- Soaps
- News
Another World, ‘Wings’ Actor David Schramm Dead at 73
Saying goodbye to a daytime, stage and primetime star…
Soaps.com is saddened to report that David Schramm, best known for his role on NBC’s Wings as Roy Biggins, has passed away at the age of 73. Margot Harley, co-founder of The Acting Company in New York City, confirmed the actor’s death on Sunday March 29 in a group statement, “We mourn his loss and will miss him.” At this time, a cause of death has not been revealed.
Born August 14, 1946 in Louisville, Kentucky, Schramm majored in English at the Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While attending college he became involved in theater and won a four year scholarship to Juilliard in New York after having been urged to apply by his college acting coach. Schramm was a co-founding member of The Acting Company, a professional theater company that tours the United States.
More: All My Children star John Callahan passed away
Schramm appeared on and off Broadway and his first credited role was in 1976 playing Kit Carson in The Time of Your Life. He went on to appear in the television mini-series in 1983 as Robert McNamara and turned up in daytime shortly after on Another World as Herb Harris in 1984. However, Schramm really caught the attention of Hollywood while co-starring with Rebecca De Mornay in Born Yesterday at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1988. The actor then landed roles on such primetime series as Spenser: For Hire, The Equalizer, Miami Vice, Wiseguy, Jake and the Fatman, Max Monroe, Working Girl and spent seven years playing the sometimes ornery Roy Biggins, owner of the privately owned airline Aeromass Air in Nantucket, on NBC’s Wings, which premiered on April 19, 1990 and aired its final episode on May 21, 1997. His last credit was playing Bellerophon on Hercules in 1998.
Soaps.com sends Schramm’s family, friends and colleagues our deepest condolences. We invite readers to remember other soap opera stars lost in 2020 by viewing the gallery below…
Feel free to sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Image: Hacksaw2k/YouTube
1/33
<p>General Hospital alum and Highlander star <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/557507/obituary-general-hospital-stan-kirsch-dead-at-51/" target="_blank">Stan Kirsch tragically died</a> at the age of 51 on January 11, 2020. The former ABC soap opera star played the role of Carl. </p>
Image: NBC
2/33
<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/557718/obituary-norma-michaels-days-of-our-lives-dead-at-95/" target="_blank">Norma Michaels passed away</a> at the age of 95 on January 11, 2020. The actress was best known for her role as Josephine on King of Queens. </p>
Image: Lisa Rose/JPI
3/33
<p>Another World and Dark Shadows actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/558084/obituary-john-karlen-dead-86/" target="_blank">John Karlen passed away</a> on January 22, 2020 due to congestive heart failure. The actor was 86 years old. </p>
Image: Beverly Hills Historical Videos/YouTube
4/33
<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/558115/obituary-marsha-kramer-dead-74/" target="_blank">Marsha Kramer passed away at 74</a> on January 23, 2020. The soap alum was best known for her role playing Margaret on Modern Family. </p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
5/33
<p>Legendary soap opera actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/558330/obituary-marj-dusay-dead-83/" target="_blank">Marj Dusay passed away at 83</a> on January 28, 2020. She appeared on many soaps, including Capitol, Santa Barbara, Days of our Lives, All My Children and Guiding Light.<br /> </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
6/33
<p>Husband of The Bold and the Beautiful’s Alley Mills (Pam Douglas), <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/559116/obituary-bold-and-beautiful-orson-bean-dead-at-91/" target="_blank">Orson Bean died in a traffic accident</a> at age 91. The actor guest-starred on the CBS soap opera in 2016. </p>
Image: J. Graylock/JPI
7/33
<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/559805/obituary-days-of-our-lives-lynn-cohen-dead-at-86/" target="_blank">Lynn Cohen died on February 14 </a>of unknown causes in New York. The actress, best known for her role of Magda on <em>Sex and the City, </em>had numerous theatre, film and television credits to her name including Days of our Lives. </p>
Image: Bei/Shutterstock
8/33
<p>Best known for her role of Willona Woods on <em>Good Times, </em><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/560021/obituary-love-of-life-janet-dubois-dead-at-74/" target="_blank">Ja’net DuBois passed away</a> at age 74. The actress also starred on <em>Love of Life</em>, making her the first African-American actress cast as a regular on a soap opera. </p>
Image: Bell Phillip TV
9/33
<p>Legendary co-creator of Bold and Beautiful and Young and the Restless <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/560502/obituary-lee-phillip-bell-dead-91-co-creator-bb-yr/" target="_blank">Lee Phillip Bell passed away</a> on February 25. She was 91 and the mother of William J. Bell, Jr., Lauralee Bell (Christine Williams, Young and Restless) and Bradley Bell (head writer, executive producer, Bold and Beautiful).</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
10/33
<p>Best known for his position on Inside the Actors Studio, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/560761/obituary-soap-writer-guiding-light-actor-james-lipton-dead-93/" target="_blank">James Lipton died on March 1</a>. He was 93. Lipton was also a head writer and writer for numerous soap operas and appeared on Guiding Light. </p>
Image: Brian Lowe/JPI
11/33
<p>Soap opera legend <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/561078/obituary-soap-star-roscoe-born-dead-at-69/" target="_blank">Roscoe Born passed away</a> on March 3. The actor is known for playing a villain in various soaps including Days of our Lives, One Life to Live and Young and the Restless to name a few.</p>
Image: Debby Wong/Shutterstock
12/33
<p>Award winning playwright and former Young and Restless actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/562088/obituary-yr-alum-playwright-terrence-mcnally-dead-at-80/" target="_blank">Terrence McNally died</a> on March 24. He played Dr. Robert Lynch on and off from 1993 to 1994.</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
13/33
<p>Soap vet <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562326/obituary-john-callahan-all-my-children-santa-barbara-soap-star-dead-66/" target="_blank">John Callahan passed away at 66</a> after suffering a massive stroke on March 27. The actor is known for his roles on All My Children, Days of our Lives, General Hospital and Santa Barbara.</p>
Image: YouTube
14/33
<p>Another World alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562382/obituary-david-schramm-another-world-wings-actor-dead-73/" target="_blank">David Schramm’s death was announced</a> in March. The actor played Herb Harris on the soap opera and was best known for playing Roy Biggins on Wings.</p>
Image: CBS
15/33
<p>Edge of Night actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/562847/obituary-forrest-compton-dead-94/" target="_blank">Forrest Compton died on April 4, 2020</a>. He also appeared in numerous soap operas including All My Children, As the World Turns and One Life to Live.</p>
Image: ABC
16/33
<p>General Hospital alum, Smurfs and Young Frankenstein actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/563445/obituary-gh-alum-young-frankenstein-danny-goldman-dead-80/" target="_blank">Danny Goldman passed away at 80</a> on April 12, 2020. Daytime fans may remember him for playing Clarence Darrow in 1991.</p>
Image: Shutterstock/Everett/Collection
17/33
<p>Veteran actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/563584/obituary-dallas-dynasty-knots-landing-brian-dennehy-dead-81/" target="_blank">Brian Dennehy died on April 15, 2020</a> of natural causes. He appeared in numerous films and in the primetime soap operas Dallas, Dynasty and Knots Landing.</p>
Image: Featureflash/Photo Agency/Shutterstock
18/33
<p>Veteran actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/563977/obituary-oltl-desperate-housewives-shirley-knight-dead-83/" target="_blank">Shirley Knight passed away</a> on April 22, 2020 of natural causes. She appeared in daytime on One Life to Live as Claire in 1986 and held numerous primetime and film roles.</p>
Image: Aaron Montgomery/JPI
19/33
<p>Legendary signer <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/565314/obituary-little-richard-dead-87/" target="_blank">Little Richard died on May 9, 2020</a>. He made guest appearances on One Life to Live as well as Young and the Restless.</p>
Image: NBC
20/33
<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/566149/days-of-our-lives-scarface-geno-silva-dead/" target="_blank">Geno Silva died on May 9, 2020</a>. He played the role of Domingo Salazar in 1991.</p>
Image: Nick Sined/JPI
21/33
<p>Actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/565880/obituary-bold-beautiful-fred-willard/" target="_blank">Fred Willard passed away at age 86</a> on May 15, 2020. He was known to daytime fans for playing John Forrester, brother to Eric, on Bold & Beautiful. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
22/33
<p>Guiding Light alum and Emmy Award winning actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/567892/mary-pat-gleason-dead/" target="_blank">Mary Pat Gleason died on June 2, 2020</a>. The prolific film and television actress passed away from cancer.</p>
Image: YouTube
23/33
<p>General Hospital alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/570391/general-hospital-linda-cristal-dead/" target="_blank">Linda Cristal died on June 27, 2020</a>. The actress played a mob boss’ mistress named Dimitri in 1988.</p>
Image: CBS
24/33
<p>Soap opera director <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/571198/soap-opera-director-maximilian-b-bryer-dead/" target="_blank">Maximilian B. Bryer passed away</a> on June 16, 2020. He worked on both As the World Turns and The Edge of Night.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
25/33
<p>Actress <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/571739/capitol-csi-cyber-kelly-preston-dead/" target="_blank">Kelly Preston died at 57</a> after privately battling breast cancer. The actress who starred in the movies Twins and Jerry Maguire had an early role in the CBS soap opera Capitol.</p>
Image: John P Iblis/JPI
26/33
<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/572374/phyllis-somerville-dead-76/" target="_blank">Phyllis Somerville died on July 16</a>. The recognizable actress appeared in many television series including As the World Turns, Loving, and more. Somerville was 76.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
27/33
<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/573326/john-saxon-dead/" target="_blank">John Saxon passed away</a> on July 25, 2020. The veteran actor starred in the primetime soap Dynasty as well as the film Nightmare on Elm Street. </p>
Image: Argo Images
28/33
<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/573328/regis-philbin-dead-susan-lucci-tribute/" target="_blank">Regis Philbin passed away</a> on July 24, 2020. The TV legend once appeared on All My Children, One Life to Live and Ryan’s Hope.</p>
Image: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Everett-Collection
29/33
<p>All My Children alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/576619/chadwick-boseman-dead-all-my-children-reggie/" target="_blank">Chadwick Boseman passed away</a> at 43 on August 28, 2020. He played Reggie on the ABC soap opera and T’Challa on Black Panther.</p>
Image: JPI
30/33
<p>Days of our Lives alum <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/577376/kevin-dobson-knots-landing-days-of-our-lives-dead/" target="_blank">Kevin Dobson passed away</a> at 77 on September 6, 2020. He is best known for playing Mack MacKenzie on Knots Landing.</p>
Image: YouTube
31/33
<p><em>All My Children</em> actor <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/580358/all-my-children-actor-ben-jorgensen-dead-suicide/" target="_blank">Ben Jorgensen passed away</a> at 51 years old. He played Kevin Sheffield from 1995 to 1998. </p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett of the Collection
32/33
<p><em>The Young and the Restless’</em> original Mamie Johnson, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/586505/young-restless-marguerite-ray-mamie-dead/" target="_blank">Marguerite Ray died on November 18, 2020</a>. She was 89 years old. </p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
33/33
