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Emmy-Winning Soap Opera Writer Dies at 75. She Wrote for ‘Guiding Light,’ ‘One Life to Live,’ ‘All My Children’ and the Prime-Time Soap ‘Dynasty’

Nov 19, 2012  •  Post A Comment

An Emmy-winning writer of "Guiding Light," who was also part of the Emmy-nominated team of writers from "All My Children" earlier this year, has died at 75.

Barbara Esensten died Nov. 14 due to complications from a cerebral aneurysm.

According to the obituary at WeLoveSoaps.com, "In 1987 ‘Dynasty’ producers Esther and Richard Shapiro hired two ex-news reporters to write several scripts for the new season. Esensten, who worked for an all-news radio station in Los Angeles, and James Harmon Brown, a former reporter for the Los Angeles Times, signed on to make the show more vital and realistic.

"Along with writing partner Brown, Esensten went on to write for ‘Loving,’ ‘The City’ (a show she co-created), ‘Guiding Light,’ ‘Port Charles,’ ‘One Life to Live’ and ‘All My Children.’ They were nominated for two Writers Guild of America Awards and five Daytime Emmy Awards for their soap opera work, winning for ‘Guiding Light’ in 1993. They were part of the ‘All My Children’ team nominated earlier this year. They also wrote the TV movies ‘Rich Men,’ ‘Single Women,’ ‘The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage,’ and an episode of ‘Father Dowling Mysteries.’"

The story notes that in Los Angeles, where Esensten was born and raised, she "volunteered at radio station KPFK, where she wrote and broadcast the news. She then moved to KFWB, and later KABC, and radio news became her full-time career," before getting the call to come write for "Dynasty."

The article adds, "Esensten is survived by her husband, Michael Chambers, three daughters, and her grandchildren."

[To see a wonderful picture of Esensten and her writing partner James Harmon Brown, please click on the link above.]

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