Every aspiring actor needs a leg up – soap stars included. Sometimes that assistance comes courtesy of a talent scout or a suitably impressed casting agent. And every once in a while, it’s thanks to a little interference from dear old dad.
Which Soap Star Was It?
All of these actors are either an alum of a long-ago classic – like All My Children – or they currently star in, or are alums of, one of the four remaining daytime dramas – The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless. However, only one of them can say that their career was jumpstarted thanks to a casting decision made by their power-wielding father.
But who can that actor be? Was it Kate Collins (ex-Natalie/Janet, AMC), Judi Evans (Bonnie Lockhart, DAYS), Jon Lindstrom (Kevin/Ryan, GH), or Bryton James (Devon Hamilton, YR)?
Kate Collins
Collins has had a stellar career consisting of multiple theatrical productions, roles in a plethora of soap operas (including One Life to Live, Guiding Light, and Search for Tomorrow), as well as a part in the feature film Riot on 42nd Street.
But nepotism didn’t get Collins her start. Her father, Michael, was far too involved with his own job – which included serving as Command Module Pilot on the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
Judi Evans
Evans did have a leg up in the performing world thanks to her pops – but it wasn’t in the traditional acting profession. Instead, she got to portray a baby clown in the traveling circus that employed her parents and their high flying trapeze act.
Bryton James
James’ exposure to the world of music was thanks to his father, Eric McClure, who spent the actor’s childhood working as an instrumentalist, songwriter, and music producer. Eric didn’t usher James into the life of a performer, but he did usher in a new way to snowboard thanks to his creation of the Snow Jack.
Jon Lindstrom
Lindstrom has spent three decades and counting acting, directing, and writing. And it’s all thanks to his innate talents and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of his father – a TV advertising executive – who cast a very young Lindstrom in a number of TV commercials.
So, if you guessed that the soap star in question was Jon Lindstrom, then you were absolutely correct!
