Deidre Hall
Last Friday, Deidre Hall, who is celebrating her 50th anniversary on “Days of Our Lives” as beloved psychiatrist Dr. Marlena Evans, was a guest on NBC’s “Today” Show. Right off, reporter Craig Melvin asked Deidre, who is still gorgeous at age 78, to demonstrate a soap opera slap on him.
“OMG!” I screamed. “Do you know who you are talking to? This is one of the most accomplished act resses on all of TV, ever, and you insult her by starting off an interview with a stupid soap opera cliché?” So, trouper that she is, Deidre slapped him as requested. What a jerk!
Here and now, this Marlena intends to salute the other Marlena and Deidre’s glorious career playing one of the most intelligent women in television history in a much more fitting and respectful way.
Deidre, a Florida native, briefly played Barbara Anderson on “The Young and the Restless.” In 1976, she debuted on “Days” as psychiatrist Dr. Evans. Quickly, it was apparent she was a woman of class and a charismatic actress projecting a compelling sensitivity. She demonstrated the intelligence she needed to sustain herself through many incredible plots. She has never been disappointed.
Her Marlena has been a compassionate shrink who has greatly helped other Salemites. At the same time, her character’s own personal life has always been challenging. She has had three husbands — Don Craig (Jed Allen), Roman Brady (Wayne Northrop), and John Black (Drake Hogestyn). She is currently widowed, but don’t imagine that she is too old to have another go at romance. Plus, she had two children, Sami (Allison Sweeney), and Brady (Jensen Ackles, Greg Vaughn.) In real life Deidre has a twin named Andrea who appeared on the show for a while as Samantha. At one juncture, the character even had another comic alter ego named Hattie.
Deidre has successfully played a range of plots from the most melodramatic to the most incredibly far out. When married to Don, their child died in crib death, the first on daytime TV. When the headwriter James E. Reilly came to “Days.” He of the fantastic imagination had Deidre’s Marlena taken over by the Devil himself, complete with monstrous eyes and a snarling voice a la “the Exorcist.” She had another fantastical story — the Salem Strangler. On a Friday afternoon, Jake Kositchek, played by Jack Coleman, “murdered” Marlena. This made fans so hysterical, they actually picketed the “Days” studio. Deidre actually needed police protection for at the time of this storyline.
Like many daytime actors of the Eighties, Deidre branched out into primetime. Along with curmudgeonly Wilfred Brimley, she starred in an NBC series called “Our House.” Earlier, she starred in a Saturday morning children’s program, “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl.” Deidre’s career was so notable she even starred in her our autobiographical TV movie, “Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story,” which she produced.
Over the years Deidre has won many awards, including several Soap Opera Digest awards. She was thrice nominated for a Daytime Emmy, though she has never won one. There’s still time for that, as her Marlena memorably endures year after classy year in “Days”’ Salem. Here’s hoping the TV Academy gives her a lifetime achievement award.
By the way, Deidre’s hold on eleventh place on the longevity list of all time soap performers, which is quite accomplishment. This highly intelligent actress has maintained her beauty and great brains and continues to be a real gift, not just to us Thinking Fans, but to all who love daytime soap opera.
I’m glad that I’m not the only one horrifically aghast at that slapping foolishness. Wasting precious time instead of glorifying this totally fabulous performer’s brilliant career and achievements. Thank you, “other Marlena” for stepping in and giving such a respectful feature in your never-to-be-missed column.
Bless you Leroy. You made this Marlena’s day!
I did not mind the slap at all. I watched her on TODAY & on Access Hollywood & 2 more clips from YouTube. I enjoy any of the talk about the old days but when we turn once again, to demonic possession 1.0, I am bored again. I watched it. I’ve heard it discussed ad nauseum probably 50 times. I didn’t care for it in the first place & rehashing it does not improve it. What it represents to me personally is the time when fully half of my DAYS friends left, never to return. Yes, a bunch of new fans arrived but most of them weren’t really soap fans, they were just there for the camp & the schlock fest. Yes, there were somethings that James Reilly wrote that I admired, but this was not an example & then they made it even worse by extending it. Give me Eileen & 5 different characters & I am a happy camper.
I’ve always loved Deidre Hall. Thank you for this wonderful post.