Veteran character actress Beth Peters, who recurred on General Hospital in the role of Mrs. Whitaker in the early 1980s, has passed away at the age of 92 following a brief illness.
Fans of Luke and Laura will remember her from their adventures in Beechers Corners, the town just outside Port Charles where Luke and Laura hid out while on the run before their 1981 wedding. She was beloved to the couple and helped them stay hidden when they needed it most. Luke and Laura returned to the Whitaker farm for their honeymoon.
Peters' son, Sean Williams, described her GH role in an obituary given to Variety as such: The motherly Mrs. Whitaker dispensed country wisdom from her farm kitchen in Beechers Corners, serving as a surrogate mother to Laura Spencer, played by Genie Francis, as the teenager's story arc saw her fall in love with Luke Spencer, portrayed by Anthony Geary."
The actress began her career in theater in the 1950s, appearing on Broadway in Inherit the Wind. She moved on to regional theater, performing in such classic shows as The Sound of Music, Show Boat, Funny Girl, and Big River.
Peters also had various television and film credits to her name, including The Waltons, Highway to Heaven, Simon and Simon, Mr. Belvedere, and Quantum Leap.
She is survived by her son, Sean, and stepdaughters, Barbara and Monica, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Peters' husband, actor Jack Dannon, passed away in 1996.
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