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HUNTINGTON, New York (AP) -- Benjamin Hendrickson, an Emmy Award-winning actor on the "As the World Turns" soap opera, committed suicide last week with a gunshot to the head, police said.

Suffolk County police officers, called by concerned neighbors to Hendrickson's Long Island home, said they found him dead in his bed on Monday, July 3. The news was widely released Friday evening.

Hendrickson, 55, was a member of the first graduating class of the Juilliard School of Drama, along with actors Kevin Kline and Patti LuPone. He appeared on Broadway in the early 1980s as a replacement in the title role of "The Elephant Man" and in the 1984 revival of "Awake and Sing!"

He played Chief of Detectives Hal Munson for more than 20 years on CBS' "As the World Turns," winning a Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in 2003.

His last air date on the show will be July 12.

I was so shocked. He was only 55 years old. I have always liked his character on ATWT!

When I first heard that he had died, there was no mention of suicide or any reason..I just read the update yesterday. His last airdate is July 12th and as of yesterday, ther are no plans to recast the character of Hal Munson.


Remember 2 or 3 years ago when Hal took medical leave from ATWT?
His mother died when he was on Medical leave then.

I don't know if he was married and his wife passed before but soap opera central only gave a nice and nephew as survivors.
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Benajmin Hendrickson Dead at Age 55
Posted Wednesday, July 05, 2006 5:29:01 PM
Updated Friday, July 07, 2006 6:42:59 PM

Hendrickson Dead at Age 55
Posted Wednesday, July 05, 2006 5:29:01 PM
Updated Friday, July 07, 2006 6:42:59 PM

http://www.soapcentral.com/atwt/news/20 ... ickson.php



Benajmin Hendrickson's Biography!!!!

http://www.soapcentral.com/atwt/theacto ... ickson.php

Hal Munson!?!? Wow, pretty shocking. I always liked his character too, kinda the good guy. How sad. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

omgosh! I haven't watched the show in several years, but I used to watch it all the time. I just passed by that channel the other day and saw him and a few others on there, and thought, "wow, they're still there!"

Very sad indeed....prayers for his family and friends.

Whoa!! That is horribly shocking.

I used to watch back during the 80's when Meg Ryan, followed by Lindsay Frost, portrayed Betsy Stewart Montgomery Andropolous (and whatever followed after that). Margo and Hal were always such a cute, romantic couple, especially when Margo was played by Hillary Smith.

I'm sure that the cast must be totally devastated. I saw this in the paper the other day. What a shame!

Saw that yesterday on MSN.. i can't believe he did that.. he was on that show forever. Very tragic.

GalvestonDuck wrote:Whoa!! That is horribly shocking.

I used to watch back during the 80's when Meg Ryan, followed by Lindsay Frost, portrayed Betsy Stewart Montgomery Andropolous (and whatever followed after that). Margo and Hal were always such a cute, romantic couple, especially when Margo was played by Hillary Smith.

Those were my favorite years! Others years that I really liked the best were when the following people were on...

1-The original "Dusty"--Brian Bloom
2-The original Frannie/Sabrina -- (movie actress, Julianne Moore)
3- ???-- Marisa Tomei (Movie actress)
4- Kevin-- ??? (He was in the series "Wings"--- The younger brother)
5- Kelly-- John Welsey Shipp (I read where his character was the father on Dawsons Creek) I also read that his character died!!!
6- The original Craig Montgomery-- ???
7- The original Sierra-- Finn Carter
8- ANDY-- (Scott Defries)
9- John Dixon-- ???
10- Morgan -- (Kelly's girlfriend)- ???
11- Andy's good friend -- ??? (I -think it was Barbaras son)
12- The original Betsy -- (Meg Ryan)
13- The Original Steve (Betsy's husband)-- ???
14- ???-- Kim Urlich ( I saw her on "Passions" a few times while channel surfing)

added>> I forgot the character of James Stenback