General Hospital

All My Children Star Julia Barr Shares Memories of the Late John Callahan

Published by

Michael Maloney

5 years ago

The soap opera community continues to share its thoughts and feelings on the sudden passing of All My Children star John Callahan. The actor died after suffering a stroke at his home in Palm Desert, Calif.

Julia Barr Honors John Callahan

Now, Julia Barr, who won two Daytime Emmys for playing the role of Brooke English, recalls her time with the late actor who played her love interest Edmund Grey on AMC. “John’s sudden passing was a shock, for all of us who knew him. It’s hard to believe,” Barr tells Soap Hub.

“But I have a lot of wonderful memories of working with him. He was one of the funniest people I ever knew!! And working with him for so many years was really a gift!!”

One of the storylines with Brooke and Edmund was a criminal investigation of someone with whom Phoebe [the late Ruth Warrick] was innocently involved. One of the episodes in the story involved Brooke and Edmund looking for incriminating evidence on the suspect.

“The scene I remember was set in an area where there was quicksand (whoever knew Pine Valley had quicksand?!). The quicksand was several pounds of oatmeal in a large container (created and constructed by the crew)… and Brooke ended up being stuck and Edmund had to rescue her.

“We both had to wear fisherman hip boots and long underwear to stay warm in the cold, sticky oatmeal creation!! And we were entirely covered in oatmeal by the time we finished the scene, and laughing hysterically!! He was great guy!! And I will always think of him with great fondness!!!”

Edmund and Brooke’s romance encountered obstacles, including his obsession with proving his father was Hugo Marick. The two reconnected years later and Edmund proposed to Brooke on Valentine’s Day in 2002.

Their subsequent marriage was ruled invalid after Edmund’s “late” wife Maria (Callahan’s former spouse, played by Eva LaRue) turned up alive and well.

Soap Hub sends sincere sympathies to LaRue, her and Callahan’s daughter Kaya, and their family at this difficult time.