William Donald MacLaughlin (November 24, 1906 - May 28, 1986) was an
American actor. The son of a doctor, MacLaughlin was born November 24,
1906, in Webster, Iowa. He studied speech and English at Iowa Wesleyan
University, Northwestern University, and the University of
Arizona.MacLaughlin originated the role of lawyer Chris Hughes on As
the World Turns in 1956, and played the role until his death in 1986.
Contract negotiations kept him (and his on-screen wife Helen Wagner)
off the soap for most of the early 1980s, but the show finally
welcomed the two back in a big storyline with heavy uses of past clips
from the show. In the story, Chris and his wife Nancy were celebrating
their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In real life, As the World Turns
was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary on the air.MacLaughlin also
was a member of the cast of Gang Busters.Prior to TV, MacLaughlin was
active on radio, beginning in 1933. He starred as the title character
on radio's David Harding, Counterspy in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945,
he joined the cast of The Romance of Helen Trent, in the role of
Dwight Swanson, "a rancher who becomes interested in Helen Trent."
MacLaughlin's other roles on radio included those listed in the table
below.
American actor. The son of a doctor, MacLaughlin was born November 24,
1906, in Webster, Iowa. He studied speech and English at Iowa Wesleyan
University, Northwestern University, and the University of
Arizona.MacLaughlin originated the role of lawyer Chris Hughes on As
the World Turns in 1956, and played the role until his death in 1986.
Contract negotiations kept him (and his on-screen wife Helen Wagner)
off the soap for most of the early 1980s, but the show finally
welcomed the two back in a big storyline with heavy uses of past clips
from the show. In the story, Chris and his wife Nancy were celebrating
their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In real life, As the World Turns
was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary on the air.MacLaughlin also
was a member of the cast of Gang Busters.Prior to TV, MacLaughlin was
active on radio, beginning in 1933. He starred as the title character
on radio's David Harding, Counterspy in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945,
he joined the cast of The Romance of Helen Trent, in the role of
Dwight Swanson, "a rancher who becomes interested in Helen Trent."
MacLaughlin's other roles on radio included those listed in the table
below.
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