Daytime Favorite Gina Tognoni Celebrates Her Birthday

It’s been several years since Gina Tognoni last graced the small soap screen — and said goodbye to the character of Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless — but the actress has a major milestone to celebrate.

Happy Birthday, Gina Tognoni

That’s because she was born on November 28, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri, which means that this talented performer turns 50 years old today! By the time Tognoni landed her first acting role, she had already won two competitive pageant titles, Miss Rhode Island Teen USA and a Miss Rhode Island Teen All-American.

Said role was wild child Kelly Cramer on ABC’s One Life to Life, and it was here that Tognoni stayed until 2001. Subsequent acting roles included a guest spot on Fastlane and parts in two made-for-television films, This Time Around and Phenomenon II.

In 2004, Tognoni returned to daytime when she joined CBS’ Guiding Light. She made her debut on July 6, 2004, and between then and September 18, 2009, she starred as Dinah Marler. For her work on the series, Tognoni won two Daytime Emmy Awards, both for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2006 and 2008).

While still at GL, Tognoni also appeared in Law and Order: SVU and The Sopranos. Upon vacating the role, Tognoni reprised the Kelly Cramer part at One Life to Live and aired between February 12, 2010, and August 24, 2011.

In May of 2014, it was announced that Tognoni had been hired at The Young and the Restless to take over as Phyllis Summers from incumbent Michelle Stafford. She first appeared on August 11 of that year and remained until June 7, 2019 — picking up the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2017.

Soap Hub would like to wish Gina Tognoni a very happy birthday, and you can too by clicking on the Twitter link below.