Biography
Michael Zaslow, born on November 1, 1942, in Inglewood, California, was an actor and writer renowned for his work in daytime dramas, particularly soap operas. He married twice, first to Joanne Dorian and later to Susan Hufford, with whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. He passed away on December 6, 1998, in New York City from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Zaslow's Broadway performances included roles in Fiddler on the Roof, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Boccaccio, and Onward Victoria. His film appearances include You Light Up My Life, Meteor, and Seven Minutes in Heaven, and he made guest appearances on various primetime television series such as Star Trek (1966) and Law and Order (1990). His soap opera credits include CBS's Search for Tomorrow (1951) and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967), as well as ABC's One Life to Live (1968). Additionally, he wrote for NBC's Another World (1964).
Zaslow is best remembered for his portrayal of the scheming businessman Roger Thorpe on the CBS daytime drama Guiding Light, the longest-running dramatic series, which aired on radio starting January 25, 1937, and on television from June 30, 1952, to September 18, 2009. He earned four Emmy nominations for playing the villainous Roger Thorpe between 1971 and 1980, and again from 1989 to 1997, winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1994. He was highly regarded by both critics and audiences alike.
