Tom Ligon, best known to fans of The Young and the Restless as Lucas Prentiss from 1978-82, has died. The actor was 85 years old.
In Memoriam
Deadline reported Ligon’s passing following a confirmation by the union SAG-AFTRA. There was no cause of death given. Ligon was born on September 10, 1940, in New Orleans. His professional acting roles included parts in the film Paint Your Wagon, which starred Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood. Ligon appeared on numerous soap operas, including All My Children, Another World, and Santa Barbara, but his most notable role was Lucas Prentiss on Y&R.
Luca’s brother, Lance (John McCook, now Eric on The Bold and the Beautiful; Dennis Cole), was embroiled in a love triangle with Leslie Brooks (Janice Lynde; Victoria Mallory) and Lorie (Jaime Lyn Bauer). The arrival of Lucas turned the story into a full-fledged quadrangle that drove storylines in Genoa City for many years.
Lucas and Lance had a controlling mother in Vanessa Prentiss (K.T. Stevens), who gave control of the family company, Prentiss Industries, to Lance, as she was unhappy that Lance had a close relationship with Lorie.
Vanessa tried to control Lucas by telling him Lorie and Lance were still involved. Then, Lucas began dating Dr. Casey Reed (Roberta Leighton). Vanessa killed herself in an attempt to frame Lorie for her murder. Lorie was exonerated. Eventually, Lance and Lucas ran the family company together. In 1982, Lucas left town.
This was around the time the top-rated CBS soap opera shifted from the Brooks and Foster families to the Abbotts, Williams, and Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).
Ligon’s fame from Y&R led to his being cast on the big screen in the soap opera spoof, Young Doctors in Love. His additional TV credits include roles on Starsky and Hutch, Police Woman, Law & Order: SVU, and Medical Center.
From Genoa City to Corinth
After leaving Y&R, he moved 3000 miles across the country to join the cast of Loving as Billy Bristow, the husband of Rita Mae Bistrow (played by the late Pamela Blair).
Active in the union, Ligon served on the New York Local’s SAG-AFTRA board and multiple communities. He strongly supported the merging of the two unions (SAG and AFTRA), which was finalized in 2012.
Ligon married actress K.C. Crawford in 1976. She passed away in 2009.
Soap Central sends sincere condolences to Ligon’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
Edited by Michael Maloney