Stuart Damon
Stuart Damon (born Stuart Michael Zonis) is an American actor. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Eva and Marvin leonard Zonis, who was a manufacturer. His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants, making their home in America after fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution. As a child, Stuart loved making his family and others laugh. At age 11, he played the cowardly lion in a production of The Wizard of Oz, and later starred and sang in musical comedies at a summer camp near Danbury, Connecticut
Stuart attended a private high school, continuing his studies at Brandeis University, where he obtained a B.A. degree in psychology. He was on his way to becoming an attorney, but got sidetracked when his involvement in acting turned into a professional pursuit. He began playing lead roles in summer stock with such stars as Jane Powell and George Gobel. In the next few years, he gained experience in more than 50 musical comedies, washing a few dishes along the way to help with finances.
He landed his first Broadway role in the chorus line of Irma La Douce, where his dance partner was Elliott Gould. He also understudied the principals, and after two weeks took over one of the leads. that break led to other Broadway shows.
In 1964, Stuart was named Most Promising Performer of the Year by Theater World for his performance in The Boys From Syracuse. The following year, he was brought to Hollywood to star with Lesley Ann Warren in the now-classic TV musical production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. The program attracted worldwide attention.
A lucrative offer to star on an English television series, The Champions, sent Stuart to Great Britain with his British-born wife, actress Deirdre Ottewill-Damon, and their daughter, Jennifer. During the next 12 years, Stuart starred on Bristish television and played many roles on stage in London's West End.
Shortly after returning to the United States in 1977, Stuart was signed as a series regular on General Hospital as the handsome but troubled Dr. Alan Quartermaine. His performance in the soap opera led to many things: A starring role in the highly rated TV suspense thriller, Fantasies; a 1981-82 ABC Monday Night Movie; a cameo in the comedy feature film, Young Doctors in Love, an ABC Motion Picture released in 1982; an appearance in Bob Fosse's Star 80; and a highly dramatic guest-star role on an episode of Arthur Halley's Hotel on ABC.
Stuart returned to the stage in 1982 to play King Arthur, opposite his wife in the role of Queen Guenevere, in a San Diego production of Camelot. It marked the first time the two had performed together in ten years.
Early in 1988, Stuart made his play-directing debut with the world premiere production of What's Wrong With This Picture?, at the Back Alley Theater in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles. The actor remarked, "Now I know what I want to do with the next part of my life besides act."
Stuart has been nominated for more than a dozen Emmy and Soap Opera Digest awards, has won the Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Veteran Awards in 1998 and 1999.
During March 19025, 2010, Stuart played the role of Governor Ford on Days of our Lives.
He has been active with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation since 1983 and instrumental as a major fund-raiser. He also, along with co-star Leslie Charleson, is involved with the Mountain AIDS Foundation of Santa Monica. He is an ardent golfer and sports fan.
The Damons have a daughter, Jennifer, son, Christopher, and have recently adopted their grandson, Alex. They divide their time between homes in England and Los Angeles where they live in houses they've renovated themselves.
Does Stuart practice his heritage as a Jew? Don't know, but I sure doubt it because there was nothing at all about it after the jact that his parents were Jwish immigrants. Even so, he is in need of a personal encounter with the Messiah of his people, Jesus Christ. Please pray, this week, that God will do a special work in Stuart's life to bring him to just such an encounter.
--Heidi