Actress Candice Earley Nolan, who played Donna on the popular soap opera "All My Children" for 18 years, died last week of multiple systems atrophy. She was 68 years old.
Earley Nolan started her career in theatre, where, in 1969 she joined the cast of "Hair" playing the lead role of Sheila.
She moved to New York at 21 and landed a lead role in “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Broadway. In a fabled story, she met the casting director for “All My Children” at Sardi’s and was quickly hired in 1976 to play Donna on the long-running and popular daytime soap. She continued performing on Broadway during that time, including a stint as Sandy opposite Jeff Conaway in “Grease.”
Earley Nolan was born at Fort Hood, Texas, in 1950 and attended Trinity University in San Antonio.
She is survived by her husband, three stepchildren and a niece and nephew.
A celebration of life for Earley Nolan is planned for later this month in Arkansas, followed by a private burial.
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