Lynn Loring was an actress in such TV shows as “Search for Tomorrow” and “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” as well as a notable television executive.
- Died: December 23, 2023 (Who else died on December 23?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in Tarzana, California after a series of chronic illnesses at the age of 80.
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Lynn Loring’s legacy
Loring began her career as a child star, joining the cast of the soap opera “Search for Tomorrow” in its first season when she was just seven years old. She played Patti Baron, daughter of “Queen of Soaps” Mary Stuart’s (1926–2002) character, for 10 years.
Loring successfully continued her acting career as a teen and young adult, beginning with a role in the movie “Splendor in the Grass.” She had a recurring role on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” as Edwina Kegel, the beatnik girlfriend of Maynard G. Krebs. Loring also starred in “Fair Exchange” and had a recurring role in “The F.B.I.” Her other TV appearances included “Perry Mason,” “Bonanza,” “My Three Sons,” “The Mod Squad,” and “Police Woman.”
After leaving acting in the 1970s, Loring later returned to the entertainment world not as a performer, but in an executive capacity. She worked briefly as a casting director, then began producing. Her production successes included “Mr. Mom” and the TV movie “The Return of Mod Squad.” Later, as a development executive at MGM-UA Television, she had the idea to develop a TV adaptation of “In the Heat of the Night” and cast Carroll O’Connor (1924–2001) as one of its stars. The successful series ran for seven seasons. In 1989, she became president of MGM-UA Television, one of the first women to hold a position on that level in Hollywood.
Notable quote
“I don’t look at it as something I’ve accomplished for all womanhood. But in my position, I have an obligation to stand up and be counted. I’m not looking to be a spokesperson for women, but I find what I say matters, and that excites me.” —from a 1990 interview for the Los Angeles Times
Tributes to Lynn Loring
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
