Nancy Addison

Nancy Addison Altman (March 21, 1946 – June 18, 2002), also known as Nancy Addison, was an American actress noted for her appearances in soap operas. She first attracted notice for playing Kit Vestid on the television soap opera "Guiding Light" for five years beginning in 1969. She is best known for her role as Jillian Coleridge on the soap opera "Ryan's Hope" which she played for over twelve years beginning with the show's premiere in 1975. She left the show in early 1988 but returned for its final episodes in 1989.
Biography.
Born in New York City, Addison studied under Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.
Addison's first soap opera role was Kit Vestid on "Guiding Light" which she played from 1969 to 1974. In 1975, she debuted on the new ABC soap opera "Ryan's Hope" in the role with which she is most identified, Jillian Coleridge. Addison played the role for over twelve years until she decided to leave in late 1987, and made her final appearance in January 1988. She returned briefly a year later to reprise the role of Jill for the show's final episodes. Later in 1989, she moved into the role of Marissa Rampal on "All My Children". Addison portrayed Deborah Brewster Alden from 1993 to 1995 on "Loving", and in 1995 played the same role on "The City".
Addison co-starred with James Coburn in the three-part television mini-series "The Dain Curse" (1978). She also appeared in "Somewhere, Tomorrow" (1983), "Baby Me" (1988) and the long-running television series "Law & Order" in different roles on various episodes.
In the spring of 1978, Ms. Addison was selected to serve as the honorary celebrity “Queen of the Azaleas”, during the annual Azalea Festival, held in Wilmington, North Carolina. 
Personal life.
Twice married, Addison volunteered a great deal of her time working with children with HIV/AIDS.
Illness and death.
In 1999, she was diagnosed with cancer of her adrenal gland and bronchial tubes, which claimed her life in 2002 in New York City, aged 56. She was survived by her second husband, Daniel Goldfarb.