Former “Soap” star Robert Mandan is dead at age 86. His friend, playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein announced over the weekend that the TV actor, best known for playing Chester Tate on the ABC sitcom spoof of soap operas, died April 29 after a long illness.

Mandan also appeared on the daytime drama, Search for Tomorrow, along with prime time shows, “Three’s Company,” “The Facts of Life,” “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “Sanford and Son,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Married… with Children” and CBS’ “Private Benjamin.”

He’s survived by his wife Sherry.