Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Hugo Napier & Colleen Zenk: AS THE WORLD TURNS' "Gunnar & Barbara" Reunited at the Indie Series Awards

Photo Credit: Jill Johnson/JPI Studios
If you watched CBS daytime drama AS THE WORLD TURNS over its final 32 years you saw Colleen Zenk play the character of Barbara Ryan as she transitioned from young heroine to bitch to mother-from-hell while romancing and/or marrying a string of men including James Stenbeck, Hal Munson, Henry Coleman and John Dixon. My personal favorite was Gunnar St. Clair, the true Stenbeck heir--and the love of Barbara's life, in my mind.

At last week's Indie Series Awards, Ms. Zenk found me during the Red Carpet Reception and said, "There's someone I want you to meet."

With the knowledge that she knows people from every walk of life, this could have meant anyone. She walked me across the room and standing on the other side of the Lobby of the historic El Portal Theatre was Hugo Napier: Gunnar himself!

I was thrilled to finally meet the other half of one of my favorite soap opera couples of all-time. Still handsome and charming, Mr. Napier was incredibly gracious, allowing me a dream fanboy moment. Thank you, Ms. Zenk! Now if I could only get these two onscreen together again...

RELATED:
- The Many Loves of... Barbara Ryan From AS THE WORLD TURNS
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2 comments:

  1. CherylApril 9, 2014 at 4:32 PM

    This is so wonderful. Great days on ATWT - and in my mind I can hear little Paul (Danny Pintauro) being excited to see Gunnar and calling out Gunnar's name. Roger - you've made my day!

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  2. AnonymousApril 10, 2014 at 5:31 PM

    I'd love to see an interview with those two...hint, hint ;)

    You know, I've always thought that ATWT should have tried to bring this character back for a story arc, especially at the end of the show.
    I mean, we never saw his demise, right? Perhaps he survived somehow after that hot air balloon crashed and hit the rocks leaving him with a traumatic brain injury and a loss of memory for decades. Perhaps he has an 'Awakenings' moment where Barbara's face flashes through his mind and he weakly says 'Barbara'.
    Man, if only I had been writing that show, I'd have written another 'Hello Barbara' type moment after Gunnar searches and finds a newly engaged Barbara (to Henry).

    Oh well...

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