Helen Wagner: 1918-2010

Actress Helen Wagner, shown at right in this undated publicity image with her "As the World Turns" co-stars Eileen Fulton, left, and Don Hastings, has died at the age of 91. Wagner played mild-mannered Nancy Hughes on the CBS soap opera "As the World Turns" for more than a half-century and spoke its first words.

Helen Wagner, "As the World Turns" Star, Dies

Helen Wagner, seen in this undated publicity image, spoke then first words on "As the World Turns" when it premiered on April 2, 1956, saying, "Good morning, dear." She held the Guinness World Record for playing the same role on television for the longest amount of time, 54 years.

Helen Wagner, "As the World Turns" Star, Dies

Helen Wagner, shown in this undated publicity image, was still part of the "As the World Turns" cast, though with a small presence, in December 2009, when CBS announced that its last episode would air in September 2010. Her final appearance aired on April 5, in an episode in which Julianne Moore, a series regular in the 1980s whose two half-sister characters played Wagner's granddaughters, returned for a guest walk-on. The episode was taped in March.

Helen Wagner, "As the World Turns" Star, Dies

Helen Wagner, shown in this undated publicity image, also appeared on early TV shows such as "The Philco Television Playhouse" and a series called "The World of Mr. Sweeney."

Helen Wagner, "As the World Turns" Star, Dies