Sad news…actress Eileen Herlie has passed away. Eileen played Myrtle Fargate on the soap opera, All My Children for 30 years. She passed away from pneumonia on Wednesday October 8th, 2008. She will be missed. The thing is…i remember when she came on the show…:) wow…is that dating myself since i just told you she was on the show for 30 years…but, for all you know, I could have been 3 when she came on…let me live in my delusion for just one little moment, LOL.
In any case, when she first came on the show…she play a mischievous con woman with a twinkle in her eyes and a lilting smile on her lips. She was involved with the “carney” as she called it…the close knit group of people who float from town- to- town when the carnivals come to make a living. Over the years, the character Myrtle took on a different personna. She became the favorite quirky aunt that the younger relatives loved and admired and went to for advice much to the consternation of the older generations. The older relatives and friends just could not predict what would come out of her mouth…whether her advice to “Erica Kane”, played by the wonderful Susan Lucci, would be appropriate or encourage the young woman to greater misdeeds.
In the last decade or so…Myrtle took the place of trusted advisor to Erica Kane. Erica’s mother Mona had passed away…so Myrtle became the foil to the willful Erica; giving her advice that was spot on…but most of the time Erica knew this but did her own thing anyway. She was loving and affectionate towards Myrtle which helped the viewer’s fall in love with the new role that Myrtle played with their favorite vixen, Erica.
We will be missing the character Myrtle…but…because the woman behind her was such a wonderful actress…Eileen Herlie will be sadly missed as well. That is a tribute that every actor/actress wants to hear…that they played the character so well…that in the eyes of the audience…they became that very same character. So, we grieve the passing of “auntie” Myrtle (Eileen); she was part of the family. I know it was just a soap opera…but, it feels a little bit sad. May you rest in the arms of God in peace!
Write where you are 
It’s really sad to hear that she is gone. I always look in the California section of the L.A. Times ever morning when I read my newspaper. Just to see who passed away. I know that’s crazy. I was surprises to see her picture there. I never know her real name, just Myrtle Fargate.
I been watching AMC, for 30 years. I loved her character Myrtle. She like moved in when mother died to help Erica’s. Now, I had noticed that Opal had took her place. But, I have noticed that she had not been on for months. I did not think anything about that. Because, lots of the older ones on AMC come in and out all the time.
Myrtle (Eileen) will be missed.