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Jerry verDorn
Born	(1949-11-23)November 23, 1949 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	May 1, 2022(2022-05-01) (aged 72) Sparta, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	Minnesota State University Moorhead
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1979–2019
Spouse	Bethea Stewart ​(m. 1977)​
Children	2

Early life

Jerry verDorn (November 23, 1949 – May 1, 2022) was an American soap opera actor, best known for his role as Ross Marler in Guiding Light and Clint Buchanan in One Life to Live.

Jerry verDorn was born on November 23, 1949, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and attended Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Career

VerDorn performed on stage with the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C. On Broadway he was a standby for the role of John Tanner in Man and Superman (1978) and portrayed an investigator in Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (1979).

VerDorn became one of Guiding Light's longest-running cast members, debuting in the role on March 19, 1979 and portraying the character of Ross for over 26 years. He won Daytime Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 1995 and again in 1996. VerDorn also portrayed Ross in a 1983 television movie, The Cradle Will Fall, an adaptation of a book to film using several Guiding Light characters in supporting roles. In the winter of 1982, he played the role of Ross' soon to be first wife, Carrie Todd's (played by Jane Elliot), first husband Todd MacKenzie in Carrie's flashbacks during Carrie's murder trial of one of Ross' former nemeses, Diane Ballard (played by Sofia Landon Geier) who also appeared in the flashbacks. In the fall of 1994, he played the humorous lookalike role of Howie - "Hoss" - who was the total antithesis of Ross. His last appearance as Ross aired on October 11, 2005.

VerDorn earned seven nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999 and won twice (1995 and 1996).

On October 25, 2005, verDorn took over the role of Clint Buchanan on ABC's One Life to Live and continued in the role until the series cancellation in 2012. On January 8, 2013, verDorn became the first actor to sign on for the revival of One Life to Live that aired on The Online Network.

Filmography

Television

Awards and nominations

Personal life

In 1977, verDorn married Bethea Stewart. They had two sons and remained wed until his death. He died on May 1, 2022, aged 72, from cancer.

References

1. ^ "Jerry verDorn, 72". Classic Images. July 2022. p. 48.
2. "Jerry ver Dorn". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
3. "OLTL Star Signs On With Prospect Park". ABC Soaps in Depth. January 8, 2013. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
4. Andreeva, Nellie (January 12, 2013). "Prospect Park Closes Deal With WGA, Clearing Way For AMC, OLTL Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
5. Del Rosario, Alexandra (May 2, 2022). "Jerry verDorn Dies: Guiding Light, One Life To Live Actor Was 72". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 2, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• Jerry verDorn at IMDb
• Jerry verDorn profile
• Who's in, Who's out
• Beloved Daytime Vet Jerry verDorn Dies At 72

• 1949 births
• 2022 deaths
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male soap opera actors
• Daytime Emmy Award winners
• Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winners
• Male actors from South Dakota
• Actors from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Minnesota State University Moorhead alumni
• Deaths from cancer in New Jersey