Grant Aleksander
Birth nameGrant Aleksander Kunkowski
Birth dateAugust 6, 1960 (age 66)
Birth placeBaltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materWashington and Lee University
OccupationActor
Years active1982–present
SpouseSherry Ramsey (m.1987)

Grant Aleksander (born Grant Aleksander Kunkowski; August 6, 1960)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Phillip Spaulding on the CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light, off and on from 1982 until the show's cancellation in 2009. He received a Soap Opera Digest Award and four Daytime Emmy Award nominations for his role on Guiding Light.

Early life

Aleksander was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Timonium.[2] He is the youngest of three sons.[1] He attended McDonogh School, where he played football. He became interested in acting after a drama teacher encouraged him to try out for a school play.[3] After high school, he enrolled at Washington and Lee University, where he starred in productions of The Owl and the Pussycat, The Glass Menagerie, The Crucible, and Hamlet. He also appeared on stage in Baltimore, starring in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He left Washington and Lee to study at New York University and the Circle in the Square Theatre.[4] He eventually returned to Washington and Lee, earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre in 2012.[5]

Career

After moving to New York, Aleksander worked as a waiter and tried modeling. He appeared in an ABC Afterschool Special, A Very Delicate Matter, in 1982.[3] He landed his big break when he was cast as Phillip Spaulding on Guiding Light. He initially played the role from 1982 to 1984, before leaving to pursue other opportunities.[2]

Aleksander landed guest starring roles on Hardcastle and McCormick, Who's the Boss?, and The Fall Guy. He appeared in the TV movie Dark Mansions and the film Tough Guys. Returning to soaps, he had a brief stint as DJ Phillips on Capitol in 1986.[3][6]

He returned to Guiding Light as Phillip Spaulding in 1986 and stayed until early 1991.[7] He decided to leave due to burn out from the show's fast paced schedule, as well as grief from the recent deaths of his parents.[2] In 1993, Aleksander joined the cast of the ABC Daytime soap opera All My Children as Alec McIntyre.[8] He stayed with AMC until 1996.

Aleksander returned to Guiding Light in 1996 and continued playing the role of Phillip until 2004, when he was abruptly dismissed from the show.[9] Media reports speculated on a number of possible reasons, including his high salary, and allegations that Aleksander was temperamental or had been feuding with the actress who portrayed his love interest. Aleksander said the dismissal was storyline dictated.[10]

After being killed off, it was revealed in May 2006 that Phillip Spaulding was still alive. However, the character didn't appear on camera again until Aleksander returned in February 2009.[11] He stayed with Guiding Light until its final episodes in September 2009.

During his time away from Guiding Light, Aleksander directed episodes of As the World Turns.[11] In 2006, he appeared in the film The Big Bad Swim, co-starring with Paget Brewster.[12] He also had a role in Fields of Freedom, a historical film about the battle of Gettysburg.[10] In 2008, he guest starred on Life on Mars, playing a soap opera doctor.[13]

Aleksander joined the cast of the web series Tainted Dreams in 2013, playing Adam Clark.[14] In late 2014, he returned to Washington and Lee University as a Guest Artist in the first "Dick Sessoms Honorary Production" of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession.[15] Aleksander starred in Mary, Mary at Cape May Stage in 2015.[16] He also appeared Off Broadway in Perfect Crime in May and June 2019.[17]

Personal life

Aleksander met his wife, attorney Sherry Ramsey, when they were cast in a play together as students at Washington and Lee University.[2] They were married on September 19, 1987.[3]

Aleksander and his wife have rescued many animals and are supporters of PETA.[2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Tough GuysBartender at Mickey's
2006The Big Bad SwimPaul Pierson
Fields of Freedom

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982ABC Afterschool SpecialsLarry MilliganEpisode: "A Very Delicate Matter"
1982–2009Guiding LightPhillip SpauldingContract role
1985Who's the Boss?Guss McGeeEpisode: "Hunk of the Month"
Hardcastle and McCormickBiff AndersonEpisode: "Mirage a Trois"
1986The Fall GuyCliffEpisode: "Beach Blanket Bounty"
You Again?WaiterEpisode: "Uncle Randy"
Dark MansionsNicholas DrakeTelevision film
CapitolD.J. Phillips
1993–1996All My ChildrenAlec McIntyreContract role
2002A Wedding Story: Josh and RevaPhillip SpauldingUncredited
2008Life on MarsSoap Opera DoctorEpisode: "Tuesday's Dead"

Web series

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014-2017Tainted DreamsAdam Clark12 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryTitleResultRef.
1998Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesGuiding Light[18]
1999Soap Opera Digest AwardFavorite New Couple (Phillip and Harley)Guiding Light(Shared with Beth Ehlers)[3]
2003Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesGuiding Light[19]
2004Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesGuiding Light[20]
2005Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesGuiding Light[21]

References

  1. ^ Collymore, Terrie (August 30, 1994). "Aleksander the Great". Soap Opera Digest. 19 (18)
  2. ^ O'Neil, Jerry (November 2, 1993). "Nothing for Granted". Soap Opera Weekly. 4 (44)
  3. ^ "About the Actors: Grant Aleksander". Soap Central. Archived December 11, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Rout, Nancy E. & Buckley, Ellen (1992). The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama. Todd Publications. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-915344-23-9.
  5. ^ Newcomb, Roger (May 25, 2012). "Grant Aleksander Graduates From Washington and Lee University". We Love Soaps. Archived April 22, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "Aleksander, Grant 1959 -". Encyclopedia. Archived April 8, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "Guiding Light's Beth and Phillip Wed on Valentine's Day...and Wave Goodbye". Soap Opera Digest. 16 (4): 33, 42. February 19, 1991.
  8. ^ "Late Breaking News: Aleksander Signs with AMC". Soap Opera Digest. 18 (15): 4. July 20, 1993.
  9. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (September 4, 2004). "Lights out for GL's Grant Aleksander". Soap Central. Archived May 14, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Good Night, and Good Luck". Soap Opera Digest. October 11, 2006. Archived July 25, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (November 11, 2008). "Grant Aleksander to return to Guiding Light". Soap Central. Archived November 27, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Eisner, Ken (June 30, 2006). "The Big, Bad Swim". Variety. Archived August 7, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "Former Guiding Light Star Grant Aleksander Hits Primetime". Soaps. November 2008. Archived May 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Grant Aleksander Joins Tainted Dreams". Soap Opera Digest. June 13, 2013. Archived May 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Richard B. Sessoms Fund for Student Experiences". Washington & Lee. Archived February 21, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "Guiding Light Fave Hits the Stage". Soap Opera Digest. June 17, 2015. Archived May 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Wild, Stephi (May 2, 2019). "Guiding Light Stars Join Cast Of Perfect Crime To Celebrate Its 33rd Year". Broadway World. Archived May 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  18. ^ "Daytime Emmy Nominations". The Spokesman-Review. March 13, 1998. Archived May 14, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Cosgrove-Mather, Bootie (March 12, 2003). "Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced". CBS News. Archived December 31, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  20. ^ 31st Daytime Emmy Nominees - Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series Archived 2012-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ 32nd Daytime Emmy Nominees - Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series Archived 2012-01-20 at the Wayback Machine