General Hospital Actor Martin West Dead at 82

Veteran actor and filmmaker Martin West died on Dec. 31 at the age of 82. Daytime fans will remember him as Phil Brewer on GENERAL HOSPITAL. He was the last one to play the character who originally appeared in the soap’s 1963 premiere and was in the role the longest of the many recasts, his stint lasting from 1967-75.

During West’s run, Phil was presumed dead in a plane crash and returned as “Harold Williamson.” Feeling he wasn’t good enough for true love Jessie, Phil tried to find comfort with Diana Maynard, which led to quite a bit of back-and-forth as he bounced between the two women and children were born out of wedlock. Phil was killed off and Jessie was charged with his murder, though it was revealed that Augusta McLeod had actually killed him.

West stands behind Emily McLaughlin (Jessie), John Beradino (Steve), Rachel Ames (Audrey), and Sharon Debord (Sharon) as they cut an anniversary cake in 1969. (Photo Credit: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives)

Following his time on GH, West moved over to play Don Hughes on CBS sudser AS THE WORLD TURNS in the late ’70s. His television career also included roles on shows like PERRY MASON, GUNSMOKE, DALLAS, MATLOCK, and L.A. LAW. On the big screen, West could be seen in films like the cult classic Lord Love a Duck, John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13, Alfred Hitchcock’s Family Plot, and Mac and Me.

Moving to Westport, CT, in 1993, West became a member of the Theater Artists Workshop of Westport, acting and directing numerous productions and produced the documentaries A Gathering of Glory and Years in the Making about the history of arts in Westport and the artists who created it. From 1998, he was the life partner of Ann Chernow and is survived by three children, Jason Weixelbaum, Allie West, and Gabriel West along with his stepson, Paul Mend, and his sister, Gail Britt.

Our thoughts are with West’s friends and family during this difficult time. For more on your favorite GH stars — past and present — keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.

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