Paul Rauch, an Emmy-winning executive producer of numerous soap operas, died Sunday following an illness. He was 78.
Though Rauch will forever be remembered as one of the greats in the world of soaps, he didn't get his start in television. Early in his career, Rauch worked as a music critic for an English-language edition of the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. From there, Rauch moved on to television. He first worked as a vice president of programming for CBS, and later as a supervising producer for Procter & Gamble.
In 1971, Rauch took over as the executive producer of Another World. He remained with the show through 1983. During that time, he was also the co-creator and executive producer of the Another World spinoff, Texas.
Rauch went on to serve as executive producer of Guiding Light, One Life to Live, Santa Barbara, and what would ultimately be his final EP job, The Young and the Restless.
"The Soap World mourns the loss of one of our giants, Paul Rauch. R.I.P., my friend," Y&R's current head writer, Josh Griffith wrote on Facebook. "Go produce the hell out of Heaven now."
"My good friend and mentor, Paul Rauch, passed away today...very sad news," shared General Hospital EP Frank Valentini. "Paul Rauch dedicated his life to soap operas and made a mark like no other. He will be missed, but his legendary contribution will live on."
"I'm heart broken over the loss of Paul Rauch," Ricky Paull Goldin said on Twitter. "He was the man who gave me the role of Gus on GL. I wasn't [right] for the role but he didn't care. My heart is with Paul Rauch's family tonight. He was like a father to me."
During his tenure in daytime, Rauch amassed eight Daytime Emmy nominations and won twice -- 1976's Outstanding Drama Series win for Another World and a win for Outstanding Children's Special in 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Israela Margalit, a concert pianist and playwright; two children; two stepchildren; and three granddaughters.
Read soapcentral.com columnist Lynda Hirsch's memories of Paul Rauch in a special edition of Lathered Up.
