{{Short description|American actor and songwriter (1950–2020)}} {{Infobox person | name = Roscoe Born | image = Roscoe Born.png | caption = | birth_name = Roscoe Conklin Born | birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1950|11|24}} | birth_place = Topeka, Kansas, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|3|03|1950|6|10}} | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Actor, songwriter | years_active = 1976–2020 | homepage = | awards = | spouse = {{plainlist| *{{marriage|Randall Edwards|1985|1990}} *{{marriage|Roberta Weiss|1994|1997}} }} | children = 1 }}
'''Roscoe Conklin Born''' (November 24, 1950 – March 3, 2020) was an American actor and songwriter. He is best known for his roles on various television soap operas, most notably as archvillain Mitch Laurence on ''One Life to Live'' in six stints between 1985 and 2012.
==Early life and education== Born was born in Topeka, Kansas.<ref name="Ends">{{cite web |last=Cushman |first=Dustin |title='Soap Legend Roscoe Born Dead at 69 |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/561078/obituary-soap-star-roscoe-born-dead-at-69/ |website=Soaps.com |publisher=SheKnows Media |accessdate=March 8, 2020 |location=United States |date=March 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Beresford">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/roscoe-born-dead-young-restless-actor-was-69-1283023|title=Roscoe Born, Actor on 'The Young and the Restless,' Dies at 69|first=Trilby|last=Beresford|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Valence Media)|location=United States|date=March 5, 2020|accessdate=March 8, 2020}}</ref> Roscoe went to Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland then attended both Tulane University and Boston University.<ref name="Ends" />
==Career== Born appeared most often in daytime television, first appearing on ''Ryan's Hope'' as troubled mob heir Joe Novak from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1988.<ref name="SOD 33-38">{{cite news|last=Rabinowitz|first=Naomi|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=9-16-08+Soap+Opera+Digest+BRADLEY+COLE-ROSCOE+BORN&tbm=isch#imgrc=UCLjtZtr7F3FoM:|title=The Born Identity|volume=33|number=38|pages=63–65|accessdate=March 8, 2020|work=Soap Opera Digest|agency=Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc.|publisher=American Media, Inc.|date=September 16, 2008|location=United States}}</ref>
From 1985 to 1987, he portrayed villain Mitch Laurence on ''One Life to Live'' <ref name="1997 Encyc">{{cite book|last=Waggett|first=Gerard J.|title=The Soap Opera Encyclopedia|publisher=Avon| location=New York City|date=November 1997|pages=163–188|chapter=''One Life to Live''|isbn=978-0061011573}}</ref> then again from 2002 to 2003, reprising the role once again starting in November 2009.<ref name="SOD 33-38" />
Born appeared on ''Santa Barbara'' in his best known roles Robert Barr (1989–1991) and his twin Quinn Armitage (1990–1991), playing opposite Carrington Garland as Kelly Capwell.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-08-31 |title=SOAP SCOOP - Roscoe Born |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-gleaner-soap-scoop-roscoe-born/167166871/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=Daily Gleaner |pages=54}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-01-13 |title=Sabatino enjoys his role on 'DOOL' by Nancy M. Reichardt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/abilene-reporter-news-sabatino-enjoys-hi/167167394/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=Abilene Reporter-News |pages=129}}</ref> He left for vacation and was written out of the show in an airplane crash in early 1990 with fan pressure leading to the return of his character, and renegotiation of his contract.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Worsham |first=ENTERTAINMENT by Doris G. |date=1991-07-27 |title=SOAPS |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-soapsentertainment-by-d/167166636/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=Oakland Tribune |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-05-17 |title=Roscoe Born to reprise 'SB' role by Nancy M. Reichardt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-roscoe-born-to-reprise/167166288/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=The Roanoke Times |pages=45}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-07-13 |title=TREAT YOUR WIFE WELL AND ALL ELSE WILL BE FORGIVEN, SAYS SOAP ACTOR by Lilana Novakovich |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-treat-your-wife-well-and-al/167165961/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=The Province |pages=172}}</ref> This role earned him an Emmy nomination.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Emmy nominations abound for the daytime's bad girls |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/06/28/emmy-nominations-abound-for-the-daytime-s-bad-girls/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-06-09 |title=SOAP SCOOP By Connie Passalacqua |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/goldsboro-news-argus-soap-scoop-by-conni/167058064/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=Goldsboro News-Argus |pages=94}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-07-07 |title=SOAP TALK by Candace Havens, "I want them to bring back the character of Robert Barr" Jul 7, 1991 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sapulpa-daily-herald-soap-talk-by-candac/153940257/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=Sapulpa Daily Herald |pages=14}}</ref>
Born was a regular on the primetime soap ''Paper Dolls'' as Mark Bailey in 1984. From April 2005 to January 2006 and again in March 2009, Born was on ''The Young and the Restless'' in the critically acclaimed role of the evil Tom Fisher. Many of his daytime roles showcased him in evil roles, with the exception of Nick Rivers on the 1995-1997 ABC series ''The City''. Nick was a grizzled musician, allowing Born the opportunity to perform his own material. He can be seen performing some of his more recent songs on YouTube.com: "Bob Dylan's Pepsi Blues"; "Blue State Mind, Red State Soul"; "Soldier On", a salute to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan; and "If It Don't Stink, Don't Stir the Pot", a response to the Boy Scouts of America sex abuse scandal. In February 2017, Born released two singles on iTunes via Chowderhead Records, "Let the Road Lead" and "Crazy is as Crazy Does".<ref name="Ends" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cushman |first=Dustin |date=2020-03-09 |title=Soap Legend Roscoe Born Dead at 69, Family Reveals Cause of Death |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/561078/obituary-soap-star-roscoe-born-dead-at-69/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=Soaps}}</ref>
In the 1980s, he also guest starred in such prime time shows as ''Murder, She Wrote'' and ''Midnight Caller'' and starred in the TV movies ''The Haunting of Sarah Hardy'' and ''Lady Mobster''. In 1989, he had a featured role in the film ''Pow Wow Highway''. 1970s TV appearances include ''The Incredible Hulk'', ''The Six Million Dollar Man'', two episodes of ''The Rockford Files'' and the TV movie ''Fast Friends''.
Around this time, Born played the dastardly Jim Thomasen on ''All My Children''. In late 1997, he abruptly left the role and did not appear on daytime for the next several years (save bit parts on ''As the World Turns'' and ''Guiding Light''). Born was working outside of the industry when ''One Life to Live'' rehired him from 2002 to 2003 to reprise the role of Mitch. Born portrayed an evil prison warden on ''Passions'' in 2007, and played the contract role of Dean Trent Robbins on the NBC soap opera ''Days of Our Lives''<ref name="SOD 33-38"/> from May 29, 2008, to September 26, 2008.
Born studied acting at the Arena Stage workshop and made his professional acting debut for them on November 13, 1969, in the play ''Edith Stein''.<ref name="QCT">{{cite news |last1=Reed |first1=Jon-Michael |title=Night Caller |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46300027/quad-city-times/ |accessdate=19 March 2020 |publisher=Quad-City Times |date=16 January 1983}}</ref><ref name="TMC">{{cite news |last1=Reichardt |first1=Nancy M. |title=Roscoe Born enjoys playing twins on 'Santa Barbara' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46328105/the-morning-call/ |accessdate=19 March 2020 |publisher=The Morning Call |date=11 November 1990}}</ref><ref name="variety1969">{{cite book |title=Variety Magazine |page=64 |edition=Vol. 257, Iss. 2 |url=https://media.proquest.com/media/ch/eima/doc/151435_19691126_0455/page/pg.jpg?pg=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200319222057/https://media.proquest.com/media/ch/eima/doc/151435_19691126_0455/page/pg.jpg?pg=1&_s=h7ZVAPyzf8xXiXMXjGtB%2BisnI0c%3D |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 March 2020 |accessdate=19 March 2020}}</ref> In 1979, he won a Drama-Logue Award for the play ''Life in the Theater''.<ref name="QCT"/>
In 1990, Born earned nominations for a Daytime Emmy<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-05-11-ca-1155-story.html|title=CBS Dominates Daytime Emmy Field With 74 Nominations : Television: The networks' order in nominations mirrored their daytime ratings. ABC got 39; NBC took 30.|first=Lauren|last=Lipton|work=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles|date=May 11, 1990|accessdate=March 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bElGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4484%2C3286079|title=Daytime Emmys were better than usual|first=Connie|last=Passalacqua |authorlink=Connie Passalacqua Hayman|work=The Evening News|publisher=Newburgh-Beacon News Co.|location=Newburgh, New York|date=July 22, 1990|accessdate=March 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> and ''Soap Opera Digest'' award.<ref name="SOD 1990">{{cite web|title=The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1990|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/awards/1990/|work=Soap Opera Digest|date=11 April 2003|accessdate=March 9, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303082314/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/awards/1990/|archivedate=March 3, 2009 }}</ref>
==Personal life and death== From 1982 to 1990, Born was married to ''Ryan's Hope'' actress Randall Edwards. He was married to fellow ''Santa Barbara'' co-star Roberta Weiss from 1994 to 2000, and they had a daughter, Alberta.<ref name="Deadline-death"/>
Born died on March 3, 2020, at the age of 69.<ref name="Deadline-death">{{cite news|last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Roscoe Born Dies: 'The Young And The Restless', 'All My Children' Actor Was 69 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/roscoe-born-dead-obituary-soap-actor-young-and-the-restless-all-my-children-ryans-hope-1202876441/ |work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|location=United States|accessdate=March 7, 2020 |date=March 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name="SOD-death">{{cite news|author1=SOD|authorlink=Soap Opera Digest|title=Soap Opera Vet Roscoe Born Passes Away |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/soap-vet-roscoe-born-passes-away/|work=Soap Opera Digest|agency=Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc.|publisher=American Media, Inc.|accessdate=March 7, 2020 |date=March 6, 2020}}</ref> He died by suicide; his family issued a statement that attributed his death to his "long struggle with bipolar disorder".<ref name="TVLine-death">{{cite web |last1=Ausiello |first1=Michael |title=Roscoe Born's Family Reveals Cause of Death, Calls For More 'Conversations Around Mental Illness |url=https://tvline.com/2020/03/09/roscoe-born-death-suicide-bipolar-disorder/ |website=TVLine |accessdate=March 10, 2020 |date=March 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Soap Hub death">{{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Maloney |title=Soap Opera Veteran Roscoe Born's Cause Of Death Revealed |url=https://soaphub.com/young-restless/soap-opera-veteran-roscoe-born-cause-of-death-revealed/ |website=Soap Hub |accessdate=March 10, 2020 |date=March 10, 2020}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- |1976||''Joe Forrester''||unknown||1 episode |- |rowspan=2|1977||''End of the World''||Bob|| |- |''Jailbait Babysitter''||Robert|| |- |rowspan=3|1979||''Fast Friends ''||Ben Lakeman || |- |''Dear Detective''||unknown||1 episode |- |''The Rockford Files''||TV Commentator/Tallafero||2 episodes |- |rowspan=2|1981||''Ryan's Hope''|| Joe Novak || 1981–1983<br>1988 |- |''The Incredible Hulk''||Sheldon||1 episodes |- |1984||''Paper Dolls''||Mark Bailey ||10 episodes |- |1985||''One Life to Live''||Mitch Laurence||1985-1987<br>2002-2003<br>2009-2010<br>2012 |- |1988||''Lady Mobster''|| Robert Castle || |- |rowspan=4|1989||''Midnight Caller''||Sawyer ||1 episode |- |''The Haunting of Sarah Hardy''||Allen deVineyn || |- |''Powwow Highway''||Agent Jack Novall || |- |''Santa Barbara''||Robert Barr|| 1989–1991 |- |rowspan=2|1990||''Santa Barbara''||Quinn Armitage || 1990–1991 |- |''Murder, She Wrote''|| Langston 'Lanny' Douglas ||1 episode |- |1993||''Family Passions''||Kyle McDeere || |- |1995|| ''The City''||Nick Rivers || |- |1997||''All My Children''||Jim Thomasen|| |- |rowspan=3|2001||''As the World Turns''|| Det. Adamski ||1 episode |- |''Guiding Light''||Peter Vreeland ||1 episode |- |''Days of Our Lives''||Trent Robbins<br> Baron Coe|| 2001; 2008 |- |2005 ||''The Young and the Restless''||Tom Fisher||2005-2006<br>2009 |- |2007||''Passions''||Warden|| |- |2008||''Indie Jonesin for the Kingdom of Crystal Ice''||Neighbor || |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0097040}} *[https://www.facebook.com/bornroscoesongs Roscoe Born Facebook Page]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Born, Roscoe}} Category:1950 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Male actors from Topeka, Kansas Category:Place of death missing Category:American male soap opera actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:Songwriters from Kansas Category:Suicides in the United States Category:2020 suicides Category:People with bipolar disorder Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors