Saturday, May 1, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #12 Grant Aleksander

NAME: Grant Aleksander
RANK: 12
SOAP ROLES: Phillip Spaulding (1982-1984, 1986-1991, 1996-2004, 2009); Alec McIntyre, ALL MY CHILDREN (1993-1996); D.J. Phillips, CAPITOL (1986)

AWARDS:
2005 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2005 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
2004 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2003 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2003 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
1999 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Favorite Couple
1998 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1998 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Favorite New Couple
1997 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Leading Actor
1995 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Leading Actor
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Super Couple: Daytime
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Roger Newcomb: I was 12 years old when I first saw Aleksander on GUIDING LIGHT. I had been invested in the Phillip story for years before that (why wasn't I outside playing?). Aleksander instantly hooked me in with his portrayal of the conflicted character. By the time my 13th birthday rolled around, it was prom time and Beth and Phillip and "Truly" made such a lasting impression on me. Watching him all these years, it really struck me upon his return in 2009 what an amazing actor Aleksander had become. His presence was sorely missed on GUIDING LIGHT while he was away. He has taken the wonderful lessons learned from McKinsey, Bernau and other GL greats and merged them with his own natural talent to become one of the finest actors we have today.

Patrick Erwin: Aleksander has played a series of daytime characters, but he was always the definitive Phillip on GL. It was entertaining to see Aleksander’s performances change, evolve and grow, just as Phillip did.

Nelson Aspen: Like the other actors on my list, Grant always possessed the layers that kept him interesting to watch over the course of years and years. The ease with which he inhabited the role of Phillip made us more sympathetic to the Spaulding family overall and ultimately proved that he was as important as any "Bauer" in the show's rich history. He has the 3 S's of Soap appeal: Sexy, strong and sensitive.

Alan Carter: It's hard to remember that Grant started as the ever-shirtless hunky teen torn between taking Mindy or Beth to the prom. Over time he became a riveting presence...shirt on or off.

Lynn Liccardo: Since my list was in alphabetical order, he came out as my first choice. His return to GUIDING LIGHT may have initially been perceived by skeptical fans as nothing more than a desperate attempt to save a dying show, but the performance Grant Aleksander brought to those final months, showed Phillip as the heart and soul of Springfield.

COMMENTS FROM CO-STARS/CO-WORKERS/INDUSTRY:
Michael O'Leary: (worked with Aleksander on GUIDING LIGHT) Grant is the most generous actor that anybody would ever dream of working with. Grant had this wonderful way of looking at a scene and facilitating the other actor to make them the best they could possibly be. Grant was a very smart actor. He could look at a scene and the day and map it out in his head. He was completely and totally prepared every day. He knew your lines, he knew his lines, and he was the go-to guy on GUIDING LIGHT.

Tina Sloan: (worked with Aleksander on GUIDING LIGHT) I think he's one of the finest actors in the world. He's so committed and so strong and so stable and solid. It's allmost exhilarating to work with him.

Jill Lorie Hurst: (wrote for Aleksander on GUIDING LIGHT) Grant played Phillip with such brilliance and honesty - the writers who created the character drew a wonderful sketch and Grant took it from there. It was a joy to follow him from his beginnings as a tortured, conflicted romantic hero to the final days of GL when he sadly had to step into the role of family patriarch. Thank goodness he came back to us last year.

2 comments:

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  2. He made me want to become an actor. So engaging, real and partciularly when Phillip went off the deep end before his "demise" intense. Grant made Phillip a full human being; vulnerable and by turns frustrating and heartbreaking. I left GL when he left and was glad to see him return before the show came to a close.

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