Veteran actor and "General Hospital" alumni Peter Hansen, has passed away at age 95. According to his family, he died Sunday, in Santa Clarita, CA. Hansen enjoyed a long show business career and was an original cast member of GH when it first aired on ABC. He portrayed lawyer Lee Baldwin who was the adoptive father, of DA Scotty Baldwin. Hansen was a commanding presence, and Lee Baldwin was a well-beloved character. Peter Hansen is one of only a few celebrities .to continue their careers well into their senior years.
A popular presence in Port Charles
Hansen was on "General Hospital" from its inception in 1965 and continued until 1976. He returned in 1977 and remained with the show until 1986. He reappeared briefly in 1990. His last run on the daytime drama was from 1992 until 2004. He was last on screen in Port Charles, for the funeral of Lila Quartermaine. Peter Hansen was also on the short-lived GH spin-off, "Port Charles." He was nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy. He won the best-supporting-actor in 1979. Hanson enjoyed a close to 40 year run on "General Hospital." His character Lee Baldwin was the one who kept his head when others around him were filled with anxiety and making rash decisions. He was the go-to guy, the man with sound wisdom.
During his time in Port Charles, Baldwin wore many hats. He was an addiction counselor, lawyer, mayor, and later on, e became a member of the GH board of directors.
Other facts about Hansen
According to Soap Opera Digest, Kin Shriner, who portrayed Scotty Baldwin said he had a father/son relationship with Hansen that he appreciated because his parents died when he was young.
Shriner also said he last spoke to Hansen on his 93rd birthday, and they talked as if it were 35 years earlier. In his younger years, Peter Hansen was a contract player at Paramount studio. He was cast in the movies "Branded," "The Savage," and "When Worlds Collide," He was also in many television series which include, "The Loretta Young show," "How the West was Won," "The Adventures of Jim Bowie," "Sea Hunt," "The Golden Girls," "Perry Mason," and "Cheers." According to the Hollywood Insider, Peter Hansen was born Oakland CA., raised in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan.
His wife Betty died in 1993, after 50 years of matrimony. For the past 24 years, he has kept company with Betty Wenzel. In addition to Ms. Wenzel, Peter Hansen leaves behind a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.
