NEW HOPE, Pa. — Dayle Haddon, a renowned actress, activist, and pioneering former model for “Sports Illustrated,” tragically passed away at the age of 76 in her Pennsylvania residence. Authorities suspect that her death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Emergency responders in Bucks County discovered Haddon deceased in a second-floor bedroom early Friday after receiving reports of an unconscious individual at the Solebury Township home. Another occupant, identified as Walter J. Blucas, 76, was found in critical condition and taken to the hospital.
Upon investigation, officials identified elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the home, attributing the leak to a malfunctioning flue and exhaust pipe associated with a gas heating system. Additionally, two paramedics were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide exposure, while a police officer was treated at the scene.
In her illustrious career as a model during the 1970s and 1980s, Haddon graced the covers of prominent magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Esquire, and was featured in the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Throughout her acting journey, she appeared in approximately twenty films spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s, with notable roles such as in the 1994 film “Bullets Over Broadway,” which starred John Cusack.
Following the birth of her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, Haddon stepped away from modeling but was compelled to re-enter the workforce after her husband’s passing in 1991. She encountered an industry that had grown less welcoming, once recalling that at 38, she was deemed “not viable” as a model, according to a 2003 interview with The New York Times.
Undeterred, Haddon took a menial job at an advertising agency while advocating for cosmetic brands to recognize the emerging market for aging baby boomers. Her persistence paid off with securing contracts from Clairol, Estée Lauder, and L’Oreal, for which she became a prominent spokesperson for anti-aging products over a period exceeding a decade. She also appeared as a beauty segment host on CBS’s “The Early Show.”
Reflecting on her career, Haddon stated, “I kept modeling, but in a different way. I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, she established WomenOne, an organization dedicated to enhancing educational prospects for girls and women in underserved communities, with initiatives extending to Rwanda, Haiti, and Jordan.
Originally from Toronto, Haddon’s modeling journey commenced as a teenager to support her ballet training, beginning her career with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens in Canada.
In a heartfelt tribute on social media, Haddon’s daughter Ryan expressed that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion” and an inspiration to many. “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she wrote.
