David A. Gregory joined the cast of One Life To Live in 2009 as Robert Ford and stayed with the show until it went off the air on ABC in 2012. Ford was killed off the show after a chandelier fell on him while fighting with Mitch Laurence (Roscoe Born). The actor chats about his new film, Practically Married, his bond with his former on-screen father, John Wesley Shipp, his love of writing, and more!
Key Takeaways
- Reflecting on 13 years since playing Ford, Gregory highlights his enduring bond with John Wesley Shipp, crediting their partnership for shaping both his career and artistic growth.
- In Practically Married, Gregory plays a flawed but devoted single dad—a role inspired by childhood memories of watching The Andy Griffith Show with his own father.
- Gregory emphasizes that success isn’t always visible, noting that quiet stretches between jobs help him prepare for bigger opportunities and fuel the artistic breakthroughs he’s experienced this year.
How did you become involved in the film Practically Married?
It was almost 2 years ago to the day. I got a random email from my agent asking me if I was interested in this project. I was so confused because I wasn’t being asked to audition, they just were offering me the role. This might sound strange, but my dad had just died a couple weeks prior, and it kind of felt like my dad was sending me this job. When I got down to Houston and met the Alavi family (sisters Sara and Lisa starring and producing), I felt the sense that I had known them already. They are so warm and welcoming. All the pieces just fit together around this little movie. I got curious and sort of pressed Sara (Alavi, writer/producer/star) how and why I was chosen. She said she saw my picture and it just felt right. I had to also look like the young man (Trey) who plays my son. It all worked out. The pre-sale for the movie was November 14 of this year — marking the anniversary of my dad’s passing. Sometimes, things are just meant to be.
Who do you play and what can you tell us about your character?
I’m going to continue down this Dad-connection path. When I was a kid, my dad and I would watch old episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. And as an adult, I always thought I wanted to play a version of that character: an upstanding guy who’s trying to raise his son without a mother. There’s a version of that kind of man I’m playing in this movie, and what’s so beautiful about him is that he airs his frustrations about it. He’s not perfect. But he’s trying. And he shows up for that little boy every single day.
Do you have any fun stories from filming?
I think something that no one really talks about is that in scenes in movies where music is being played… there’s actually no music on set. It’s VERY quiet. So you have to pretend like you hear the music, and speak loud over it, and possibly dance to it. My first day of shooting, I was doing just that by myself in front of the entire cast and all these extras. I honestly felt like an idiot, but I think that makes the scene funnier. Will I be dancing in rhythm? I have no idea. Tune in to find out.
Can you believe it has been 13 years since you last played Ford?
I have a niece (hi, Lucy!) who was born a couple weeks before we wrapped filming in 2011 and now she’s in middle school. I don’t feel that much different (maybe a little grayer), but when I see her, I’m reminded how time passes quickly. It’s wild. I was just a kid on that show. Now I’m in my 40’s!
What are some of the takeaways from your time on the show, and what storyline was your favorite?
The takeaways, first and foremost, are the people. John Wesley Shipp is at the top of the list. That man has changed my life. After OLTL, I cast him as a blind sheriff in my audio western Powder Burns (available on YouTube). Then he did a workshop of a play I wrote in New Orleans. Then he handed me his spot in a production of 12 Angry Men up in Connecticut. We just played opposite each other on stage in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial down in North Carolina. He’s brought me along in his artistic ventures and has completely enriched my life. I’ll be forever grateful to him. So it’s probably no surprise that the storylines I had with him are among my favorites. There’s another Dad connection!
Daytime fans are very loyal to their shows and actors. How does it feel to still have their support well over a decade after your casting on One Life To Live?
Everyone has always been so kind. I remember going to the stage door one day, and a woman named Gina noticed my wallet was falling apart, and she bought me a new wallet. It’s the same wallet I have today. When people say these fans are loyal and generous, they aren’t kidding. Gina is just one example, but in my opinion, the fan base is full of Gina’s. I’m so very grateful.
One of your biggest passions, and something you do beautifully, is writing. Have you continued to do so, and what have you been writing?
Oftentimes, actors are relegated to only being “allowed” to act when they’re given a job. But a writer can write anywhere and anytime. Writing is what has saved my creative force when my phone isn’t ringing with an acting job. Writing has made me a better actor because it’s made me realize I gotta get out of the way if the character is going to have any say. Writing brings me joy every day because it reminds me the well isn’t dry. All that said, I have a lot of irons in the fire. Some I can’t talk about yet. But you better believe that when I can, I’ll be shouting it from rooftops.
You are always so open, eloquent, honest, and raw when writing, which, in my opinion, makes the finished product so much more powerful. Do you ever feel you can bear too much when writing?
Bryan, this is such an excellent question. The answer is yes. I think the people who write in a way that makes us feel understood give that to us at a cost. Maybe that’s why Hemingway drank so much. Sometimes I think I need to dial back the vulnerability. Other times it feels like a gift to be able to “translate” the human experience for those who can’t, don’t know how, or would never get the opportunity to do so. It’s a gift. It’s a burden. Heavy is the head that wears that crown. But no matter how it’s spun, it is an honor. And it brings me a lot of joy, even at a cost.
I know you are still a young guy with a lot of life ahead of you, but have you ever thought about penning an autobiography like fellow soap actors have done?
(Laughs) Well, if I did it would be called “Born an Old Man” because all I seem to do is watch The Andy Griffith Show and write audio westerns about blind sheriffs. The truth is, I hope I got more ahead of me than behind me, and by that metric, I don’t think I have much business writing a book that isn’t even finished before I start it. Maybe someday.
Personally, I think writing about your journey with your dad from diagnosis to passing would make a special book. Is that something you see in your future? Do you think it would be cathartic to write about it?
My dad is in everything I write. Loss changes people. And if you let it, it can calcify your pain in a way that makes you stronger. My heart walks with a limp now. But he is with me every day. Simultaneously, I also have this allergy to dementia-related writing at the present. Maybe I’m still too close to it. Maybe I need to see it farther in the rear-view mirror before I can have any clarity. Ken Burns says he needs 20 years before he can do a documentary on a subject. I want to be careful to not capitalize on something so personal. So I reserve those moments for those who need it. One on one.
How is married life treating you, and how do you and Jen navigate as a dual-actor couple in between acting gigs?
There are two kinds of writer’s block. The first is when you simply don’t know what to write. The second is when you’re so overwhelmed with ideas that it becomes impossible to figure out how to sift through all of them in any order because there are too many good ones at once. My wife gives me the second writer’s block. She is the lock screen on my phone. She is in every Facebook memory I have going back nearly 20 years. We’ve been together long enough that I can’t remember what life was like without her. I celebrate her in a way I didn’t know I could ever feel about another person. When she wins, we win. Somehow, I hit this jackpot of two actors being able to live together and celebrate together. I wouldn’t trade the life we have for anything. I’m unbelievably lucky. And I spend every day trying to make her feel the same way.
Any upcoming projects you can share information on, or that you would like to share with me?
I have no real cause to say this, but I’ve gotten pickier with the kind of work I do. I measure everything against its writing. My mantra is “I just want to say good words with good people.” And that may mean that I disappear and do a play in North Carolina for a couple weeks that not no one knows about. But that is what makes me ready for the next thing. We must stop measuring success in terms of only what’s visible. The small things get us ready for the big things. I got to play a dream role this year onstage and, in doing so, learned I was capable of something I had never done as an actor. I’m still riding high on that. My phone isn’t ringing at the moment. But I’m making good use of that silence. When it does, I promise you, I’ll be ready.
Would you like to say anything to the fans?
Thank you for the wallets. The cookies. The cards. The cold afternoons. The long lines. The excitement. The longevity. The loyalty. The hours of TV. The posts. The devotion. The support. The love. The memories. All of it. I’m a lucky man.
If there is anything I didn’t touch on, please feel free to write it here:
Bryan, I know you may not print this, but I hope you do. Thank you for always asking interesting, multi-layered questions. Thank you for your friendship, your care, your faith. You’re a good man who has as much to offer as the subjects of your articles. We all learn a lot from your writing. Please keep up the cause. Keep the ink flowing. The keyboard clacking. We are grateful for you.
David A. Gregory as Ben in Practically Married
Practically Married drops on November 28th on Amazon, Fandango at Home, Verizon Fios, Hoopla, and Cable Television.
