Friday, April 23, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #17 Darnell Williams

NAME: Darnell Williams
RANK: 17
SOAP ROLES: Jesse Hubbard, ALL MY CHILDREN (1981-1988, 1994, 2001, 2008-present); Griggs, GUIDING LIGHT (2007); Jacob Foster, THE CITY (1995-97); Jacob Foster, LOVING (1995); Jack Durbin, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1994)

AWARDS:
2003 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
1996 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
1996 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor
1994 Golden Globe Special Award win for Best Ensemble Cast
1993 Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup Award win for Best Ensemble Cast
1985 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1983 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series
1982 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Roger Newcomb: Out of all the wonderful actors in the countdown, there is one I can say is a personal friend, Darnell Williams. I grew up as a fan of Darnell and Jesse Hubbard was one of the great soap opera characters of his time, of all time. The Jesse/Angie coupling was historic and even if they had never returned to ALL MY CHILDREN, would still be remembered fondly. So when I got to meet him and work with him on my film, Manhattanites, finding out he's one of the classiest people I've ever met was just a bonus. Aside from being able to elevate any scene he's in, Darnell Williams makes it look effortless. The best thing ALL MY CHILDREN did in the past decade is bring Darnell and Debbi Morgan back to the show.

Alan Carter: One half of the first black superstar couple....still going strong nearly 30 years later.

6 comments:

  1. Even my grandmother, who was a longtime devoted CBS soap watcher, loved Darnell Williams as Jesse Hubbard.

    I'm not sure exactly who was casting All My Children back then, but they were able to find such gems in talented, young and gorgeous actors and actresses at that time.

    Darnell Williams, Debbi Morgan, Michael E. Knight, Kim Delaney, Laurence Lau and Marcy Walker.

    Utter Perfection.

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  2. I Believe Darnell Also spent part of 1994 before joining Loving at As The World turns. It was a short-term stint I believe

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  3. DW was also Jack Derbin/Devere on ATWT in 1994.

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  4. Love him!....another one who was in my Top 10.... He only gets better with age...

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  5. Definitely deserves to be in the top twenty!
    So glad he's back on AMC - Jesse and Debbi Morgan's Angie are one of my favorite couples of all time.

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  6. Impatiently waiting on Darnell clips.... :)

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