Soap Veteran Davidson Hedison Dead At 92

Veteran actor David Hedison has passed away at the age of 92. While Hedison had a lengthy career in prime time and films, he’s also recalled for his visits to daytime where he played memorable parts.

Hedison is best known to soap fans for his run on Another World as Spencer Harrison, a controlling patriarch who wanted to groom his son, Grant (Mark Pinter), for the White House.

The actor later popped up on The Young And The Restless as Arthur Hendrickson, the man the late Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) had an affair with that resulted in the birth of their son, Tucker McCall (Stephen Nichols).

Arthur’s stepson, Harrison Bartlett, on YR was played by Kin Shriner (Scotty, General Hospital). On the prime time soap scene, Hedison played Roger Langdon on The Colbys.

Hedison died Thursday, July 18 in Los Angeles, according to a family spokesperson. No cause of death has been reported.

The actor played Andre Delambre, who was turned into a bug, in the classic film The Fly. He also acted in two James Bond movies (Live And Let Die; Licence To Kill) as Felix Leiter, a CIA agent.

Primetime fans recall him as the star of Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea on which he starred as Captain Lee Crane. One of his last roles was that of Jor-El, Superman’s dad, in Superman and the Secret Planet.

A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Hedison attended Brown University. He changed his name from “Al Hedison” to “David Hedison” after signing a contract at Twentieth Century Fox.

Heidson’s late wife, Bridget Hedison, worked as a producer on both Dynasty and The Colbys, passed away in 2016. He is survived by daughters Serena and Alexandra, who is wed to actress Jodie Foster.

“Even in our deep sadness, we are comforted by the memory of our wonderful father,” his family said in a statement published in the Hollywood Reporter. “He loved us all dearly and expressed that love every day. He was adored by so many, all of whom benefited from his warm and generous heart. Our dad brought joy and humor wherever he went and did so with great style.”