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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Nancy Lee Grahn
Nancy Lee Grahn (born April 28, 1956) is an American actress known primarily for her work in daytime soap operas, portraying Julia Wainwright Capwell on Santa Barbara from 1985–93 and Alexis Davis on General Hospital since 1996.

Early life and career

Grahn was born in Evanston, Illinois, to a Jewish mother, Barbara Edna Ascher, and a Lutheran father, Robert Donald Grahn. Her parents were both involved with their local community theater in Skokie. Grahn's first stage appearance was as a pony in a community production of Oklahoma! At Niles North High School, she played "Daisy Mae" opposite future Broadway actor Gregg Edelman in the school's production of Lil' Abner. As a freshman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Grahn landed her first credited role, as Mimi in Guys and Dolls at the Goodman Rep Theater, 1973–74 season.

Grahn subsequently went to New York City, where she studied acting with noted drama teachers Sandy Meisner and Bill Epsen. Here she had roles in productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Barefoot in the Park. She also appeared in commercials and several industrial films; in an interview, Grahn recalled crossing paths with fellow future soap star Kim Zimmer at the production of several of those films. She also continued to perform in numerous plays, such as Father's Day and Two for the Seesaw, among others.

Television roles

Grahn has made a number of appearances in episodic prime time television, including Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Diagnosis: Murder, Perry Mason, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider and Babylon 5. She has also been seen in the recurring role of Denise Fielding on Melrose Place, as Connie Dahlgren on Murder One, and as Principal Russell on 7th Heaven.

Grahn also has had several roles on daytime dramas. Her first television role was as Beverly Wilkes, Marco Dane's secretary on ABC's One Life to Live from 1978 to 1982. In 1985, she was cast as headstrong lawyer Julia Wainwright Capwell, on the now-defunct soap opera Santa Barbara. Julia was a departure from the traditional "damsel in distress" or vixen roles; she was an intelligent, uncompromising woman. Julia was paired with Mason Capwell, and the two had a Tracy/Hepburn-esque romance. Offscreen, Grahn was briefly involved with Mason's portrayer, actor Lane Davies; conflict over their storylines eventually led to Davies' departure from the series. Grahn's performance garnered her a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1989, an award which she shares with All My Children actress Debbi Morgan. She portrayed the role of Julia until the show's cancellation in 1993.

In 1996, she was cast as Alexis Davis, another headstrong lawyer, on General Hospital. She was nominated for several additional Daytime Emmys, winning in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category in 2012. In July 2010, Grahn re-signed with General Hospital for another four years on the show.

Political views

A liberal, Grahn is outspoken in political matters. In 2000, she organized a television conference for fellow Democratic daytime stars titled "Daytime for Gore/Lieberman". The event was held at the home of Gary Tomlin, director of NBC's Passions, and in attendance were Sharon Davis, wife of then-California Governor Gray Davis, and Kristin Gore, daughter of then-Vice President Al Gore. During the 2008 presidential election, she hosted an online chat along with fellow daytime actors to discuss the election with fans.

Grahn is an active proponent of reproductive rights. She created "Daytime for Choice" in 1988, and discussed with the New York Times in 2007 her decision to have an abortion when she was in her 20s as well as her desire to see abortion depicted in a fair and unbiased light within film and television. Grahn is also a supporter of LGBT rights and has participated in the NOH8 Campaign.

Personal life

Grahn is a single mother to one daughter, Katherine Grace, known as Kate, born on February 24, 1998, who studies music at the University of Southern California (USC). In December 2019, Grahn announced her engagement to guitarist Richard Smith of Eugene, Oregon, who is a professor at the Thornton School of Music at USC in LA. Grahn has two sisters, Wendy Grahn and Suzi Gantz of Illinois. She is also involved in various charities, including Meals on Wheels.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1985 Obsessed with a Married Woman Bianca
1985 Kids Don't Tell Puppet Lady
1985 Streets of Justice Young Lawyer
1990 The Girl Who Came Between Them Jann
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin Kate Ford/Greta Eiseman Television film
1995 Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest Amanda Porter
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1978–82 One Life to Live Beverly Wilkes 200 episodes
1980 Little House on the Prairie Saloon Girl Episode: "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: Part 2"
1982 The Incredible Hulk Patty Knowlton Episode: "A Minor Problem"
1982 Magnum, P.I. Wendy Gilbert Episode: "Try to Remember"
1982 Quincy, M.E. Melanie Dumont Episode: "For Love of Joshua"
1982 The Phoenix Holly Episode: "A Presence of Evil"
1982 Simon & Simon Joan Episode: "Mike & Pat"
1982 Knight Rider Jane Adams Episode: "Just My Bill"
1985–86 Murder, She Wrote Erin Carey/Sheila Dixon 2 episodes
1986 Blacke's Magic Major Madeline Crawford Episode: "Address Unknown"
1985–93 Santa Barbara Julia Wainwright Capwell 722 episodes
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin Kate Ford/Greta Eiseman TV movie
1995 Models Inc. Det. Towers 3 episodes
1995 Renegade Liza Episode: "Studs"
1995–96 Murder One Connie Dahlgren 7 episodes
1996 Diagnosis: Murder Terri Michaels Episode: "Left-Handed Murder"
1996– General Hospital Alexis Davis 1040 episodes
1997 Melrose Place Denise Fielding 7 episodes
1997–99 7th Heaven Principal Russell 6 episodes
2000 Port Charles Alexis Davis 7 episodes
2013 Castle Samantha Peterman Episode: "Significant Others"

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations for Nancy Lee Grahn
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1989
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Santa Barbara Won
1991
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Super Couple: Daytime (shared with Gordon Thomson) Santa Barbara Nominated
1993
 Soap Opera Digest Award Hottest Female Star Santa Barbara Nominated
1993
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress Santa Barbara Nominated
2000
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2000
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Supporting Actress General Hospital Won
2001
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Supporting Actress General Hospital Won
2003
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2003
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Supporting Actress General Hospital Won
2004
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2005
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2005
 Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite New Couple (shared with Rick Hearst) General Hospital Nominated
2006
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Special Class Special (Co-Host) SOAPnet Reveals
ABC Soap Secrets 		Nominated
2011
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2012
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Won
2017
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2018
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2021
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated
2022
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated

See also

References

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  2. ^ Riggs, Thomas (1986). Contemporary theatre, film, and television. Vol. 30. Gale Research. ISBN 0-7876-3189-2.
  3. ^ Pingel, Mike (2024-08-10). "'Santa Barbara' Celebrates 40 Years With Joyful Reunion & Stories (Photos)". Remind. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  4. ^ "n a n c y l e e g r a h n . c o m : official website". Nancyleegrahn.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
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  12. ^ Ciaccia, Maria (July 6, 2012). "Nancy Lee Grahn Tweets About Her Contract". Generalhospital.about.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
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  14. ^ Calvo, Dana (October 14, 2000). "Daytime Stars on Soapbox for Gore-Lieberman Ticket". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  15. ^ "Nancy Lee Grahn & Friends Invite Fans to Talk Politics". Tvguide.com. September 30, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  16. ^ Navarro, Mireya (June 10, 2007). "On Abortion, Hollywood Is No-Choice". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
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  18. ^ "Dear Soaps, Who is the child playing..." TVGuide. November 11, 2004. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
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  24. ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 2003". Soapoperadigest.com. 14 April 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
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  27. ^ "The 33rd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. February 8, 2006. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  28. ^ "The 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  29. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. New York City: Prometheus Global Media. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  30. ^ "The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 22, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  31. ^ "The 45th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "2021 Daytime Emmy Awards: Talk Show Host and Lead Actress Nominees Revealed (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. CBS Interactive. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  33. ^ "The 49th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
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