Guiding Light's Most Memorable Actresses, Part 6: Charita Bauer

Of the thousands of actresses who have appeared on Guiding Light over the past 72 years, none is more synonomous with the series than the late Charita Bauer, who is, in my opinion, the most memorable actress in the history of Guiding Light and, perhaps, daytime television.

For nearly 35 years, Charita portrayed the role of Bert Miller Bauer, the matriarch of the serial's core family. Born on December 20, 1923 in Newark, NJ, Charita joined Guiding Light in 1950 while the serial was still on radio. But Charita wasn't the original Bert. Ann Shepherd originated the role, only to replaced shortly thereafter with the actress who would become the heart and soul of broadcasting's longest running drama.

Back in the 1950s, Bert Bauer wasn't the kind, loving, compassionate matriarch that most viewers remember. She was a bit of a nag and somewhat of a social climber. She was married to businessman Bill Bauer, an alcoholic with a penchant for other women. In the early 1950s, Bert and Bill welcomed two sons: Michael and William (Ed).

In 1962, Bert was diagnosed with uterine cancer, a storyline never before tackled on daytime television and a plot that helped create awareness of the disease.

Guiding Light continued to tackle socially relevant stories as the years passed. Bill battled alcoholism as did his son Ed. Bill had a heart transplant in 1968, only to die in a plane crash a year later. The family's patriarch Frederick Bauer died in 1973. And through it all, Bert remain steadfast, headstrong, and devoted to her family and friends. She was a woman who didn't mince her words and who spoke the truth as she saw it. This priceless scene features Charita with the late Don Stewart (Mike) and the late Theo Goetz (Papa Bauer).

In 1977, as Guiding Light expanded to an hour, Bill Bauer returned from the dead, giving Bert a powerful storyline and Charita the opportunity to fully display her talent. Arriving along with Bill was his illegitimate daughter Hillary Kincaid. Before long, Hillary was part of the Bauer family and Bert treated her as though she were her own daughter.

In 1983, Charita was presented with more story material. Now a patient advocate at Cedars Hospital, Bert, along with her grandson Rick and his best friend Phillip Spaulding, befriended an older German man named Martin Bruner, who was dying. Later, Bill Bauer once again resurfaced only to be pushed out of a hotel window to his death. Bert mourned her ex-husband as long-hidden secrets involving the Bauer, Chamberlain, Spaulding, Lewis, and Reardon families came to the surface. Newly arrived Oklahoma oil magnate HB Lewis seemed to take an interest in Bert. But the story was cut short when Charita temporarily left the series in late 1983 for health reasons: a blood clot necessitated the amputation of her leg.

After Charita had recovered, she returned to Guiding Light in the spring of 1984. With Charita's permission, head writer Pamela Long and executive producer Gail Kobe embarked on what would be one of Bert's most memorable storylines: just like Charita, Bert would be diagnosed with a blood clot and have her leg amputated.

The storyline was well received by viewers who rejoiced as Bert triumphed over her adversity. As spirited as ever, Bert nicknamed her prosthesis leg "Edith." She also developed a close friendship with Josh Lewis, who was confined to a wheelchair after a car accident. That friendship resulted in one of the series' most powerful and most memorable scenes where Bert talks with Josh about life (featured in the special tribute montage at the end of this post). Here is another scene where Bert encourages her friend.

Later that summer, Bert would say farewell to her eldest son Mike, who moved to Washington, DC, and Hillary, who was killed. Bert's final goodbye to the woman she treated as her own daughter was heartbreaking and so endearing.

Charita Bauer last aired as Bert in December 1984 as illness once again forced her to leave the show. Sadly, Charita died on February 28, 1985. It was truly the end of an era.

A year later, Guiding Light would have Bert Bauer die in her sleep, leading to a well-deserved tribute to the actress and character who was and will always be the guiding light. And here, from 1987, is another tribute to Charita, on the occasion of Guiding Light's 50th year in broadcasting.

To end, some dialogue from one of Charita's most memorable performances, her talk with Josh Lewis:

Bert: Josh! Josh! It takes time! Josh, we're at the beginning. You're at the beginning. So am I. Look at how far we've come already. Don't look at the distance that's left to go.

Josh: Don't expect miracles. Is that what you're saying?

Bert: No, I'm not telling you that. Because life itself is a miracle. And don't you ever forget it.