Monday, May 17, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #2 David Canary

NAME: David Canary
RANK: 2
SOAP ROLES: Adam Chandler/Stuart Chandler, ALL MY CHILDREN (1983-2010); Adam Chandler, ONE LIFE TO LIVE (2000, 2005); Steve Frame, ANOTHER WORLD (1981-1983); Warner/Far Wind, THE DOCTORS (1981); Arthur Benson, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW (1978); Russ Gehring, PEYTON PLACE (1965-1966)

AWARDS:
2008 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
2000 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
1999 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
2001 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Favorite Couple
1998 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1997 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1996 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1995 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1993 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor
1992 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
1991 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1990 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Villain: Daytime
1989 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1988 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1986 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1986 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role on a Daytime Serial
1985 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Jonathan Reiner: Two roles... countless memorable moments. I also loved his work on AW and his chemistry with Vicky Wyndham.

Roger Newcomb: I knew David Canary from BONANZA before soaps. The first soap role I remember him from was Steve Frame on ANOTHER WORLD. He is best known to soap fans as the villainous Adam Chandler, but it was his portrayal of Stuart, during the Cindy has AIDS storyline that made me a fan for life. What a brilliant, layered performance as both characters during that time. Heartbreaking, uplifting and the whole gamut of emotions. I'm so happy he won two of his Emmys from that storyline.

Nelson Aspen: It would be easy to dismiss Adam Chandler as mustache-twirling villain tying the heroines to railroad tracks, were it not for the bold, beautiful interpretation of Canary's "Stuart" character. It not only captured his range and abilities, it humanized Adam and gave him the staying power he enjoyed in Pine Valley.

Patrick Erwin: An amazing set of bookends: devious Adam and sweet Stuart – showing Canary’s limitless range every day for decades.

Connie Passalacqua Hayman (Marlena De Lacroix): Another actor (like Bryggman) who is so good you never notice for a second he is acting. Even made a difficult role, Stuart (the good and wise part of twin Adam) work. Primetime's great gift to us (he was a big star as Candy on BONANZA in the '60s.) When he retires from ALL MY CHILDREN, he’ll leave a hole the size of crater in the show.

Lynn Liccardo: There were long periods of time when I didn’t watch ALL MY CHILDREN. But when even an occasional viewer could tell when Adam was pretending to be Stuart pretending to be Adam, that’s some kind of acting.

COMMENTS FROM CO-STARS/CO-WORKERS/INDUSTRY:
Carmen Thomas: (worked with Canary on ALL MY CHILDREN) We didn't have a lot of scenes together but when I worked on the show we were all in the same building for 12-14 hours a day and really all knew each other and hung out together. I watched him a lot. He is ultimate technichian of crafting in terms of an actor. He knows how to craft a scene and knows where the cameras are and takes all that in when he does his work. He's really a hard worker. Some actors show up they know their lines, they know the instincts and connect with their partner, but have no idea what the camera is doing. David was always a craftsman.

Louise Sorel: (worked with Canary on ALL MY CHILDREN) David Canary and I worked together on ALL MY CHILDREN. He couldn't have been more professional, and everyone knows of his talent and professionalism.

Jean LeClerc: (worked with Canary on ALL MY CHILDREN) David welcomed me with the most warmest welcome of anyone in the cast. I was a foreigner, I was new in the daytime world. I had no idea who Susan Lucci was. My first scenes were with David. I watched him work. I saw how easy he made it look, but how precise he was in the preparation and delivery of playing twins. I think in the first or second year on the show he got his first nomination as Best Actor. Just to show you his kindness: I went to congratulate him and he said, “I’m pretty sure with the work you are delivering that you will get a nomination very soon. How nice! How generous of this man! He loved the character of Jeremy.

This is what I mean by what ALL MY CHILDREN was about. You had this level of support among us, on the inside. I got to follow David’s career outside of the studio. When he was doing a play I would always make an effort to go and see him work. He was amazing. He liked to act. He liked the craft. I asked him if he was going to keep doing theater? He said, “Oh yes, we need to reinforce our craft by going and doing other characters so we can come back and be fresh.” He is such a kind kind man. And funny. He and his wife are friends like I wish everyone could have.

9 comments:

  1. Always loved David Canary. I'm so happy he place this high.

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  2. Vicky Wyndham was lucky enough to act opposite three of your Top 10! (Then again, she also had to pair up with an actor who was one of the biggest blocks of wood in the history of soaps, so it wasn't all smooth sailing.)

    Great choices the Top 10!

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  3. Seeing this review Nelson, takes me back years. I always loved David especially in Peyton Place.

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  4. eplin,

    Who was the big block of wood that Vicky Wyndham had to act with years ago? Are you referring to George Reinholt (ex-Steve Frame)?

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  5. Greeneb2, I'm referring to William Grey Espy.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Ahhh yes--William Grey Espy (aka Mitch Blake, aka Snapper Foster, Y&R). Thanks eplin! :)

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  8. eplin's comments have me thinking that Victoria Wyndham was poorly placed (#30????) on your list of the top 50 soap actresses. She more than held her own with David Canary, Douglass Watson and Charles Keating. The three of them were strengthened in their acting pursuits with Wyndham as their on-screen partner. Any chance you can revisit Wyndham's status? She also enriched scenes with Constance Ford, Linda Dano and Beverlee McKinsey, who all ranked higher.

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