GH fans, are you shocked about the death of ANN? (Shell Kepler?)?
Former General Hospital star Shell Kepler has died. The actress’ death was sudden and the medical examiner has determined the cause of death was kidney failure. Kepler was 49.
Long-time General Hospital star Shell Kepler (Amy Vining) passed away on Friday, February 1st. A report on celebrity gossip site TMZ.com attributed the cause of death to renal (kidney) failure. According to the actress’ online biography, she was 46. The medical examiner said the actress was 49.
Shell became a fan favorite on General Hospital as nurse Amy Vining, sister of icon, Laura Spencer. Amy’s family had adopted Laura as a baby, so the two were raised as sisters. The bond between the sisters remained strong even after Laura left the Vinings to go live with her biological mother, Lesley Webber. Amy soon followed her sister to Port Charles and became a nurse at General Hospital.
Amy had a penchant for gossip and trouble which were never in shortage at the hospital. Sadly, Amy never found true love. She remained single during all of the years on the show. The character was never officially written off. She last appeared in September, 2002. She and the rest of Laura’s family were waiting for Laura at the church where Luke and Laura intended to re-marry. Luke and Laura never made it to the church. Luke had found Laura in the attic earlier that day along with the murdered body of her step-father, Rick Webber.
Since last appearing on General Hospital in 2002, Kepler has lived in Portland, Oregon. She was involved in charity fundraising and was, by all accounts, an accomplished writer and savvy businesswoman. The actress turned entrepreneur and is believed to have earned millions of dollars each year through the selling of her Lacy Afternoon fashion line on the Home Shopping Network.
Born October 5th, in Painesville, Ohio, Kepler was inspired to become an actress after seeing The Wizard of Oz at the age of two. Her first foray into professional acting came in the theater where she starred in productions of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Sound of Music when she was a young girl living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the early 1980s, she fronted the band Shell and the Crush, releasing a five-song E.P. which contained songs like “Popular Girl” and “When You Look My Way”.
General Hospital will pay tribute to Kepler with a special “In Loving Memory of Shell Kepler” scheduled to appear at the end of February 26th’s episode.
(sorry, I meant Amy)
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, I was shocked to hear that.
I was very sad to hear of her death. I loved Amy she was great.
Very sad and untimely.
Yes! I grew up watching her and she was always one of my favorite characters. Always missed her over the years, she shouls have been in the nurses station keeping everyone up to date on all the gossip! She knew everything! May she rest in peace, she was much loved by fans and co workers.Can’t wait to see the tribute, I was hoping they would do something special.
I’m wondering why she had renal failure.
Ah, the good die young.
Yes, I was shocked and saddened by the news of her early death. I always loved the life she bought to every scene she was in, with her contagious smile and adorable looks.
She was mischievous, but but never mean spirited.
I am glad to learn GH will hold a special tribute to her memory, she deserves that.
Yes – I was very shocked. I am one month younger in age than actress Genie Francis. I even saw Shell Kepler in the many years I lived in Los Angeles. I was on the bus going down Sunset Blvd. through West Hollywood on a very nice day. ( Possibly spring or summer the weather is so nice all year long so it could have been anytime). Anyway the bus stopped at a stoplight and I noticed a pretty woman in heels in a colorful light gossamer long dress maybe to her knees with a big hat on – she must have liked hats — it was definitely Shell Kepler. Someone told me at that time some fifteen or seventeen years ago maybe that she had a boutique shop in the area. I was probably headed to the Veteran’s Hospital in West Los Angeles or the beach those were the only reasons I was ever in the area then I think. To those thinking I’m making it up I’m not I’ve seen about 200 celebrities as they almost all live there some time of the year and I lived in Los Angeles for 7 years. Anyway, I watched General Hospital as a teenager and it was even the only soap on when I was sent to the Philippines in 1982 and 1983 on the military channel though we were a few months behind at least we got it. I was wondering why she wasn’t at Laura’s wedding on TV in 2006. Anyway her character of Amy always kept the show interesting for certain! She will be definitely missed.
Yes I’m very saddened to hear of her death. I also grew up watching her and feel Amy made the show so much fun. I have really missed seeing her over the years.
Yes i was shocked she was so funny on the show. I read that she died a few weeks ago.
I watched General Hospital way back when. Amy was quite a busybody, but somehow you always liked her. I did not know that her and Laura grew up together as sisters.
I started watching it again many years later and it seems all the same characters are still there or reappearing. I have always wondered how Amy left and what happened to her. Thanks for the update
Yes, it was sad. I wish she could’ve left the show being happily married and settling down. I hope the Feb 26th episode does her justice. I only wish that all the former GH characters that they have brought back over the years that she could’ve been one of them.
I don’t watch many soaps, but I am shocked and thrilled with all the former characters that they have brought back. It almost feels like time stood still.
I don’t really remember her so it doesn’t really affect me.