All My Children actor David Canary dies

David Canary, the actor that played twins for almost three decades on “All My Children”, died of natural causes last week at an assisted living home in Wilton, Connecticut. “A wonderful man. I was lucky to know you”, his former co-star Kelly Ripa wrote on Twitter. While a memorial tribute is planned for the actor, his funeral services are said to be private for his family.

In 1978, Canary began his long and respected daytime drama career with a role on Search for Tomorrow. He was also an active volunteer with the Friends of Wilton Library.

According to EW, he was a college football star at the University of Cincinnati and turned down an NFL offer from the Denver Broncos to pursue acting.

Canary logged many hours in television, playing a physical therapist on “Peyton Place” (good training for Pine Valley) and ranch foreman Candy on “Bonanza”.

The actor was born in David Hoyt Canary in 1938 in Elwood, Ind., northeast of Indianapolis, but grew up in Massillon, Ohio.

Canary earned a whopping 16 Daytime Emmy nominations and won five of those, a record at the time.

David Canary and Susan Lucci during their marriage in an episode of the television show “All My Children” in 1984. During his Broadway debut of Great Day in the Morning, with Colleen Dewhurst, David was drafted into the United States Army. Before “All My Children”, Canary was on the set of another soap opera by the name of “Another World” for two years.

In addition to his work on “All My Children”, Canary was also known for his role on “Bonanza”.

He leaves his wife of more than 33 years, Maureen (née Maloney), their children, Christopher and Kathryn, and extended family. Canary also starred in a handful of movies including, “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”, “Shark’s Treasure”, and “Johnny Firecloud”.