Where are they now: JULIA CAMPBELL

- Courtney Capwell on SANTA BARBARA (1986) -

Julia Campbell made ​​her debut on television with the soap opera Ryan's Hope (1984-85), in which she plays Katie Thompson. After leaving Ryan's Hope, Julia was contacted by Santa Barbara to audition for the role of Hayley. Although the show decided she was a little too old for that part, they later contacted her to test for Courtney Capwell. She screen tested with Robert Thaler, who played Pearl. Here is what Robert Thaler recently told me about her character: “Courtney was a character chosen at a series of auditions and they wanted my feedback so I chose the girl that played the part. I was quite new to all this soap stuff and tv, so I may have approached that relationship differently had I to do it all over again. I think it was around that time that the Dobson's via their producer took me out to lunch and wanted to know if I wanted to be a more prominent lead on the show. But I said no. There were too many lines to learn and I was underestimating my ability to do all of the work. I did not want to hold them back or slow down production. So then they never fully wrote for or developed that story line or the dual character thing.”

So in March 1986 Courtney, along with her sister Madeleine (Terry Davis), came to Santa Barbara to visit their rich family: the Capwells. A short time later, Madeleine was murdered and Courtney did everything possible so that Madeleine's husband, David Laurent, could be condemned for that crime. But Julia was able to disculpate David, having a crush on him. Curtain sets over the murder case  for a while: Courtney fell in love (unrequited) with Pearl, she helped him to help Kelly to escape from the psychiatric hospital and much more. As long as Pearl’s brother, Brian (Kyle Secor), presumed dead came to town. Brian was also aspiring writer as well as presumed dead, and reviewing the documents relating to the death of Madeleine, he came to the shocking truth: it was Courtney who murdered her own sister (in self-defense). Courtney disappeared from the town the following day, whereas any prosecution seems to have been launched against her.

 

Bernard White (1986)

It was December 18, 1986. After SB, her other television credits include Herman’s Head (1992), Murder, She wrote (1993), Seinfeld (1998), Friends (2000), Ally McBeal (2002), Two and a Half Men (2006), Desperate Housewives (2007), In Treatment (2008), The Shield (2008), Heroes (2009), House M.D. (2009), Dexter (2009), No Ordinary Family (2010), Drop Dead Diva (2012). Julia Campbell actually is 50 years old, she’s married to actor Jay Karnes and the couple have two children. She was previously married to actor Bernard White, who played the recurring role of Angel Ramirez on SB.

 

Where are they now: TERRY DAVIS

- Madeleine Capwell Laurent on SANTA BARBARA (1986) -

Terry Davis began acting on the soap opera The Edge of Night with the role of April Cavanaugh (1977-1981). Then she played Stacey Winthrop on the soap Another World (1982-1984). And finally March 12, 1986 Terry Davis joined the cast of SANTA BARBARA with the role of Madeleine Capwell. Madeleine and Courtney (Julia Campbell) are the daughters of Grant Capwell, CC’s brother / rival who livesd in Boston. The two sisters came to SB to visit their uncle CC: while Courtney looked very soft and pliable, Madeleine was rather ruthless, snobbish, seemingly shallow and selfish. Her favorite victim was Pearl (Robert Thaler), the Capwell’s chauffeur at the time. Madeleine has not too liberal ideas about “servitude”. Here is what Robert Thaler recently told me about her character: “Madeline as I remember was played by a good actress who had comic ability. It's too bad they killed her off so quickly, probably it was because she had only signed a short term contract”.

But in April 7, 1986 Madeleine  was found dead in a bungalow with her skull smashed. Pearl was the first suspect, then cleared. But it was David Laurent, Madeleine’s husband, to be tried and finally acquitted for the murder of his wife, which remains unsolved until Christmas 1986: Courtney was revealed to be the killer of Madeline, that she killed in self-defense. Madeleine Capwell’s character  lasted less than a month, but her murder glued me to the TV screen for an entire season. I loved very much this character and her storyline. This was another Dobsons’ masterpiece. After SB, she starred on several tv series: Mike Hammer (1987), Adam-12 (1990) and Saved by the Bell (1996). Her last soap appearance occurred in 1998 on Sunset Beach as Hillary Nichols. Her latest role is on the TV series The Sandglass (2012) as Melinda. Currently Terry Davis is 61 years old, she still looks wonderful, she is married and has two children.

Where are they now: BRIAN MATTHEWS

- David Laurent on SB (1986) -

Brian Matthews portrayed the Adult David in the 1981 Broadway musical Copperfield and he made his film debut in The Burning (1981). Then he played Eric Garrison on the soap opera The Young and the Restless (1983-1985). He went on to portray Brother Martin on Days of our Lives (1985–1986) and David Laurent on Santa Barbara (April – June 1986): he came to Santa Barbara the day after the murder of his wife Madeline Capwell. He was soon arrested and charged with murder. He was represented at his trial by Julia Wainwright (Nancy Grahn), who quickly falls under his charm. Finally acquitted and without any further proof of his guilt, David is released and left the town, leaving Julia shocked and in tears. The murder case was resolved just at the end of 1986: Madeleine was killed by her sister, Courtney, in self-defense. After SB, Matthews starred on an episode of Murder, she wrote (1987), on two tv movies - Miracle at Beekman's Place (1988) and Red Nights (1989) – and on a independent movie, Crime Stopper (1990). His last appearance was on the tv series Hull High (1990).

Currently Brian Matthews is 59 years old, he has left Hollywood working as Family Therapist and he was a 2012 Republican candidate seeking election to the U.S. House representing the 25th Congressional District of Texas. Over two years ago, he and his wife adopted three children from Ethiopia. His campaign’s official slogan was: “I will courageously persevere to fight for all Texans and our shared values of Faith, Family and Freedom!”. Matthews was defeated by Wes Riddle and Roger Williams in the May 29, 2012, Republican primary. What Nancy Lee Grahn could think, knowing that David Laurent was a Republican candidate (as well as a unfaithful, a liar and opportunist character)? I would pay to find out it!! Enjoy my video ;)))

Where are they now: PAULA KELLY

Daughter of a jazz musician, Kelly was raised in New York City's Harlem. Graduating with an M.S. degree, she performed as a soloist with major modern dance companies. Kelly made her Broadway debut as Mrs. Veloz in the 1964 musical Something More!, sharing the stage with Barbara Cook. Kelly posed for the August 1969 issue of Playboy magazine in a full-frontal (though shadowed) dance posture and in a stop-motion nude dance sequence. Kelly was the first woman ever to be pictured in a full-frontal nude pose in the magazine. After Broadway, movies come to Paula Kelly: Sweet Charity; Soylent Green; The Spook Who Sat By The Door; The Andromeda Strain; Uptown Saturday Night; Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling; Drop Squad and many others. Kelly had a recurring role as Liz Williams on the first season of the sitcom Night Court (1984), for which she received an Emmy nomination. Kelly has also guest-starred in a variety of television movies and sitcoms, including Golden Girls (1987) and in the groundbreaking Oprah Winfrey-produced The Women of Brewster  Place (1989) in which she portrayed one half of a lesbian couple (opposite Lonette McKee) struggling against homophobia in an inner city ghetto. She was nominated for a second Emmy for this  role.

Her arrival in Santa Barbara happened in September 1984 as Ginger Jones and it was not particularly friendly since Ginger came to claim the 250.000 dollars that Peter Flint owes her:  in Miami, Peter - Antonio Fiorno -  was just a simple gigolo at her service. So Ginger was a madam, winding like a panther and fierce as a tiger. Later Mason officially becomes her personal lawyer: without home and work he has no other choice that to borrow some money to Ginger to survive. Ginger Jones  was one of the most eccentric character of SB, but unfortunately she left the show in April 1985. Too soon, in my opinion. If you look at the eyes of Ginger Jones, you can see the magnitude of this great actress. I believe she could play only using her eyes. After SB, she worked extensively on television for all the 90s. Her last television appearance was in 1999 on the Tv Series Any Day Now. Too bad could no longer see her in action. Today she is 68 years old and I think she looks very fine. Thanks for your excellent work on SB, Ms. Kelly. Here the video: Paula Kelly - Then & Now. Enjoy it!!!

Where are they now: ALLY WALKER

Ally Walker has made her mark in both television and film, at first, debuting on daytime's Emmy ® winning Santa Barbara as Andrea Bedford from January 7, 1988 to October 31, 1988. As Samantha Waters in Profiler (1996 – 1999) she played a forensic psychologist with a dark past and she was reunited with her SB co-star A Martinez (Cruz). Walker appeared for three seasons as the sociopath ATF Agent June Stahl on Sons of Anarchy (2008 – 2010), FX's critically acclaimed dramatic hit series. Ally also made several guest appearances on Matlock, L.A. Law , Wings, The Shield, Law & Order, Boston Legal, Southland, Law & Order Special Victims Unit, and many more hit series and several made for television movies.

On the big screen, Ally Walker first appeared in Cameron Crowe's cult classic Singles. This was followed by the action flick, Universal Soldier and Steal Big, Steal Little, which starred Andy Garcia and was directed by Andrew Davis; Wonderful World with Matthew Broderick; and her well-remembered role as "Ashley Bartlett Bacon," Peter Gallagher's girlfriend in While You Were Sleeping.

Ally Walker studied biology and chemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz and went on to work for a genetic engineering firm in San Francisco. While spending a semester at Richmond College of the Arts in London, Walker became interested in theater but did not pursue it as a career in lieu of her education in the sciences. After graduating with a science degree, she continued to work in genetic engineering until she was spotted in an L.A. restaurant and cast her in her first project. She currently is 51 years old and resides in Santa Monica with her husband, sons and three dogs. Her most recent series role was Gloria Shepherd in the Lifetime's The Protector. But on September 8, 2011, Lifetime announced it will not renew the series for a second season.

 

Melissa Brennan Reeves against Gay Marriage?

I want to tell you about a regrettable and distressing story whose protagonist is Melissa Brennan Reeves (Jade Perkins on SANTA BARBARA 1984-85). Unfortunately this is not a soap plot. Unfortunately this is the reality. Here are the facts: in late July, Mike Huckabee, former Governor of the State of Arkansas and current Fox News reporter, has appealed to the 1st August the Americans would go to have a meal at one of the fast food chain “Chick-fil-A” so to defend the company's activities in favor of associations that oppose the adoption of laws to recognize civil unions between persons of the same sex. The actress Melissa Reeves wanted to support the controversial initiative via Twitter with the message "Chick-fil-A today!! Loved every bite of it ;)! Land of the free and home of the brave.” Greg Rikaart, who plays Kevin Fisher on "The Young & The Restless”, has decided to respond to Reeves with another tweet in which he expressed his “disappointment with the support of a society that promotes hatred and bigotry” .

Then Melissa Reeves locked the actor. At this point, Crystal Chappell (ex Jane Kingsely on SANTA BARBARA, now Danielle on “The Bold & the Beautiful”), tried to help the indefensible Reeves explaining that Melissa is destroyed by the pain of being misunderstood and that his only goal was to exercise the right speech. Meanwhile, Reeves has decided to close her Twitter account.

Dear Melissa Brennan Reeves, I really believe that you have to think, please. You have to consider that a large portion of your audience is made up of gay people. You have to consider that for you it is not convenient to boycott our right to get married because if we get married, we could become a family which perhaps could adopt children, who could live surrounded by true love, where parents could look at your soap work. You have to consider that the children will grow up and maybe they'll continue to watch DAYS and so you could work until 250 years old. Think about it. It is sad not to be able to think in terms of tolerance. I tried to express myself with concepts that I believe may be familiar to you. Finally, dear Ms. Reeves, if you are free to marry who you love, I really do not understand why I can not do the same. Instead of closing your twitter account, maybe you'd do better to explain your reasons. You are no longer the young and inexperienced Jade Perkins, who perhaps now would smile reading your tweets.  Think about that every time you bite your hamburger, please.

 

 

Dear Santa-Barbarians, in this space you can find all the interviews that I made ​​with the cast and crew of the soap opera Santa Barbara. I found our heroes through Facebook and through intensive research on google. This is the dream of a life, mine, that comes true. Every interview you will read below was conducted between 2011 and 2012. Many other interviews will come. Stay tuned and Enjoy your reading.

 

 

SANTA BARBARA 2.0 - NEW EPISODES ON LINE

Ho il piacere di annunciarvi che a partire da oggi “Santa Barbara Blog” inizierà a trasmettere gli episodi di Santa Barbara in italiano per tutti i nostalgici della soap. Potremo quindi rivedere i momenti salienti e molti episodi interi in ordine cronologico in modo da non perdere il filo. Gli episodi mancanti verranno riassunti brevemente e così finalmente il sogno si potrà avverare. Il sogno di molti di noi. Buona visione!

             

  

EPISODIO #8

EPISODIO #7

EPISODIO #6



EPISODIO #5

EPISODIO #4

EPISODIO #3

EPISODIO #2

(Matrimonio di Joe e Kelly)

EXCLUSIVE AND UNUSUAL INTERVIEW WITH ROBIN MATTSON

- Gina on SANTA BARBARA from 1985 to 1993 -

Today I’m presenting to you the interview that Robin Mattson has granted exclusively to Santa Barbara Blog. Typically cast in supporting, “villainess” roles, Mattson is best known for long runs on three American soap operas: General Hospital, Santa Barbara and All My Children. In her daytime debut as Hope Bauer on Guiding Light (1976–1977), she played her only heroine. She received a Soap Opera Digest Award and an Emmy Nomination for her first major role, as Heather Webber on General Hospital (1980–1983, 2004, 2012–present). During Ilene Kristen's absence from Ryan’s Hope, she played Delia Reid (1984).Replacing Linda Gibboney on Santa Barbara, she received additional Emmy Nominations for her role of Gina Blake DeMott Capwell Timmons Lockridge, a role which lasted from December 1985 through the final episode in January 1993. Gina's character became part of a popular comic duo, pairing Mattson with Emmy Winning Justin Deas who played her co-conspirator, Keith Timmons. By the end of the series, Mattson was involved with Lionel Lockridge, played by another Emmy Winner, Nicolas Coster. Following the end of the series, Mattson moved to New York to take on the role of Janet Green on All My Children (1994–2000). Over the next few years, Mattson took on several short term parts on the soaps: Sugar (Sheila Carter's sidekick) on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2003; Madame Cheri Love on As the World Turns (2007); and Lee Michaels on Days of our Lives (2010–2011). Mattson has returned to General Hospital on two occasions, first in 2004 for six months where she was reunited with her former Santa Barbara co-star Jed Allan. Her most recent return came about in April 2012.

In 2002 she also played Francine Landon on Law & Order.

 

Gina has had a great evolution during the show. And at every stage of her development there was a male friend who accompanied her: she becomes the comic soul of the show with Keith Timmons (Justin Deas), then Gina becomes even more surreal and fun along with Bunny (Joe Marinelli), and finally she becomes more adult alongside Lionel (Nicolas Coster). Which of these relationships was your favorite?

Gina and Keith - Justin Deas was an inspiration to work with and had such a knack for dry humor that I felt I gained development as an actress from working with him.

 

 

Gina has always been very protective of her original family: Brandon (Justin Gocke) is the love of her life, Hayley (Stacey Edwards) was her moral conscience and then Phyllis (Stella Stevens) was the ditzy mother. Can you tell us one specific anecdote of your relationship with one of them?

It was funny to be working with the mother of a good friend. Stella Stevens' son, Andrew Stevens, was a close friend of mine, via Kin Shriner.

 

 

 

Gina was probably addicted to marriage. She was married six times: once with Stockman DeMott (offscreen), twice with CC (Jed Allan), once with Mason (Lane Davies), once with Keith and once with Lionel. Can you describe your relationship with Jed Allan?

We were very good friends and I very much enjoyed his company on and off screen. There were times when he was there for me when I needed him most. I worked with him on SB as well as GH.

 

You acted with Robin Wright (Kelly). She was one of your victims during the storyline of the videotape. Can you make a Robin’s portrait for us, please?

Her portrayal of Kelly on SB launched her career.

 

In 1988 the Dobsons were fired. What effect did this have on the show?

It was a big loss. They were so creative and had such a great sense of whackiness for Gina and nothing was too over the top. It was not as fun after they left.

 

 

 

When they returned in 1991 why they did not rise to save the show?

I'm sure they tried but it wasn't up to them.

 

Patrick Mulcahey, Frank Salisbury, Lynda Myles, Courtney Simon: I think they was the soul of SB along with the Dobsons: do you ever met them?

Certainly I met them but it is discouraged for actors and writers to mingle because they do not want actors to try to influence writers in terms of storyline.

 

Last year, you've found Gina Gallego (Santana) on the set of Days. Would you like to share with us this little reunion?

It was such a sweet surprise. Having worked with her before gave us an instant sense of camaraderie. We easily slid into our roles as partners in crime.

 

Today, in 2012, what do you do?

 I'm back as Heather on GH.

 

This interview is designed primarily for the Italian public. In our country, “Santa Barbara” was very much loved and followed. You've never been in Italy? What do you know about our country?

I have visited Italy many times but it's never enough. You can't absorb that much - incredible art and amazing food no matter how many trips you make. From the culinary side of things, what the Italians create from nature is indescribable -- it beckons one to return.