'General Hospital' Actress Dies At 49
Kepler Played Gossipy Nurse On Soap Opera




PORTLAND, Ore. -- "General Hospital" actress Shell Kepler died Friday at Oregon Health and Science University.

She was 49.

No cause of death was given for the woman who spent more than 20 years playing gossipy nurse Amy Vining on the television soap opera.



"I was shocked to hear of the recent and untimely passing of Shell Kepler," said "General Hospital" executive producer Jill Farren Phelps on the show's Web site. "She was a wonderful person and my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time."

Kepler appeared on "General Hospital" from 1979 to 2002.

On the side, Kepler was a businesswoman, marketing clothing on the former Home Shopping Club.

Kepler moved to Portland after her television career and became involved in charity fundraising.