Wednesday, May 12, 2010

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #5 Justin Deas

NAME: Justin Deas
RANK: 5
SOAP ROLES: Scott, STEAMBOAT (2010-present); Buzz Cooper, GUIDING LIGHT (1993-2009); Marco Dane, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; Keith Timmons, SANTA BARBARA (1986-1988); Tom Hughes, AS THE WORLD TURNS (1980-1984); Bucky Carter, RYAN'S HOPE (1975-1978)

AWARDS:
2005 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1997 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1995 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
1995 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Male Scene Stealer
1994 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1994 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor
1989 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1988 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Villain: Daytime
1988 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Villain: Daytime
1987 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1984 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1981 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Roger Newcomb: What an impact Justin Deas has made on daytime soaps over the past 35 years. Keith Timmons was one of my favorite characters ever. Buzz Cooper added so much depth and soul to GUIDING LIGHT. He's was even my favorite Tom Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS. I can't say enough about his memorable performances - from the hilarious to the deeply dramatic. I think about Tom and Margo and Mr. Big; Keith and Gina's antics; Buzz with Nadine, Jenna and Lillian; and young Bucky working at Riverside Hospital, and all I can do is smile. He has truly entertained as much as any actor I've ever seen.

Damon L. Jacobs:  There is something so captivating about this man's apparent incongruencies.  He can be hysterically funny while portraying someone horrifically evil (ie, Keith on SB).  He can be incredibly neurotic while portraying someone straight-laced and well adjusted (ie, on Bucky on RH).  But his most fascinating performances came from his multiple Emmy Winning role as Buzz on GUIDING LIGHT, the emotionally tortured Vietnam Vet who experienced a warzone within his own soul.  Whether he was pulling scams with Nadine, sharing tender moments with Jenna, experiencing existential angst in the midst of the 5th Street Fire, or mourning the tragic death of his son Coop, Deas never delivered an emotionally false moment, and has always demonstrated an enduring commitment to his craft.

Lynn Liccardo: School, a full time job and lack of a VCR meant that I didn’t see a lot of his Tom Hughes on AS THE WORLD TURNS (although my mother hated all the yelling). And funny as I found his Keith to Robin Mattson’s Gina on SANTA BARBARA, it wasn’t until he came to GUIDING LIGHT as Buzz Cooper that I fully appreciated Justin Deas. Yes, he could chew the scenery with the best of them (Liz Hubbard comes to mind). But like La Liz, Deas can say more with a raised eyebrow than many actors can with a multi-page monologue. I was so happy to finally get a look at his early work as Bucky Carter when SOAPNet began re-airing RYAN’S HOPE from the beginning a couple years back.

Nelson Aspen: What a character! In a business of clones, Justin has always been 100% unique and, amazingly, it's paid off for him handsomely in the quirky portrayals of Tom Hughes and Buzz Cooper. He's done it his way and we're all the luckier for it!

Alan Carter: Does he have 100 emmys? If he doesnt, he should. He even convinced me he could have been Frank Dicopolous' father...and what were they? Five years apart maybe? From Bucky to Buzz...he was always interesting, but he is seriously a daytime treasure. Someone hire this man!

Patrick Erwin: Deas had memorable runs on ATWT, RH and of course GL, but in my mind he’ll always be Keith Timmons, a man whose deviousness was only matched by his boundless energy.

Connie Passalacqua Hayman (Marlena De Lacroix): A complete natural, an oddball, and another daytime original. Soap writers love him because he can do anything, (comedy, drama) and always does it differently than everyone else. Standout roles: Crazy Keith Timmons on Santa Barbara and deep, deep Buzz on Guiding Light.

COMMENTS FROM CO-STARS/CO-WORKERS/INDUSTRY:
Tina Sloan: (worked with Deas on GUIDING LIGHT) He's so much fun to work with. He's so imaginative. You never know what he's going to do and, for me, it's pure heaven. I just never knew what was going to happen and I thrived working with him.

Fiona Hutchison: (worked with Deas on GUIDING LIGHT) Justin Deas is one of the most exciting partners to have. You never know what he's going to do next. He's very creative and spontaneous. I'm looking forward so much to doing this project we're doing, La Lumiere, because I will get to work with Justin again which will be tremendous.

Michael O'Leary: (worked with Deas on GUIDING LIGHT/STEAMBOAT) Justin is just kinetic energy times ten. He won his Emmys for a reason. If there were ten people in a scene and Justin was drinking lemonade in the corner, you would watch Justin.

Louise Sorel: (worked with Deas on SANTA BARBARA) Everyone knows his talent, as it has been seen now for so long on GUIDING LIGHT and other places. He is also very unique and bright.

10 comments:

  1. A man so good, he took himself out of the (I Believe) Emmys race to be fair

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  2. Love Justin. Always have ever since Bucky on RH. So great as Keith on Santa Barbara.

    Am actually surprised he came in as low as #5. I figured he'd be #1 or #2. Nonetheless, still very deserving.

    But question: when Justin did he ever play Marco Dane? That was Gerald Anthony and ONLY Gerald Anthony. Unless Justin filled in one day when Gerald was sick.

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  3. Thank you James! According to Mr. Deas's resume, he was a temporarily replacement for Gerald Anthony for an unspecified amount of episodes in the 1980s. Did anyone ever catch this?

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  4. Excellent choice, WLS. He's in my top 3.
    Now I really want to see your top 4!

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  5. A proper actor. I was convinced he was #1.

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  6. This is very well deserved! Damon and/or Roger, if you will indulge a couple of corrections:

    1. Justin was on GL from 1993 all the way through to 2009 ;)

    2. Justin started his stint as Tom on ATWT in December of 1980, I believe.

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  7. Should be higher...can't wait to see the rest. I know Michael Zaslow will be there!

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  8. Always liked Justin, but haven"t seen him for a while now. We need more soaps in Melbourne. Lynne

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  9. Justin is marvelous! :) He can make you laugh one minute and cry the next--fabulous, he is! :)

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  10. Justin is #1 on my list. I just love to watch him work. I keep checking out internet movie data base to find out where I can see him. He is so hugely gifted. They should write a prime time series just for him!!!!!!!!!!

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