Despite the
fact that his character, Dr. Alan Quartermaine, is a stern, intense fellow
capable of homicidal rages and destructive sexual jealousy, actor Stuart
Damon is very much the opposite. In fact, he demonstrates the truth of the
statement that daytime TV actors are not the roles they portray.
While Alan Quartermaine is of an old, distinguished society family,
Stuart is the scion of a humble Russian immigrant family that came to the
American shores during the Bolshevik Revolution. His dad was a real
patriarch, who exercised his wisdom and authority through a soft voice and
meaningful gestures. No shouting or slapping from Papa Damon! And Stuart
emulates his father's approach to family management in his life.
Born in Brooklyn, Stuart was a rebellious teen who, in the fashion
of Fifties movies, hung around pool halls and acted generally defiant. But
his father urged him to settle down and Stu did, ending up with a psychology
degree from Brandeis University. After graduation he got involved in the
theater in a big way, landing summer stock roles that eventually prepared
him for his Broadway debut in the chorus of Irma La Douce. He danced
next to another newcomer by the name of Elliott Gould... and was so good
that in two weeks time he took over the male lead in the play!
In
1965 Stu went to England and spent the next twelve years in a succession of
successful West End plays and BBC series. Upon returning to the U.S. he was
asked to try out for a role in General Hospital. The rest is TV
history. Stuart takes great pride in the gentleness and warmth of his
personal life: a happy, two-decade-old marriage to his beautiful Deirdre is
blessed with two fine kids, eighteen-year-old Jennifer and fiveyear-old
Christopher. It's obvious that Stuart's family means everything to him, and
when he speaks of his children in particular you can see the high level of
his contentment.
Stuart Damon-a happy actor, and a happy man.
