Soap Opera Veteran Roscoe Born, Dead at 69

Roscoe Born, beloved for his roles on multiple daytime dramas, has passed away. According to Born’s friend and business partner, Deanna Lynne, Born died on March 3.

The Life of Roscoe Born

“It was is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Roscoe Born’s passing,” Lynne posted on Born Roscoe Songs, their joint Facebook page. “He was an incredibly talented actor and songwriter. Many who knew him know how dedicated he was to social and political causes. He will be missed forever.” The actor is survived by his daughter with ex-wife Roberta Weiss (ex-Flame, Santa Barbara), Alberta, 22.

Born was born on November 24, 1950, in Topeka, KS. His acting career was spent mostly in soaps. He played anti-hero Joe Novak on Ryan’s Hope. The actor was a great admirer of Ryan’s Hope co-creator and head writer Claire Labine for her take on the human condition.

Born’s other roles included Mitch Laurence, the villain who kept coming back for more, on One Life to Live. In the early 1990s, he played the dual roles of Robert Barr and Quinn Armitage on Santa Barbara. His other daytime roles were Det. Adamski on As the World turns; Peter Vreeland on Guiding Light, and Trent Robbins on Days of Our Lives.

He also played Jim Thomasen on All My Children and Nick Rivers on The City. Born also appeared as “Terrible” Tom Fisher on The Young and the Restless. His last daytime role was as a warden on Passions.

Born’s roles on YR and DAYS were similar in that on YR, he played Kevin’s (Greg Rikaart) abusive dad and on DAYS, Born was cast as Max Brady’s (Darin Brooks) biological pop, who drove his son to acts of violence.

Off-screen, Born was wed to his Ryan’s Hope co-star Randall Edwards (ex-Delia). The actor had graduated from Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland. Soap Hub sends deep condolences to Born’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.