Robin Strasser

Robin Victory in Europe Strasser (born May 7, 1945)[1] is an American actress, best known for her role as Dorian Lord on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live.

Robin Strasser
Born
Robin Victory in Europe Strasser

(1945-05-07) May 7, 1945 (age 79)
New York City, U.S.
EducationHigh School of Performing Arts
Alma materYale School of Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1964–present
Known for
Spouses
(m. 1965; div. 1976)
Richard Hogan
(m. 1983; div. 1985)
Children2

Life and career

Strasser's middle name is a tribute to her being born the day Germany surrendered in World War II.[1][2] She was born in the New York City borough of the Bronx and raised in Manhattan by Martin and Anne Strasser who were both Jewish. After graduating from the High School of Performing Arts, on full scholarship, she attended the Yale University School of Drama.[1] She began acting in the early 1960s. Strasser sharpened her acting abilities in theatre, acting on Broadway, where she appeared in The Shadow Box and Chapter Two.[1] Early in her stage career she met her first husband, Laurence Luckinbill; they were married in 1965 and divorced in 1976. They have two sons, Nicholas and Ben.[1] Strasser was also married to Richard Hogan from August 27, 1983, until 1985.

She is a founding member of the American Conservatory Theater, and began her extensive daytime career in 1964. Her first role was as Iris on The Secret Storm. In 1967, she originated the role of Rachel Davis Matthews on NBC's Another World. After leaving the role of Rachel, Strasser played Dr. Christina Karras Martin on All My Children.[3]

Strasser was offered the role of Cathy Craig on One Life to Live, but ended up joining the show as Dorian Lord in 1979, when Claire Malis left the role. Strasser had four stints as Dorian, leaving the show in 1987 and returning to play Dorian again from 1993 to 2000, 2003 to August 25, 2011, and then again in the online revival of the series in 2013. From 2001 to 2002, she appeared as 300-year-old witch Hecuba on the NBC serial Passions. In 2019 she played Vivian Alamain on Days of Our Lives for 15 episodes.

Strasser won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 1982 for her portrayal of Dorian,[1][4][5] and was also nominated for the award in 1981,[6] 1983,[7] and 1985.[8] Strasser has been nominated for Soap Opera Digest Awards for Dorian in various categories in 1986, 1988, 1994, 1995 and 2005, winning in 1996 ("Outstanding Lead Actress" for Dorian) and 2001 ("Outstanding Female Scene Stealer" for Hecuba).[1]

Strasser was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, "Night of A Thousand Gowns," on March 21, 2009.[9] She was previously made a Dame of the Imperial Court of New York in March 2007, and attended the 2008 "Night of A Thousand Gowns."

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1964–1966The Secret StormIris OcasekSeries regular
1967–1972Another WorldRachel Cory HutchinsSeries regular
1970SomersetRachel Cory HutchinsRecurring role
1972The ABC Afternoon PlaybreakShelley CarrEpisode: "This Child Is Mine"
1973The Delphi BureauJaneEpisode: "The Face That Never Was Project"
1973And the Bones Came TogetherJoyceTV movie
1973The BrideBarbara
1974The Wide World of MysteryGinaEpisode: "Murder Impossible"
1974The RookiesLaura PageEpisode: "Legacy of Death"
1974Paul Sand in Friends and LoversEllenEpisode: "The Groupie"
1976–1979All My ChildrenChristina KarrasSeries regular
1979–1987,
1993–2000,
2003–2011,
2013
One Life to LiveDorian LordSeries regular
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1982)
Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama (1996)
Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1981, 1983, 1985)
Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama (1988, 1995)
Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama (1986, 1994)
1988Highway to HeavenKathleen ReynoldsEpisode: "Time in a Bottle"
1988Baby MBetsy SternTV movie
1988GlitzNancy DonovanTV movie
1988Annie McGuireTerryEpisode: "Annie and the Brooklyn Bridge"
1988Murder, She WroteSylvia GaglianoEpisode: "The Last Flight of the Dixie Damsel"
1989China BeachJoan FriedmanEpisode: "Women in White"
1989Murphy BrownVladiaEpisode: "Moscow on the Potomac"
1990The Young RidersGrace RollinsEpisode: "Fall from Grace"
1990Blind FaithFelice RichmondTV movie
1990Knots LandingDianne KirkwoodRecurring role, 14 episodes
1990CoachElaine TewksburyRecurring role, 4 episodes
1990Dear JohnBrooke CollinsEpisode: "Matter of Trust: Part 1"
1991White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma ToddJewel CarmenTV movie
1991MacGyverQueen Morgana2 episodes
19922000 Malibu RoadEpisode: "Pilot"
1992Lady BossAbigaile StolliTV movie
1992Civil WarsEpisode: "Devil's Advocate"
1993Jack's PlaceLucinda TremayneEpisode: "An Affair to Vaguely Remember"
1993Bloodlines: Murder in the FamilyTV movie
1996ABC Afterschool SpecialJuliaEpisode: "Me and My Hormones"
1997Loose WomenMrs. Hayes
1999Picture This
2000Grosse PointeLila Van GuildenEpisode: "Mommy Dearest"
2001–2002Dharma & GregTeensy Manhart2 episodes
2002Shoot or Be ShotMrs. Steinman
2000–2003PassionsHecubaRecurring role
Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Scene Stealer (2001)
2003, 2005All My ChildrenDorian LordGuest appearances
2019Days of Our LivesVivian Alamain15 episodes

References