ANNE BAXTER ROLE IN SERIES DROPPED

The role of Mrs. Victoria Cabot, owner of the elegant San Francisco hotel in ABC’s “Hotel,” will not be in the series next season, ABC says.

The part had been played by Anne Baxter, 62, who died Dec. 12 in New York eight days after suffering a stroke.

An ABC spokesman said Monday that Baxter will not be succeeded by another actress in the role, which will be dropped. Before her death, Baxter had filmed 19 of this season’s 24 scheduled episodes, he said, and is prominently featured in the 21st episode, due to air in the spring.

Baxter originally was cast in “Hotel” after Bette Davis became ill early in the program’s first season and had to drop out.