the Yale School of Drama, got his first major acting role as an understudy for Robert Redford in the Broadway production of “Barefoot in the Park” along Myrna Loy. That role formally introduced White to the world of Broadway.

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In 1968, White starred as Alan McCarthy in the play “The Boys in the Band,” about a group of gay men who attend a birthday party in a Manhattan apartment. “The Boys in the Band” was a critical and box office success, earning the actor wider recognition among the public. White was a part of the play until it closed after 1,001 performances. After that, he went on to star in the film version with the original cast members from the Broadway production.

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Starting in the 1970s, White played socialite Phoebe Tyler’s son, attorney Lincoln (Linc) Tyler, on the daytime soap opera “All My Children.” Set in the fictional Philadelphia suburb of Pine Valley, the series centered on the relationships between the families inhabiting the town. White starred as Linc on and off again for over 30 years. In 2020, it was announced that former “All My Children” stars Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos would be reviving the popular series with a reboot.

White acted until his early 80s, also taking the time to mentor and coach young aspiring actors. His film credits include “Mother,” “Armageddon” and “Thirteen Days,” among others. Television credits include “The Jeffersons,” “Falcon Crest,” “Dynasty,” “Hart to Hart” and “The West Wing.”

White is survived by two nieces, two great nieces and two great nephews.

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