General Hospital star Doug Sheehan dead at 75 as fans cry ‘he’ll be missed!’ and remember his TV character Joe Kelly
GENERAL Hospital actor Doug Sheehan has died at age 75, leaving fans mourning the sudden loss of a TV legend.
Doug played Joe Kelly on the iconic soap series.
The General Hospital star “passed away peacefully” in his Big Horn, Wyoming home, on June 29, 2024.
His death was announced by the Kane Funeral Home via its website.
Doug died “with his loving wife [Cate Abert] at his side,” according to the funeral home.
No other details have been shared at this time, and the cause of death has yet to be revealed.
‘LOVED HIM’
Fans flooded social media to mourn the actor following the tragic news as it circulated a week later.
“Very sad news,” one user wrote via X on Monday, July 8.
“Loved him as Joe. Ben & Val had some sweet moments but I was always wanting Gary & Val. We are losing too many beloved soap vets,” wrote another.
“My prayers and condolences to the family of Doug Sheehan. He played Joe Kelly on General Hospital from 1979 to 1982. I am so sad to hear about this. He will be missed,” wrote a third.
“Sorry to see that General Hospital and Knots Landing alum Doug Sheehan has passed,” wrote a fourth. “I met him at a press event many years ago, and I recall him being just as amiable as his on-screen persona suggested he was.”
“Oh no, another wonderful General Hospital actor has passed away. The fun, charming, and very talented Doug Sheehan. Played Joe Kelly. He did a lot of other work, too, as on Knot’s Landing and more. May he rest in peace,” wrote a fifth.
Doug was beloved for his roles on General Hospital and Knots Landing, appearing in over 100 episodes of each TV show.
LIFE MADE FOR TV
Born in Santa Monica, California, in 1949, Doug’s career began when he appeared in a 1978 episode of Charlie’s Angels.
After that, he was a series regular as lawyer Joe Kelly on General Hospital.
Regular may be putting it lightly, as he appeared in a whopping 205 episodes from 1979 to 1982.
General Hospital cast
General Hospital has been on air since the early 1960s.
The cast of the iconic soap opera includes:
- Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos)
- Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos)
- Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Corinthos)
- Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford)
- Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase)
- Gregory Harrison (Gregory Chase)
- Michael Easton (Hamilton Finn)
- Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones)
- Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri)
- Kelly Monaco (Samantha McCall)
- Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber-Baldwin)
- Cynthia Watros (Nina Reeves)
- Maura West (Ava Jerome)
Celebrity appearances:
- Demi Moore (1982-1984)
- Meghan Markle (2002)
- Mark Hamil (1972)
- Kristin Davis (1991)
- Eva Longoria (2000)
- George Takei (1985)
- Elizabeth Taylor (1981)
This role earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series.
He went on to find many more TV roles, joining CBS’s Dallas spinoff Knots Landing.
He played reporter Ben Gibson from 1983-88, and left the show in Season 8, when his character went to South America.
On a 1989 episode of The Arsenio Hall Show, Doug reflected on TV fame and the challenges of breaking into the mainstream.
“Hollywood, as we all know, is not run by the producers, it’s run by casting directors. Casting directors never watch what you’re on…so I’ve spent my whole time sort of breaking down the walls with the daytime, the nighttime, and half-hour comedy. They don’t know if I can do full-hour comedy yet, so I have to break through.”
Doug career’s career saw him primarily hit his stride on the small screen, never quite breaking into major movie roles.
He appeared on the big screen in three movies: 10 in 1979, Victor/Victoria in 1982, and Cops n Roberts in 1995.
In the 1990s, he played Cher’s father in the Clueless TV series based on the iconic movie.
He also starred in the comedy Day by Day, Gary David Goldberg, on NBC from 1988 to 1989, and made smaller appearances on Cheers, Columbo, MacGyver, and Diagnosis Murder.
His final screen roles were in 2003, in What I Like About You and in Sabrina The Teenage Witch, playing as Sabrina’s (Melissa Joan Hart) dad.
Doug was married to Cate Abert from 1981 until his death, and they did not have any children.
