Marla Adams and Max Gail win Best Supporting Daytime Emmy's

Veteran actors Max Gail and Marla Adams warmed the hearts of soap viewers on their respective daytime dramas. Fans were so touched by their portrayals of living in the last stages of dementia that they began saying the two should win Emmys. On Friday night June 25 both were honored with the award for the Outstanding Performance by a supporting actor/actress in a supporting role. Gail, 78 was on hand to take the stage and accept his trophy while 82 year old Adams spoke to the audience via live stream. To say these two were outstanding is actually an understatement.

Marla Adams began portraying Dina Mergeron in April 1983 and left THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS in 1986. She returned from 1991, 1996, again in 2008, and her final run was from 2017-2020. Dina was the first wife of John Abbott and the mother of his children Jack, Traci, and Ashley. Shortly after returning to Y&R this last time it was revealed that Dina had Alzheimer's disease. At first the things she did were humorous such as mistaking Nick Newman's son Christian for her son Jack when he was a child. Dina was harassed by Nikki Newman to the point she became agitated and stabbed her with a fork she had stolen from a restaurant.

Madame Mergeron also snuck out of the Abbott mansion and started a fire at Nick's club the Underground. She forgot her daughter Traci's name and often thought Jack was his father John, The family agonized over her decline and finally had to put her in a facility for Alzheimer's patients. It was difficult watching thi9s once vibrant woman, a world traveler and business mogul declining and her family struggled with her situation. During Christmas of 2019 the family brought Dina home and she sat starring into space as if she was not aware of anything.

Traci began singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and when she got to the chorus, Dina suddenly joined in and after the song was finished she hugged her daughter. On other occasions she was easily agitated and extremely suspicious for no reason. Prior to passing away, Dina was in the Abbott home and was lucid and gave each of her children parting words. She also told them how much she loved them all and then she was gone. Dina's realistic portrayal was admired by those who say they have cared for loved ones with dementia.

Max Gail was hired to portray Mike Corbin on GENERAL HOSPITAL in 2008. Ron Hale previously had the role from 1995 until he retired in 2011. Gail came on board knowing that his character would die and he won the hearts of the viewers as the father of Sonny Corinthos. Mike mistook Sonny and Ava's daughter Avery, (his grandaughter) for his deceased daughter Courtney and took her to a horse stable. Mike thought he was taking her to the race track.

He also caused chaos at Sonny's home and often was frightened and nervous. He thought Brook Lynn Quartermaine was her mother Lois and often forgot that Sonny was his son. During a performance at the annual Nurses Ball Mike forgot the lines to a song and Sonny joined him on stage and they finished the tune together. Mike's family was assisted by Stella Henry who was an advocate and helped them come to terms with his condition and ultimate death.

Fans of both GENERAL HOSPITAL and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS became invested in Mike and Dina and were heartbroken when they died. Some viewers were even hoping there might be a way to keep the actors on the soaps even if they were other characters. Congratulations to Max Gail and Marla Adams on a job well done. Your fans and those who choose the Emmy winners saw the greatness in you even in your senior years. You are true inspirations and we hope we see you in other venues.