Days of our Lives

7 Things to Know About William Christian, Days of our Lives’ TR Coates

Published by

Janet Di Lauro

3 years ago

Paulina Price’s abusive ex and Lani Price Grant’s biological father charged into Salem Wednesday. Former All My Children star William Christian (ex-Derek Frye) has taken on the role of TR Coates on Days of our Lives — a slick, but shady movie producer.

Get To Know William Christian

Obviously no stranger to the daytime world, Christian has also amassed an array of other credits during his long career. He’s appeared on primetime hits Law & Order, Prison Break, Hannah Montana, and more, and his film credits include The January Man, Love And Orgasms, and Nine Lives.

Want to know more about the actor? Check out these seven things to know about William Christian.

1. His full name is William Leonard Christian. He was born on September 30, 1955, in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

2. Christian’s soap opera past began when he made a brief appearance as Dr. Marshall Redd on Another World in 1990. Coincidentally, it’s the very same soap Jackée Harry (Paulina, DAYS) got her daytime start as Lily Mason (1983-1986).

3. The actor moved on to the contract role of Derek on All My Children later that year, where he remained until 2007. The gig earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1991.

4. This isn’t Christian’s first time on Days of our Lives. Back in 2008, he had a four-day stint on the soap portraying another bad guy; only that one was nameless. The character was simply dubbed a “minion” in the credits.

5. He isn’t the only “star” in the family. Christian’s wife, Gail Samuel, is president and CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra – the first woman to lead the institution in its 140-year history. She was previously COO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

6. Christian and Samuel wed in 2002. They are also the proud parents of two teenage sons, Sam and Orlando.

7. The couple are avid supporters of A Noise Within. In fact, Samuel has served as a board member of the arts organization and classical theater company.

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Salem, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Days of our Lives spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.