Betty Corday (born Elizabeth Shay; March 21, 1912 – November 17, 1987) was a Broadway dramatic actress and long-time American television producer. She co-created and executive produced the long running NBC drama Days of Our Lives from 1966 until her death in 1987.
Biography
Stage
Corday had previously been a Broadway stage actress, starring in "one flop after another" before marrying her husband, a Winnipeg-born lawyer. They were married from 1942 until his death in 1966. They had two sons, Chris and Ken.[1]
Becoming executive producer after the death of her husband, Ted Corday (credited as Mrs. Ted Corday), she was the executive producer of Days of Our Lives from 1966 to 1985.[2] She semi-retired in 1985, turning control over to her son, Ken.[3] She kept the title of executive producer until her death in November 1987. In addition to her work on Days of our Lives, Corday was a consultant for The Young and the Restless.
Death
Betty Corday died at age 75 on November 17, 1987, from respiratory failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.[4]
