Crystal Chappell

{{short description|American actress (b. 1965)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2025}} {{Tone|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox actor | image = Crystal Chappell 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards.jpg | caption = Chappell at the 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards | name = Crystal Chappell | birth_name = Crystal Elizabeth Chappell | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|8|4|mf=y}} | birth_place = Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Scott Fanjoy |1988|1991|reason=divorced}} * {{marriage|Michael Sabatino |1997}} }} | children = 2 | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1989–present }}

'''Crystal Elizabeth Chappell''' {{IPAc-en|ʃ|ə|ˈ|p|E|l}} (born August 4, 1965) is an American actress who played Carly Manning on ''Days of Our Lives'' from 1990 to 1993, Maggie Carpenter on ''One Life to Live'' from 1995 to 1997 and Olivia Spencer on ''Guiding Light'' from 1999 to 2009.

On October 2, 2009, she began reprising the role of Carly Manning. In May 2011, Chappell revealed that her contract was not renewed and her character ended its run in late summer. She has since appeared as Danielle Spencer on ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' in 2012 and 2013, as well as appearing in several online soap operas.

==Acting== ===Soap opera and serial roles=== Chappell's first daytime appearance was as a day player on ''All My Children'' in 1989. In a July 2006 interview in industry magazine ''Soap Opera Digest'', Chappell recalled actor Maurice Benard helping her through her first scenes. After a brief run on ''Santa Barbara'' in 1990, (she played a classmate of Eden's who died of an ice overdose), Chappell was cast as Dr. Carly Manning Alamain (Katerina von Leuschner) on ''Days of Our Lives''. She portrayed the role from June 1990 to October 1993. Chappell and future husband Michael Sabatino met on ''Days of Our Lives'', where he played villain Lawrence Alamain.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Chappell was front-burner for most of her time on the show, first when her character Carly was featured in a romance with lead character Bo Brady (Peter Reckell, Robert Kelker-Kelly), and then in a complex, Byzantine storyline that featured her heretofore unknown secret identity as a European blueblood. The story culminated in a controversial plot that had Carly buried alive by Lawrence's aunt Vivian (Louise Sorel). Chappell left after difficult contract negotiations and differences with head writer James E. Reilly.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Chappell's next role was as Maggie Carpenter on ''One Life to Live'' from October 1995 through September 1997. The character of Maggie was created for Chappell, and she was again paired with a romantic lead on the show, Max Holden (James DePaiva). Her main storyline revolved around the tension between her burgeoning romantic relationship and her plans to profess vows as a nun. The character was eventually written out.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

From July 2, 1999, to September 18, 2009, she played complex villainess/anti-heroine Olivia Spencer on ''Guiding Light''. The role of Olivia was initially only intended to be a short-term role, but Chappell's portrayal was so popular she was signed to a contract. She won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama for her work as Olivia in 2002 and was nominated again in the same category in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, she earned her first nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress category.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In 2009, her character Olivia and Jessica Leccia's character Natalia Rivera were involved in the hugely popular same sex pairing, "Otalia", which saw two presumably heterosexual women move from sworn enemies to a close friendship, to eventually, after a long period of dramatic angst, admitting their feelings towards each other and becoming a couple. The coupling of Otalia was embraced by fans and critics alike, and named a 'super-couple' by Nelson Branco, of ''TV Guide Canada'' and writes "In an age of contrived and soulless couples, Olivia and Natalia’s burgeoning romance felt natural, innocent, and most importantly, real." The final episodes of ''Guiding Light'' saw Natalia and Olivia move in and start a family together.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Chappell returned to her role on ''Days of Our Lives'' in September 2009 and begin airing in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvguidemagazine.com/soaps/exclusive-guiding-lights-crystal-chappell-returns--1403.html|title=Entertainment Entertainment and Celebrity News, TV News and Breaking News|publisher=TVGuide.com|access-date=October 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615061556/http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps/exclusive-guiding-lights-crystal-chappell-returns--1403.html|archive-date=June 15, 2009}}</ref>

In May 2011, her contract was not renewed and her character ended its run in late summer. Chappell joined the cast of ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' in 2012 as Danielle Spencer, who was featured in the show's first gay storyline.<ref name="CrystalChappellBB">{{cite web|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/11/lesbian-storyline-coming-to-bold-and-the-beautiful-exclusive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412175638/http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/11/lesbian-storyline-coming-to-bold-and-the-beautiful-exclusive/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2012|title=Lesbian Storyline Coming to Bold and the Beautiful|author=InsideTV.EW.com|access-date=April 11, 2011|date=2012-04-11}}</ref><ref name="Danielle">{{cite web|url=http://soaps.sheknows.com/boldandbeautiful/cast/1025/Danielle_Spencer|title=Danielle Spencer Played by Crystal Chappell on The Bold and the Beautiful|publisher=Soaps.sheknows.com|access-date=2012-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815055557/http://soaps.sheknows.com/boldandbeautiful/cast/1025/Danielle_Spencer|archive-date=2012-08-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2009, Chappell co-created the soap opera web series ''Venice: The Series''. Chappell executive produces and stars in the series, which centers around the life of Gina (Chappell), a gay interior designer living in Venice Beach, California. Her ''Guiding Light'' former co-star Lecchia plays Gina's ex-girlfriend, Ani. In 2011, Chappell won the first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Short Format Daytime as a producer,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_1011_telecast_winners.pdf|title=38th Annual Daytime Emmy® Award Winners|publisher=National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences|date=June 19, 2011|access-date=July 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319064759/http://emmyonline.org/mediacenter/_pdf/day_1011_telecast_winners.pdf|archive-date=March 19, 2016}}</ref> and won again in 2014 for Outstanding New Approaches - Drama Series.<ref>{{cite news|title=41st Annual Daytime Emmy® Award Winners|publisher=National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences|url=http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_winners_stream.pdf|date=June 22, 2014|access-date=July 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806010319/http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_winners_stream.pdf|archive-date=August 6, 2016}}</ref> Chappell also produced and starred opposite Lecchia in a pilot for a new soap web series called ''The Grove'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/crystal-chappells-the-grove-the-series-debuts-watch-the-pilot-episode/2013/01/02|title=Crystal Chappell's ''The Grove'' The Series Debuts!|first=Michael|last=Fairman|work=On-Air On-Soaps|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=September 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908113550/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/crystal-chappells-the-grove-the-series-debuts-watch-the-pilot-episode/2013/01/02/|archive-date=September 8, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014, Chappell executive produced the soap opera web series ''Beacon Hill'',<ref name="Variety Emmy 42 Nom">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/general-hospital-ellen-degeneres-young-and-the-restless-daytime-emmy-nominations-1201463476|title=''General Hospital'', ''Ellen DeGeneres'', CBS Lead Daytime Emmy Nominations|work=Variety|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|date=March 31, 2015|access-date=September 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Backstage Emmy 42 Nom">{{cite web|url=http://www.backstage.com/news/general-hospital-leads-42nd-annual-daytime-emmy-nominations|title=''General Hospital'' Leads 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations|work=Backstage|first=Briana|last=Rodriguez|date=March 31, 2015|access-date=September 17, 2015}}</ref> and co-starred as Claire Preston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc.soapsindepth.com/2014/02/a-whos-who-guide-for-beacon-hill.html |title=A Who's Who Guide For ''Beacon Hill''! |work=ABC Soaps In Depth |date=February 28, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194216/http://abc.soapsindepth.com/2014/02/a-whos-who-guide-for-beacon-hill.html |archive-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://Beaconhilltheseries.com|title=The Characters|publisher=Beaconhilltheseries.com|access-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref>

She was nominated for a 2015 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series as a producer,<ref name="Variety Emmy 42 Nom"/><ref name="Backstage Emmy 42 Nom"/> and was nominated for a 2015 Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actress (Drama) for her role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indieseriesawards.com/2015/02/6th-annual-indie-series-awards-nominees.html|title=6th Annual Indie Soap Awards Nominees|publisher=Indie Series Awards|date=February 2015|access-date=September 27, 2015}}</ref> She will appear as Helena Granville-Belasco in the audio drama ''Montecito'', beginning April 22, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Daytime Confidential Staff |title=Star-Studded Audio Soap ''Montecito'' to Launch April 22 |url=https://daytimeconfidential.com/2025/04/08/star-studded-audio-soap-montecito-to-launch-april-22 |website=Daytime Confidential |publisher=Arena Group |access-date=April 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250408165426/https://daytimeconfidential.com/2025/04/08/star-studded-audio-soap-montecito-to-launch-april-22 |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |location=United States |date=April 8, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fairman |first1=Michael |author1-link=Michael Fairman (journalist) |title=EXCLUSIVE: ''Montecito'' a New Audio Soap Opera Featuring Daytime Favorites Set to Make Its Debut |url=https://michaelfairmantv.com/montecito-new-audio-soap-opera-daytime-tv-favorties/2025/04/08/ |website=Michael Fairman TV |publisher=The Michael Fairman Company |access-date=April 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250408170616/https://michaelfairmantv.com/montecito-new-audio-soap-opera-daytime-tv-favorties/2025/04/08/ |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |location=United States |date=April 8, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Contract controversy=== In 2005, Chappell was ambivalent about re-signing to ''Guiding Light'', as her storyline had ebbed considerably. Shortly after re-signing her contract, she was offered the front-burner role of Paige on ''One Life to Live''. Since ''Guiding Light'' had recently cut a number of its actors from the cast roster, Chappell met with the producers to see if she could be released from her contract with ''Guiding Light''. The show ultimately refused. In a July 2006 interview with ''Soap Opera Digest'', Chappell indicated that, while there were no hard feelings, she wasn't sure why the show was so eager to keep Olivia as a character, since the character had not been used much, particularly since the pairing of Olivia and Phillip ended. She has also made appearances in the prime time shows ''Poltergeist: The Legacy'', ''Silk Stalkings'', ''Pensacola: Wings of Gold'', and ''Burke's Law''.<ref>{{IMDb name|0152594}}</ref>

==Personal life== Chappell was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, and later moved to the Annapolis, Maryland area and attended Arundel High School. She subsequently attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She was married to Scott Fanjoy from 1988 to 1991. She has been married to actor Michael Sabatino since January 6, 1997. They have two sons, Jacob Walker (born May 11, 2000) and Dylan Michael (born September 2, 2003).<ref>{{cite web|title=Chappell biography|website=CBS |url=http://www.cbs.com/daytime/guiding_light/bio/crystal_chappell/bio.php|access-date=May 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213153425/http://www.cbs.com/daytime/guiding_light/bio/crystal_chappell/bio.php|archive-date=February 13, 2010}}</ref> Chappell has described herself as attracted to both men and women, and has spoken in support of equal rights for members of the LGBT community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-17 |title=Out Front Colorado - Colorado's Largest GLBT Publication |url=http://outfrontcolorado.com/features.php?itemid=740 |access-date=2024-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417093307/http://outfrontcolorado.com/features.php?itemid=740 |archive-date=April 17, 2010 }}</ref>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Film |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1992 | ''{{sortname|One|Stormy Night|nolink=1}}'' | Carly Manning | Television film |- | 1993 | ''{{sortname|Night|Sins|nolink=1}}'' | Carly Manning | Television film |- | 1994 | ''Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter'' | Samantha | |- | 1994 | ''{{sortname|Lady|in Waiting|nolink=1}}'' | Elizabeth Henley | |- | 2017 | ''A Million Happy Nows'' | Lainey Allen | |- |2020 |Stan the Man |Melody Dubois | |- |2020 |Loco |Martha | |}

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Television |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1989 | ''All My Children'' | Nico's Nurse | Unknown episodes |- | 1990 | ''Santa Barbara'' | Jane Kingsley | 5 episodes |- | 1990–1993, 2009–2011 | ''Days of Our Lives'' | Carly Manning | 380 episodes Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Female Star Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series |- | 1994 | ''Diagnosis: Murder'' | Eve Laurie | 2 episodes |- | 1994, 1997 | ''Silk Stalkings'' | Deborah Buchard Bertha Roberts | 2 episodes |- | 1995–1997 | ''One Life to Live'' | Maggie Carpenter | 300 episodes |- | 1995 | ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' | Stacy | Episode: "Trust No One" |- | 1995 | ''Burke's Law'' | Marilyn Divine | Episode: "Who Killed the Movie Mogul?" |- | 1998 | ''Pensacola: Wings of Gold'' | Lieutenant Commander Keaton | Episode: "Trials and Tribulations" |- | 1998 | ''Poltergeist: The Legacy'' | Jessica Lansing | Episode: "Dream Lover" |- | 1999–2009 | ''Guiding Light'' | Olivia Spencer | 999 episodes Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2007–2008) |-

| 2009–present | ''Venice: The Series'' | Gina | Main role |- | 2012–2013 | ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' |Danielle Spencer | Recurring role |- |}

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Award ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Category ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Work ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Result |- | 1993 | ''9th Soap Opera Digest Awards'' |Hottest Female Star | ''Days of Our Lives'' | {{Won }} |- | 2002 | ''29th Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | rowspan="9" | ''Guiding Light'' | {{Won }} |- | 2002 | ''Online Film & Television Association Award'' | Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Serial | {{Nom}} |- | 2003 | ''Online Film & Television Association Award'' | Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Serial | {{Nom}} |- | 2006 | ''33rd Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | {{Nom }} |- | 2007 | ''34th Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | {{Nom}} |- | 2008 | ''35th Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | {{Nom}} |- | 2008 | ''Online Film & Television Association Award'' | Best Actress in a Daytime Serial | {{Nom}} |- | 2009 | ''Gold Derby Award'' | Best Lead Actress - Daytime Drama | {{Nom}} |- | 2009 | ''Online Film & Television Association Award'' | Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Serial | {{Nom}} |- | 2010 | ''Los Angeles Web Series Festival'' | Best Drama Series | rowspan="5" | ''Venice: The Series'' | {{Won}} |- | 2010 | ''Los Angeles Web Series Festival'' | Best Actress, Comedy or Drama Series | {{Won}} |- | 2010 | ''2nd Streamy Awards'' | Best Female Actor in a Dramatic Web Series | {{Nom}} |- | 2011 | ''38th Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding Special Class - Short Format Daytime | {{Won}} |- | 2011 | ''2nd Indie Soap Awards'' | Best Lead Actress | {{Nom}} |- | 2012 | ''39th Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | ''Days of Our Lives'' | {{Nom}} |- | 2012 | ''3rd Indie Soap Awards'' | Best Lead Actress (Drama) | rowspan="2" | ''Venice: The Series'' | {{Nom}} |- | 2014 | ''41st Daytime Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding New Approaches - Drama Series | {{Won}} |- | 2015 | ''42nd Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards'' | Outstanding New Approaches Drama Series | rowspan="2" | ''Beacon Hill'' | {{Nom}} |- | 2015 | ''6th Indie Series Awards'' | Best Supporting Actress (Drama) | {{Nom}} |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{IMDb name|0152594}} *[http://www.ccandfriends.com/ CC and Friends - Crystal Chappell's Website] *[https://twitter.com/crystalchappell Crystal Chappell's Twitter account page] *[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crystal-Chappell/99838194268 Crystal Chappell's Facebook page] *[http://lesbicanarias.es/tag/crystal-chappell/ Crystal Chappell en Lesbicanarias (Spanish)] *[http://www.facebook.com/pages/VenicetheSeries/110016459291 Venice the Series Facebook page] *[http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/theactors/chappell.php Profile from SoapCentral] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623093821/http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/theactors/chappell.php |date=June 23, 2008 }} *[http://www.welovesoaps.net/2010/01/50-greatest-soap-actresses-8-crystal.html Crystal Chappell We Love Soaps page] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091208093347/http://www.venicetheseries.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=252&Itemid=71 Venice the series website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121015115723/http://biggaycloset.com/2010/04/26/crystal-chappell-comes-out-as-bisexual] *[https://www.periscope.tv/crystalchappell Crystal Chappell (official Periscope live channel)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chappell, Crystal}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Silver Spring, Maryland Category:American soap opera actresses Category:American web series actresses Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners Category:Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winners Category:American bisexual actresses Category:LGBTQ people from Maryland Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people