Nancy Lee Grahn

Template:Short description Template:Pp-pc Template:Infobox person Nancy Lee Grahn (born April 28, 1956)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is an American actress known primarily for her work in daytime soap operas, portraying Barbara WIlkes on One Life to Live from 1978 to 1982, Julia Wainwright Capwell on Santa Barbara from 1985 to 1993<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SOD 411">Template:Cite web</ref> 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! <ref name="SOD 411" /><ref name="ABC" /> 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.<ref name="SOD 411" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Grahn subsequently went to New York City, where she studied acting with noted drama teachers Sandy Meisner and Bill Epsen.<ref name="ABC" /> Here she had roles in productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Barefoot in the Park.<ref name="SOD 411" /> 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.Template:Citation needed 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,<ref name="SOD 411" /> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.Template:Citation needed Grahn's performance garnered her a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1989,<ref name="SOD 411" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref name="2012 Emmy">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="TV Guide Emmy">Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2010, Grahn re-signed with General Hospital for another four years on the show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Political views

A liberal,<ref name="Oct 2012">Template:Cite web</ref> Grahn is outspoken in political matters. In 2000, she organized a television conference for fellow Democratic daytime stars titled "Daytime for Gore/Lieberman".<ref name=ABC>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="2000 election">Template:Cite news</ref> During the 2008 presidential election, she hosted an online chat along with fellow daytime actors to discuss the election with fans.<ref name="2008 election">Template:Cite web</ref>

Grahn is an active proponent of reproductive rights. She created "Daytime for Choice"<ref name="ABC" /> in 1988,<ref name="2000 election" /> 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.<ref name="abortion">Template:Cite web</ref> Grahn is also a supporter of LGBT rights and has participated in the NOH8 Campaign.<ref name="noh8">Template:Cite web</ref>

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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="SOD 411" /><ref name="ABC" />

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	Template:Abbr
1989 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Santa Barbara	Template:Won	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
1991 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Outstanding Super Couple: Daytime Template:Small	Santa Barbara	Template:Nom
1993 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Hottest Female Star	Santa Barbara	Template:Nom
1993 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Outstanding Lead Actress	Santa Barbara	Template:Nom
2000 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2000 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress	General Hospital	Template:Won	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2001 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress	General Hospital	Template:Won	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2003 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2003 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress	General Hospital	Template:Won	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2004 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2005 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2005 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Soap Opera Digest Award	Favorite New Couple Template:Small	General Hospital	Template:Nom
2006 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Special Class Special Template:Small	SOAPnet Reveals ABC Soap Secrets	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2011 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2012 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Won	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2017 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2018 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2021 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2022 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Nom	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2025 {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Daytime Emmy Award	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	General Hospital	Template:Won	{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

See also

• List of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign people

External links

• Official website
• Template:IMDb name