according to this ABC press release from a year ago

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/abc-all-my-children-one-life-live-off-air-turning-actors-stars/story?id=13377709&page=2#.UM6yoeT7KSo

I seriously had no clue that ATWT had a african american MALE on their show in the late 60s..does anyone know something about his character?

On Guiding Light, his character was a doctor who was a Korean War vet. Billy Dee Williams originally played the played the character.

http://soapcentral.c...hoswho/jimf.php

His character on As The World Turns was a doctor too.

Edited December 17, 201213 yr by ReddFoxx

It's a shame, too, GL didn't do more with Jim and Martha Frazier or bring them back years later, when P&G might have been less skittish about AA characters sharing screen-time with their Caucasian counterparts. The Fraziers would have been a solid (and much-needed) Black family with strong ties both to the community and to the show's history.

Edited December 17, 201213 yr by Khan

On ATWT he was Dr Jerry Turner.

I recall an interview or article about this topic with Irna saying she had to fight to have black characters on the show and that the network and or P&G onlty wanted them depicted in 'servant' roles eg waitress/janitor roles whereas Irna wanted to portray them as professionals.

Martha was played by Cicely Tyson then Ruby Dee I think.