In Loving Memory: Margaret DePriest (DAYS Head Writer, 1982-1984, et al)

[JAS0N47]

MARGARET DePRIEST

IN LOVING MEMORY

 

APRIL 19, 1931-SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

 

"Days of Our Lives" Head Writer, 1982-1984

 

 

Margaret L. DePriest Price, who was the head writer of "Days of Our Lives" for 656 episodes from April 1982-October 1984 has passed away at the age of 94. While sharing head writer duties with Sheri Anderson, DePriest co-created characters including Bo Brady, Kimberly Brady, Caroline Brady, Shawn Brady, Shane Donovan, Anna DiMera, Carrie Brady, Calliope Jones, Howie Hoffstedder and Larry Welch. She was born in Kentucky and raised in Oklahoma, DePriest began her daytime career as an actress, appearing on "The Edge of Night" from 1965-1966 and on "The Doctors" from 1967-1968. In 1969, she switched to writing full-time and co-created the short-lived soap "Where the Heart Is." Along with being the head writer of "Days" from 1982-1984, DePriest also wrote for "All My Children", "Another World", "The Doctors", "The Edge of Night", "General Hospital", "Love of Life", "One Life to Live" and "Sunset Beach." When "Sunset Beach" was cancelled at the end of 1999, DePriest retired. Riverside Memorial Chapel announced her service, but no obituary was provided: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/new-york/new-york/riverside-memorial-chapel/1227

Edited October 9 by JAS0N47

[soapfan770]

Oh wow I had no idea she was still living, may she definitely RIP!

Did she ever have a successful HW tenure in her own right though? Seems if I recall correctly her best work as HW was often coasting off of her predecessors as occurred on Love of Life, The Doctors, and Days. Her 86-88 AW run with Racina was mixed but definitely had moments. Her 89 run as HW at AMC seems obscure but SOD named AMC and her work as the Best Show as of 1989. Her later runs at AW and Sunset Beach, well the less said the better. 

[DRW50]

I remember some people saying her work on Where the Heart Is was her best work. And like you mentioned I've heard some praise of her AMC run.

I also thought she'd already passed away.

Well, she's still talked about frequently on here by AW fans, so she will always have a legacy.

Thank you for always keeping us in the know @JAS0N47

Edited October 9 by DRW50

[AbcNbc247]

RIP

Serial killer storylines seemed to be her thing lol

I wish her work on Where the Heart Is was available to see

[Maxim]

Oh... May she rest in peace. I watched her AMC stint earlier this year and it was surprisingly good... 

This made me sad.

 

[AbcNbc247]

Better than her AW?

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[Maxim]

Oh My God... YES. 

[Soaplovers]

Depriest's strengths seemed to be maintaining the momentum of her predecessors (Love of Life), injecting energy into a show (The Doctors), and consolidating densely written/populated shows (All My Children).

I think her love of serial killers and darkly drawn characters stemmed from learning to write on Edge of Night (her first writing stint).  

Her stint on The Doctors had a mystery (who pulled the plug on a patient), psychologically damaged characters, and an interesting power play for head of the hospital position... all of these things were ruined by the inexperienced and vanilla Marland that took over right after her stint and turned the show into a chore to stay awake for.

[bongobong]

There's lots of hate for her short 1996 run on AW, but ratings-wise she was the most successful HW in the 90s. The show hit #6 12 times in the W18-49 demo during her tenure. It spent almost all of the 90s at #9, finishing #10 for its last week.

[Chris B]

I really loved her work on The Doctors. I went in expecting to hate it and to love Douglas Marland's tenure but it was the exact opposite. She took the show from a very simple hospital based show and expanded it to include families and transformed it more into a traditional show. She left the show in excellent shape and Marland came on and destroyed everything she created. Not only that but his writing was also painfully slow. Had they given her more time I think the show could've lasted longer.

[VelekaCarruthers]

I didn't see her earliest writing on Edge and Where, but watched her period of The Doctors and Days. She was excellent on both shows. On AW/86 she took over after the show had been decimated a few times over; she did her best and created some lasting characters.  Her Phelps run I wouldn't watch because I hated Phelps and I liked King/Carlson material just fine with Harding as consultant. I didn't watch her 9 month? AMC run but she had the benefit of collaborating with Broderick and Washam. Not so on OLTL where I think she lasted 6mo with Laiman and Carlson. Overall, her most memorable/iconic material IMHO was on Days where she was trained under Falken Smith,

Edited October 20 by VelekaCarruthers

[gimmetoo]

Hollywood Reporter spoke to her daughter for her obit

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/margaret-depriest-dead-general-hospital-days-of-our-lives-1236413120/

[janea4old]

“My mom began every morning with The New York Times crossword — in pen,” her daughter said. “She was a lifelong, voracious reader; a lover of poetry (especially Seamus Heaney) and literature; and a lifelong seeker of knowledge. She read the Bible and the Quran not for faith, but as literature. She loved architecture, art, history, flowers — she had a great green thumb — antiques and beauty in all forms.”

[Maxim]

This actually made me tear up... Thank you @gimmetoo for posting. 

Here is a little clip I cut of Margaret when she was playing the role of Mrs. Berger in The Doctors.

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Edited October 30 by Maxim

[DRW50]

Thanks @Maxim that was very early in the Doctors repeats as James Noble is still there. I think I remember that. She has a good presence. Smart writing to cover for her loss of voice.