Lynn Deerfield, who was born Rosalind Jane Hirschfeld, a native of St. Louis and an accomplished actress whose roles included the character Holly on the soap opera “Guiding Light,” died Friday, Nov. 11 of undetermined causes, at her family home in University City, according to family members. She was 61.

Ms. Deerfield was the youngest of three children born to Madeline Moscowitz and the antiques dealer Richard Hirschfeld. She was a 1967 graduate of Ladue Horton Watkins High School, where she honed her acting skills in school productions, including starring as Emily in “Our Town.” She was also a gifted pianist.

She attended the St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley for one year and then moved to New York City. She trained as an actor at the acclaimed Neighborhood Playhouse, along with such super stars as Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton.

Ms. Deerfield changed her name to Deerfield because when Hirschfeld is translated from German to English, it is Deerfield, according to her sister-in-law, Adrienne Hirschfeld.

In 1970, Ms. Deerfield was cast as a new star named Holly in the soap opera “Guiding Light,” and was a regular on the show for seven years. Ms. Deerfield’s husband, Bill Beutel, a former national ABC-TV news anchor, preceded her in death.

Burial was private. Survivors include three brothers, Mark Hirschfeld of Ladue, Michael Hirschfeld of University City and David Carter of University City, and a sister, Joan Johnson of Glendale.