Charles “Chip” Dox, a former Emmy-winning production designer and art director for daytime dramas such as General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, died on August 15 at the age of 80.
Dox initially got his start on GH in 2005, where he became known mainly for designing the luxury Quartermaine residences and the settings for the much-loved Nurses Ball. In 2011, he received an Emmy for his efforts on the ABC sudser.
Before entering the entertainment industry, Dox attended Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon University) and served in the Army for two years. He wound up teaching at his alma mater, but he was intent on heading west to establish a design career in Tinseltown (Hollywood).
There was no genre in which Dox did not have a hand. He crafted tour shows for Elton John, The Beach Boys, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jackson Browne, among others. He collaborated with Tracey Ulman on her sitcom Tracey Takes On, and the Lifetime comedy series Oh Baby. Dox also spent time and worked on the Telemundo sitcoms Viva Vegas and Los Beltrán.
But it was on daytime television that Dox ultimately earned his name. He worked on NBC’s Days of Our Lives for 17 years, for which he received his first Emmy for Outstanding Set Direction in 1997. There he met producer Jeanne Haney, who would eventually become his wife.
Dox then went on to ABC, where he worked on Port Charles, the nighttime soap Nightshift, and General Hospital before finally retiring in 2015.
Dox was open handed in all facets of his life, whether it was mentoring aspiring art directors or assisting in the redesign of a pilates studio where his wife persuaded him to “try it just once.” (He carried on going for over 22 years). He made brown bag lunches for the needy every Sunday, and was frequently asked to design family weddings and celebrations.
Dox is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jeanne, as well as their children Morgan Dox, Katie Segal, Hayley Dox-DaCosta, and Megan Younger, as well as their families; granddaughters Rae Kim and Kiddo Dox-DaCosta, and grandsons Henry and Charlie Segal.
Donations to Dox’s favorite charity, the World Central Kitchen, can be donated in lieu of flowers.
