Larry Haines (November 30, 1913 – December 13, 2008) was an American actor whose career spanned radio, stage, and television. He is best known for his long‑running role as Mike Bauer on the soap opera The Edge of Night, which he portrayed from 1956 until the series’ cancellation in 1984.
Early life and education
Born Lawrence Haines in Hartford, Connecticut, he began performing as a teenager. Details about his formal education are limited in reliable sources.
Radio career
Haines entered professional acting through radio in the 1930s, becoming a regular performer on programs such as The Shadow and Gang Busters. His vocal work earned him recognition within the medium during its golden age.
Stage work
During the 1940s and 1950s, Haines appeared in several Broadway productions, including The Hasty Heart (1945) and The Seventh Cross (1952). His stage experience contributed to his versatility as a performer.
Television career
In 1956, Haines originated the role of Mike Bauer on the daytime drama The Edge of Night. The character, a newspaper editor, became a central figure in the series, and Haines remained with the show for 28 years, making him one of the longest‑serving actors in daytime television at the time. After The Edge of Night ended, he made guest appearances on other television series, though none matched the prominence of his soap‑opera role.
Later life and death
Following his retirement from acting, Haines lived in the New York City area. He died on December 13, 2008, at the age of 95, after a brief illness.
Legacy
Larry Haines is remembered for his contribution to mid‑20th‑century American entertainment, particularly for his sustaining presence on The Edge of Night, which helped define the format of long‑running serialized drama.
References
- "Larry Haines, Actor, 95." The New York Times, December 20, 2008.
- McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Penguin Books, 1996.
- "Obituary: Larry Haines." Los Angeles Times, December 23, 2008.
