www.Soapdom.com - GH's Anna Lee's House Sold in LA

The End of an Era

It was reported in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, December 26, 2004 that the Hollywood Hills home of the late actress, Anna Lee and her husband, the late writer, Robert Nathan, has been sold for approximately $1.8 million. The three bedroom, 3 ½ bath with a detached guest house, is a country English style and had not been on the market for 33 years.

Lee, who died at the age of 91 this past May, was a British actress who became popular in the films of the 1930s. Roles of note include Sr. Margaretta in the film version of The Sound of Music, and of course, her signature role as matriarch Lila Quartermaine on General Hospital. Her late husband, Robert Nathan, was a successful novelist, playwright and poet. One of his most famous novels, “Portrait of Jennie,” was published in 1940. It was subsequently turned into a feature film starring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. Like Lee, Nathan also lived to the ripe old age of 91, passing away in 1985.

Lee, who starred on General Hospital for over 25 years, suffered a debilitating accident early on in her GH career. Unfazed by the restraints of her disability, she continued to play the role of the matriarch from a wheel chair. Several months before Lee’s death in 2004, the character was taken off contract -- much to the chagrin of the GH fan base -- and placed on recurring status. The contract status change notwithstanding, the show had anticipated continuing to use the actress as always for the typical Quartermaine family gatherings.

Lee and Nathan are survived by their son, Jeffrey Byron, who is likewise no stranger to soaps. He starred as Dr. Mark Markham on Port Charles from 1997-2000 as Jeff Martin on All My Children from 1986-1987, and as Richard Abbott on One Life to Live from 1986-1987. He is currently in the process of developing some of his Nathan’s books into feature films.