Helen Gallagher, the acclaimed stage and television actress best known for her iconic role as Maeve Ryan on the ABC daytime drama Ryan’s Hope, has died at the age of 98.

Gallagher pᴀssed away on Sunday at a hospital in Manhattan, confirmed by New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio, where she had taught a musical theater singing class for many years.

The Big Apple native’s Broadway debut came in 1952 when she was cast as Gladys Bumps in the musical Pal Joey, earning her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

She went on to star in numerous Golden Age Broadway musicals, including The Pajama Game, Mame, Finian’s Rainbow, and Sweet Charity, the latter alongside Gwen Verdon and Ruth Buzzi.

In 1970, Gallagher earned another Tony nomination for her role in No, No, Nanette, where she played the original Lucille Early, ultimately winning the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.

Her Broadway career also saw her perform in revivals of Guys and Dolls and Brigadoon, solidifying her place as one of the leading actresses of her generation.

Helen Gallagher, the acclaimed stage and television actress best known for her iconic role as Maeve Ryan on the ABC daytime drama Ryan’s Hope, has died at the age of 98

Gallagher pᴀssed away on Sunday at a hospital in Manhattan, confirmed by New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio, where she had taught a musical theater singing class for many years; (Ryan’s Hope 1979)

However, it was in 1975 that Gallagher found a new audience when she was cast as Maeve Ryan, the matriarch of the Ryan family, in the soap opera Ryan’s Hope. 

The show, which ran for 13 years on ABC, featured Gallagher as the heart and soul of a close-knit Irish American family in New York City. 

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Over the course of the series, Gallagher was nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards, winning three times (1976, 1977, and 1988).

Gallagher’s portrayal of Maeve, alongside her onscreen husband Johnny Ryan (played by Bernard Barrow), was central to the show’s success.

The series gave early roles to future stars like Christian Slater, Kate Mulgrew, and Marg Helgenberger. 

After Ryan’s Hope, Gallagher continued her television career with guest roles on other daytime soaps, including Another World, All My Children, and One Life to Live.

She also appeared in episodic TV dramas such as Law & Order and The Cosby Mysteries. 

Gallagher’s talents were not confined to daytime television, as she made occasional appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and several talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

The Big Apple native’s Broadway debut came in 1952 when she was cast as Gladys Bumps in the musical Pal Joey, earning her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

However, it was in 1975 that Gallagher found a new audience when she was cast as Maeve Ryan, the matriarch of the Ryan family, in the soap opera Ryan’s Hope

In addition to her extensive career in television, Gallagher also dabbled in film. 

She appeared in the 1960 drama Strangers When We Meet, starring Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak, and later worked with director James Ivory on Roseland (1977). 

Her last film role came in 1997 in the independent feature Neptune’s Rocking Horse.

Beyond her illustrious work on stage and screen, Gallagher was also a dedicated teacher, serving for many years as a faculty member at the Herbert Berghof Studio.