Michael Zaslow Tribute




On Sunday, December 6, 1998. Daytime TV was shocked and saddened by the death of Michael Zaslow who created one of daytime's greatest villians, Roger Thorpe a character he had played on Guiding Light on and off for Twenty Five Years. He had been battling ALS also known as Lou Gherig's Disease which was a muscular disorder that ravaged his body. He was born around 1944 to parents who were active members of the Union Rights Movement and passed on their values to their only child who in his own way would take up various causes himself. However, it was always the theater that always entranced him. He attended UCLA which also graduated another Soap Actress (Heather Locklear) and graduated Phi Beta Kappa which is equivalent to honors.

After graduation, he took on various acting roles including a role on the Sci Fi Classic "Star Trek" but it was the world of Soaps and Broadway that he would make his prescence felt and known. His first Soap Role was as Peter Chernak on Love Of Life (the same show that Christopher Reeve started out on), and as Dr. Dick Hart on Search for Tomorrow. After leaving that role, he starred on Broadway as Perchik on "Fiddler On The Roof" for which he grew a beard.

After about a year he got a job offer to audition for a brand new character on the CBS Drama "The Guiding Light". This was 1971, and then casting agent Betty Rea who was considered to have the midas touch in hiring actors and actresses knew that casting the role of Roger Thorpe was going to be her most challenging job. (However, she has shown her brilliance by hiring a who's who of actors/actresses many of which have gone on to be successful including Kevin Bacon, Nia Long, Jobeth Williams and Billy Dee Williams amongst others). So when Michael agreed to take the job, little did he realize that he was about to create one of the most brilliant characters in Soap History. Although he has and always will be a villian, in his own way, he managed to kick the door open for other villians such as Victor Newman (Y & R), Stefano DiMera (DOOL), as well as Palmer Cortlandt (AMC). However, he managed to do something that alot of villians couldn't do which was be evil but gain sympathy at the same time.

This was because despite all of his faults whether it was blackmail, threats, thirst for power he only wanted to be accepted by his peers and community and at one time we can all identify with that. In 1980, he decided to leave to concentrate on other aspects of show business. He did a short lived series called "Kings Crossing", as well as perform on Broadway in a revival of "My Fair Lady" where he took on the role of Henry Higgins. In 1983 he returned to Daytime in the role of Concert Pianist turned Spy David Renaldi on One Life To Live where he played a good guy and even showed off his musical talent on the show yet after leaving the show in 1986, Roger Thorpe once again resurfaced in Springfield. When he wasn't working on the show, he did other activities. He married Susan Hufford, an actress turned physiotherapist and together they adopted two girls named Marika and Helena who would follow in their father's footsteps as musicians both playing violin where he would join on piano. He also took on various political issues such as gun control, enviornmental issues but most of all fighting for the rights of actors and actresses who needed dental and medical care.

Although many of his fellow actors spoke very highly of Michael and his work, his closest professional co-star was none other than Maureen Garrett who has played Holly Norris Bauer Thorpe Lindsay Reade on and off for 23 years and currently holds the title as being GL's longest running leading lady. In 1994, Michael finally won Daytime's highest honor, The Emmy Award for a scene in which he threatened his fourth wife Jenna Bradshaw. Time went on and in 1996, Michael's health began to deteriorate when his speech started to slur. At first people thought it was a stroke or lyme disease but eventually he was informed that it was ALS. He lost his job with GL, he sued for wrongful termination and managed to get a fair settlement. Fortunately for Michael, he may have been down but not out.

He managed to re-vive his character on OLTL and he also did a storyline about the discrimination that people with the disease have in modern society. He even appeared on TODAY and 20/20 to talk about the disease but he didn't do CBS considering that it was the station that owned the rights to GL. During Labour Day Weekend, he also appeared on LARRY KING LIVE where he talked through a computer and admitted that part of the reason why his fellow actors didn't come forward to support him was because they were scared of losing their jobs.

Although he worked hard and even had a website (www.zazangels.com) to promote ALS awareness and did various fundraisers, his time on earth was limited. However, in late November a benefit with other actors including Alec Baldwin as well as Kim Zimmer (Reva GL), performed to raise money for ALS. Yet the most touching was when Ron Raines (Alan Spaulding) sang "The Impossible Dream" from the Broadway Play "Man Of La Mancha" which he dedicated to Michael. Sadly enough, Michael's battle ended when he suffered a severe heart attack. He may be gone but not forgotten. On New Year's Day, Maureen Garrett hosted a special episode from 1993 where Michael did what he called his best work and on February 26th, he will be honored with a special lifetime achievement award that his wife Susan will accept on his behalf

Last Updated 2/25/99. E-mail me with any comments or suggestions at addip@isholf.is.