Long before Eric Martsolf was on Passions, and long before he went to Salem and got tangled up in Brady’s latest disasters on Days of Our Lives, he thought his future might involve a courtroom instead of a television studio. One conversation with his father changed that plan in a hurry and ultimately pointed him toward the career that made him a familiar face to soap fans everywhere. The rest turned out to be a pretty interesting story.
Key Takeaways
- Martsolf originally thought he might become a lawyer.
- His father encouraged him to pursue acting.
- A cruise ship gig helped launch his entertainment career.
- Dolly Parton left a lasting impression on him at Dollywood.
- Martsolf says he still looks forward to Monday mornings as Brady.
The Lunch That Changed Everything
Martsolf appeared on Soapy, hosted by DAYS’ Greg Rikaart (Leo) and The Bold and the Beautiful’s Rebecca Budig (Taylor), where he looked back at the moment he finally told his father what he really wanted to do with his life. After college, he had already decided he wanted to give acting a shot, but fully expected some resistance from his old man.
Instead, his father surprised him. “I’m so glad you’re coming to this decision because I don’t love being a lawyer, Eric,” he surprisingly told him. Martsolf explained that his dad admired the profession and took pride in supporting his family, but he also recognized something in his son that couldn’t be ignored.
The advice that followed stuck with him ever since. “I’ve seen you light up on stage when you’re doing Grease,” his father said. Then came the line Martsolf never forgot: “If you can find something that you do where you look forward to Monday morning, and you’re happy, you won.” Hearing that felt like a huge weight coming off his shoulders. Instead of warning him away from a potentially risky career, his father handed him permission to pursue it.
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One Open Door Led to Another
Once Martsolf headed to New York, the journey became a series of unexpected turns. One minute, he was burning through the money he earned as a Hershey Park singer and dancer while auditioning. Next, he was living in a flooded basement in New Jersey, wondering what would come next. Then a phone call landed him a singing gig on a Hawaiian cruise ship.
That led to Dollywood, where he spent three years performing and getting a firsthand look at how wonderfully the legendary Dolly Parton treated people. Martsolf remembered being struck less by her celebrity than by how grounded she was. The lesson he took away was simple: everybody matters, and no one succeeds alone.
Years later, after Passions ended and he was worrying about paying the bills with young twins at home, DAYS came calling. The role of Brady changed his life. More importantly, it proved his father was right. All these years later, Martsolf said he still looks forward to Monday mornings. That’s not a bad definition of success.
