Legendary Soap Opera Writer Behind ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dies at 94

Margaret DePriest, a trailblazing writer and former actress who worked on some of America’s most famous soap operas, has passed away at the age of 94.

Her daughter, Sara Kimbell, told The Hollywood Reporter that DePriest died of natural causes on September 29 at her home in Greenwich Village.

DePriest’s career in daytime TV stretched over three decades. She started as an actress, playing Abby Cameron on CBS’ The Edge of Night and a social worker named Mrs. Berger on NBC’s The Doctors. In 1969, she and her mentor Lou Scofield created the CBS soap Where the Heart Is. Kimbell remembered that network executives once praised her for “writing like a man.”

After four years on Where the Heart Is, DePriest became head writer for CBS’ Love of Life in 1975. She later returned to The Doctors in 1976 and then joined ABC’s General Hospital as a writer and head writer from 1978 to 1981. She was part of the team when Luke and Laura’s wedding became a legendary moment in daytime TV.

She moved on to NBC’s Days of Our Lives, where she worked for three seasons alongside head writers Pat Falken Smith and Sheri Anderson.

Together, they refreshed the fictional town of Salem, adding new locations and families, including the blue-collar Brady family. DePriest also helped create the gripping storyline of the Salem Strangler and worked on the 1985 wedding of Bo and Hope, another iconic soap couple.

DePriest continued her career on Another World, All My Children, One Life to Live, and Sunset Beach, where she enjoyed working with producer Aaron Spelling. Over the years, she earned multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for her writing on shows like General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, All My Children, and One Life to Live.

Her daughter described her as “exacting and unafraid to challenge executives,” adding that she “favored strong female leads and layered storylines that tackled social change, class and identity.”

Margaret DePriest’s long career left a lasting mark on daytime television, remembered for her bold storytelling, unforgettable characters, and pioneering work as a woman in a field dominated by men.

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