/ CBS. He was married twice, to Joanne Dorian and Susan Hufford, by whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. Credit: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, Steve Fenn/ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, CBS. When he died on December 6, 1998, at age 56, it wasnt entirely a shock. His real-life problems got incorporated into scripts: When Zaslow fell, David Renaldi got to explain why he had bruises; when a cab company hung up after hearing Zaslow's computerized voice, Renaldi encountered the same frustration. Michael Zaslow, a soap opera star who won a Daytime Emmy Award for best actor, died Sunday of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a nerve-cell disorder better . The actor is best known for playing the complex villain Roger Thorpe on GUIDING LIGHT, though ABC soap fans might remember him as David Renaldi on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Is Louise Sorel reprising her role as DAYS' Vivian Alamain? against Lou Gehrig's disease, which took the life of her father. Scientists have yet to determine a cause or a cure; the only drug approved for treatment prolongs life by a few months at best. This article about a United States writer of non-fiction is a stub. Michael Zaslow, Emmy Award-winning actor who played victim of Lou Gehrig's disease on soap opera One Life to Live and who struggled with illness in real life, dies at age 54; photo (S) He was married twice, to Joanne Dorian and Susan Hufford, by whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. The Locher Room is hosting a very special tribute to the late Michael Zaslow on Friday, March 19, at 4 p.m. Helena Hufford Zaslow. Carr. 2023 SheMedia, LLC. He was married twice, to Joanne Dorian and Susan Hufford, by whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. I and a bunch of other daytime-magazine writers were gathered on the set of Guiding Light and ushered into the presence of the veteran actor who brought to volcanic life the one and only Roger Thorpe, a villain so legendary that the CBS soap collected highlights of his misdeeds on a VHS tape that it called The Scandal Years. I remember seeing Michael Zaslow and his wife and two young daughters in Pittsburgh when he was performing in "My Fair Lady" a year before he was diagnosed with ALS. As One Life to Live castmate Robert S. Woods (Bo) told the Sun-Sentinel, Zaslow waged war on behalf of his fellow actors, battling to get them healthcare when they were out of work. Movies. He served on the National Board of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and, as a board member of the Creative Coalition, he campaigned for more effective health care. by the passing of Helena Hufford Zaslow, daughter of ALSA National. Michael Joel Zaslow (November 1, 1942 - December 6, 1998) was an American actor. 50 Greatest Soap Actors: #19 Christopher Bernau. Hufford was married to actor Michael Zaslow, whom she met when they both were in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof in the early 1970s. Actor Michael Zaslow with his wife Susan Hufford cooking meal in the kitchen at their home in NYC, NY. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. I we all had known for some time that he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka ALS. "Michael always said he didn't want ALS to get him," she recalls. This is just so sad. by the passing of Helena Hufford Zaslow, daughter of ALSA National. He was best known for his role as villain Roger Thorpe on CBS 's Guiding Light , a role he played from 1971 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1997, earning multiple nominations - and one win - at the Daytime Emmy Awards . March 12, 2021. ec. She is. Michael Joel Zaslow (1 November 1942 6 December 1998; age 56) was the actor who appeared as Darnell in the Star Trek: The Original Series first season episode "The Man Trap", after which he played Jordan in the second season episode "I, Mudd". "You watched his deterioration, whether you wanted to or not." Zaslow has only appeared in three feature films. These include the original run of the musical Fiddler on the Roof and a revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Posted Friday, December 01, 2006 11:56:01 AM. [2] Several of Zaslow's Guiding Light and One Life to Live castmates, along with many Broadway-based theater luminaries, have participated in tributes that were fundraisers for ZazAngels. Subscribe to The Locher Room: https://bit.ly/TheLocherRoomVisit The Locher Room Website: https://bit.ly/TheLocherRoomWebsitePlease tune in to The Locher Room. His final episode aired on 1 December 1998, just five days before Zaslow succumbed to his disease. He "was always in there fighting.". After Michael's diagnosis with ALS, he and Susan became passionate advocates for people with ALS, using his celebrity status to heighten awareness of the disease. Thanks for the information on the death of Michael's daughter. In addition to Zaslow's daughter, Marika, the actor . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. His film credits include Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985), Meteor (1979), and You Light Up My Life (1977). In 1997, Michael was diagnosed with ALS. He died on December 6, 1998 in New York City, succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS . Rumors circulated that he'd suffered a stroke, that he was having trouble with alcohol. Two years later, Zaslow's widow, Susan, lost her battle with cancer. (There are conflicting stories as to whether Zaslow was then fired; there was for some time a legal action against Guiding Light and sponsor Procter & Gamble, which was eventually settled.) Meanwhile, Hufford has this extremely minor consolation: While most ALS patients succumb to their respiratory problems, her husband's immediate cause of death was a heart attack. [1]. Though Zaslow acted off-Broadway and on (he and his actress wife met in the original production of "Fiddler on the Roof") and appeared in movies and prime-time series, he'll probably always be remembered as Roger Thorpe, the scourge of fictional Springfield, a role he left and returned to several times over more than two decades. A Houston specialist finally diagnosed ALS in 1997 and, Hufford says, "I couldn't tell you if it was worse before we knew, or afterwards." He was always in there fighting. Zaslow also took up the cause of clean water in upstate New York and was so staunchly anti-smoking that we still pity the fool who might elect to light a cigarette around him. In fact, Zaslow did not know what was causing his vocal problems, and a round of doctors' appointments provided no explanation. Zaslow, though, as fierce as he could be, was special. OUT? He received four Daytime Emmy Award nominations for this role during the 1990s, winning the award with his third nomination in 1994. He had suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for some time before his passing. NAME: Christopher Bernau. Michael Joel Zaslow (November 1, 1942 December 6, 1998) was an American actor. GH's William Lipton shares why Cameron Webber is leaving Port Charles, "Shining star" Nneka Garland, an Emmy-winning GH producer, has died, GH exec shares decisions that went into tribute episode to Epiphany, General Hospital boss Frank Valentini talks about GH's 60th anniversary, General Hospital welcomes back Emma Samms as Holly. the Roof" in the early 1970s. Actor Michael Zaslow riding bicycles with his adopted daughter Helena outside their home in Roxbury, Connecticut. I read his book "Not That Man Anymore" and really enjoyed insight, both from Michael and Susan, about their struggles to cope with Michael's illness. Zaslow died on December 6, 1998. "I started getting e-mails and letters from fans, asking if I knew what was wrong," Torchin says. Zaslow was hired at One Life to Live in 1998 to play David Renaldi again, appearing first in May of that year,[2] his condition being written into the storyline. Bold & Beautiful Shocker: Sheila's One Hope of Getting Out of Jail Is the Last Person We'd Ever Suspect! Yet working was a tonic. None of that will happen: Zaslow died last month at age 54. Roger Thorpe AKA Adam Malik (Michael Zaslow), son of Adam and Marjorie, character killed off on April 1, 1980, came back from the dead on February 15, . Dont Miss a Very Special GUIDING LIGHT Watch Party! Zaslow had been spending hours in intensive physical therapy; his family thought he was regaining some strength. . He was best known for his role as villain Roger Thorpe on CBS's Guiding Ligh. Before making a career change, she was an actress in regional theater in addition to her Broadway career. GENERAL HOSPITAL Spoilers: Michael and Willows Wedding Explodes! Their daughter died as a result of a medication problem, but it was considered an accident (not suicide). When he wanted to be, he could be quite a charmer, too. The incident sparked the first diagnosis of the now-famous line: "He's dead, Jim," by Enterprise crew-member Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley). warmly remembered for her gracious spirit in volunteering her time to. Key to the latter was finding a way to keep himself before the public. "Huge misunderstanding" means one of this year's Daytime Emmy nominees will no longer be on the ballot, 2023 DAYTIME EMMYS: Nominations revealed for 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Eric Braeden reveals cancer diagnosis in an emotional video to fans. So last spring, David Renaldi resurfaced in fictional Llanview after more than a decade -- he'd also been a spy, it turned out -- using a wheelchair (though Zaslow could still walk at the time) and that oddly inflected synthesized voice. Their daughter, Helena Hufford-Zaslow, died on December 28, 2004 in Connecticut at age 19, only days after completing her first semester at . His final appearance on One Life to Live was televised December 1. against Lou Gehrig's disease, which took the life of her father. In 2005, Susan published Not That Man Anymore: A Message from Michael, written by Zaslow and Hufford, which chronicles Michael's year-long battle with ALS. Michael Zaslow. Susan Hufford, widow of internationally known television and film star Michael Zaslow, whom she met when they both were in the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof in the early 1970s. They will all share their memories of the beloved daytime star, so you wont want to miss it! . I agreed, he continued, but Michael He was in a league of his own. Fox on Parkinson's and how he finds "optimism is sustainable". Among them is Teresa Brown, who says she and several other West Virginians will try not to cry, because Michael loved great parties. They adopted two children together, Marika and Helena. "A tortured relationship," Torchin notes. After gasping, Im so relieved, because his daughters wouldnt have to write another consolation note for his dressing-room wall, he thanked his wife, Susan Hufford, whod made all the good things possible in my life since I met her, And I tell you that not only because its true, he hastened to add, but because she told me to tell you, because she said thats what [repeat victors] David Canary (Adam/Stuart, All My Children) and Peter Bergman (Jack, The Young and the Restless) always say.. Susan and her daughters sat in the seats in front of me. Michael Zaslow was brilliant and strong, charismatic and intimidating as hell. Still, no one expected his death quite so suddenly or so soon. (Reuploaded) This tribute to Michael Zaslow (Roger, Guiding Light) took place at the 1999 Soap Opera Digest Awards where Brynn Thayer and Robin Strasser pres. American actress, psychotherapist (19382006), Learn how and when to remove this template message, http://www.alsa.org/news/article.cfm?id=1059&CFID=3841938&CFTOKEN=91567595, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susan_Hufford&oldid=1132549568, 20th-century American non-fiction writers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from November 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 11:32. "We are going to be heard," his electronic voice would proclaim. For 25 years, Zaslow portrayed manipulative businessman Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light, a role that garnered him a Daytime Emmy in 1994. It was also for his death that Leonard McCoy almost first uttered his famous phrase, "He's dead, Jim." Actor Michael Zaslow riding bicycles with his adopted daughter Helena outside their home in Roxbury, Connecticut. As president of Michael Zaslow's ZazAngels, Susan worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funds for ALS. Thanks, Judy. Peacock renews DAYS, soap will continue through its 60th season, Kristian Alfonso teases "very clever twist" looming in her DAYS return, Miranda Wilson was "thrilled to bits" to be asked to return to Days of our Lives, Lindsay Arnold discusses her decision to step away from role as DAYS' Allie. March 12, 2021 11:18AM. "There was clearly something the matter." Met his second wife and widow, actress turned physical therapist Susan Michael Zaslow was born on November 1, 1942 in Inglewood, California and was an actor and writer, best known for his work in daytime dramas, or soap operas. He was married twice, to Joanne Dorian and Susan Hufford, by whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. Michael Joel Zaslow (November 1, 1942 - December 6, 1998) was an American actor. "It was horrible." Ive adored many a soap star in my day, including his longtime leading lady, Maureen Garrett (Holly), who was so down-to-earth that as far as I could tell, gravity had no impact whatsoever on her. Find out what's ahead this week on Y&R, Y&R stars help kick off The Price is Right's Pet Adoption Week, Even Moore returns: Shemar Moore back as Y&R's Malcolm this May, Y&R head writer Josh Griffith explains his decision to fire breakdown writers, The Young and the Restless autographed props and costumes up for auction, Why Mishael Morgan's 50th anniversary Y&R return almost didn't happen, Y&R's Eric Braeden unleashes epic Twitter tirade on former castmate Eva Longoria. How sad for Marika who has lost her whole family. "ALS can be very fast." He was married twice, to Joanne Dorian and Susan Hufford, by whom he had two daughters, Helena and Marika. He was still the fine actor we'd known for so long." Susan Hufford (December 15, 1938 in Lebanon, Ohio November 28, 2006), was an actress and psychotherapist. "Given the kind of intense physical attractiveness he'd had, to see him have great difficulty walking, unable to talk -- many of us were rendered speechless for a moment as well," says Robin Strasser, who plays Dorian, the mother of David Renaldi's illegitimate daughter. He played Dick Hart on the CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow and Dr. Peter Chernak on Love Is a Many Splendored Thing. Contribute to this page. Suddenly unemployed with two daughters to support, facing some mysterious malady, "he was in shock; we all were." . Michael Zaslow is 80 years, 4 months and 27 days old. Hufford, when they were both in the Broadway production of "Fiddler on Michael, Woods said, was adamant about the union taking care of everyones needs. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. Zaslow guest-starred on a number of other television shows and soap operas, including Barnaby Jones, The Love Boat, and Law & Order. Susan Hufford (December 15, 1938 in Lebanon, Ohio - November 28, 2006), was an actress and psychotherapist.. As a member of the ALS Association's national board of trustees and the Greater New York Chapter's board of directors, she was an advocate to raise awareness about ALS and became a major fundraiser for ALS research. TV and film icon Dick Van Dyke will make soap opera debut this fall on Days of our Lives, Harmony returns to Genoa City -- Harmony Hamilton, that is, Emma Samms worried her last GH stint was "almost too good," considering stepping away, As the World Turns, The Doctors star Elizabeth Hubbard has died, Y&R's Michael Damian chats Danny's future in Genoa City and a special musical performance for the soap, Helena Cassadine poised to create more trouble on General Hospital. 2023 SheMedia, LLC. Joan Crawford Takes Daughter . They had two daughters, Marika and Helena. Self: The 15th Annual Soap Opera Digest Awards. This is a healing activity for me and Susan and dear friends, and our children as well. Susan Hufford was a successful author, actress, psychotherapist, wife and mother. She helped raise more than $1 million to find a cure for the disease. Daytime TV is known for generating decades-long audience loyalty. Who do you think has her? Michael Zaslow, a soap opera star who won a Daytime Emmy Award for best actor, died Sunday of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a nerve-cell disorder better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ABC announced. Dumped from the drama when his speech began to falter, he landed a job on ABC's "One Life to Live" playing a character with ALS; he and his daytime co-stars filmed public service announcements, held fund-raisers, buttonholed legislators. Roger was a nasty piece of work: He raped his wife, Holly, and was acquitted of the crime, whereupon, in a delusional state, she shot him. The Locher Room is hosting a very special tribute to the late Michael Zaslow on Friday, March 19, at 4 p.m. "We were outraged," says Teresa Brown, a fervent fan and an assistant attorney general in West Virginia who helped design a protesting Web page. His character was never killed off on the soap opera, which went through a series of writers over a two-year period, none of whom chose to deal with Renaldi's illness or Zaslow's death. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in political science from UCLA. But Lord, was Zaslows passing a loss. Zalsow received numerous Daytime Emmy nominations for his work on GL, taking home the gold for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1994. In the episode "The Man Trap," the series' September 8, 1966 premiere of Star Trek, he played Crewman Darnell, the first Starship Enterprise crew member to be killed off. I we all had known for some time that he was . Zaslow's last credited film appearance was in the 1985 comic drama Seven Minutes in Heaven. Susan Hufford seemed like such a strong lady. Actor Michael Zaslow with his wife Susan Hufford cooking meal in the kitchen at their home in NYC, NY. After being diagnosed with the ALS, Zaslow helped form ZazAngels, which raises funds and awareness to fight the disease. It was actually episode No. As vain as any star, Zaslow hated to be seen in his diminished condition: He was becoming gaunt; his mouth drooped; he sometimes drooled because he couldn't swallow well. He planned to motor onstage in his bright red scooter and welcome the audience to the benefit he'd helped organize, using a computer voice-synthesizer he'd relied on since amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease) had taken his ability to speak and walk. COVID diagnosis sidelines GH's Laura Wright; will Carly be temporarily recast? See How Your Favorite Soap Stars Celebrated Easter! He was best known for his role as villain Roger Thorpe on CBS's Guiding Light, a role he played from 1971 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1997, earning multiple nominations and one win at the Daytime Emmy Awards. Suggest an edit or add missing content. Actor Michael Zaslow playing tennis at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut. Find out . Helena Zaslow died on December 28, 2004, in Connecticut at age 19, only days after completing her first semester at Wellesley College. Catch up With AS THE WORLD TURNS Alum Hayley Barr Sparks. Hufford authored more than 20 books and also was a practicing psychotherapist with a private clinical practice in Manhattan, New York. Susan is survived by her daughter, Marika. To his credit, the on-screen heavy used his influence for good. He . The YouTube shows are also available as audio podcasts and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts on Amazon, Apple, Google, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Spreaker. Susan Hufford was a successful author, actress, psychotherapist, wife and mother. 50th Annual Daytime Emmy nominations announced: Find out who was nominated this year! One of the show's central villains of the 1970s, his first onscreen "death" was voted the top scene in the show's history when the series celebrated its 50th anniversary. Michael Zaslow was an Emmy award winning actor, creating daytime's ultimate villain, Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light and the elusive, romantic composer/conductor David Renaldi on ABC's One Life to Live. Actor: Guiding Light. This family has suffered so much; both Michael and Susan lost a parent while Michael was dealing with his own illness. She may have committed suicide. [3] He was survived by his wife, psychologist/writer Susan Hufford; and two daughters, Helena and Marika. ROXBURY, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 01: Actor Michael Zaslow playing croquet his adopted daughter Marika, 11, as wife Susan Hufford and their other adopted daughter Helena, 14, look on outside their home in Roxbury, Connecticut. Hundreds of fans from a dozen states have sent for tickets (a few are still available via the ALS Association's Greater New York Chapter at 800-672-8857). Given this long history together, viewers naturally noticed when Zaslow's speech began to slur late in 1996. Posted Friday, December 01, 2006 11:56:01 AM, Heartbroken Emmy nominee withdraws their nomination from contention after "huge misunderstanding". One of his daughters died after he did but I can't remember the circumstances now. Hufford died from cancer on November 28, 2006.[4][5]. But the show will go on, although subtly changed. Her entire family goneI feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to support Michael, Susan, Marika and Helena at the softball game at Yankee Stadium on Sept 12, 1998. Who knew all this sadness would swallow them less than 8 years after Michael's passing? He died on December 6, 1998 in New York City, succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS . "I knew." In 1997, while working on Guiding Light, Zaslow began to have difficulty speaking, which interfered with his performance. (June 7, 1975 - December 6, 1998) (his death, 2 children), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Y&R RECAPS: What you missed the Week of April 24, 2023, THE SCOOP! This is just amazing news. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Michael Zaslow, 54, Soap Actor; Publicized Lou Gehrig's Disease", "Wife of GL Star Loses Fight With Cancer", Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Zaslow&oldid=1140180865, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winners, Neurological disease deaths in New York (state), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2013, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 21:22. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Alan Locher will present a tribute to Michael Zaslow (ex-Roger, GUIDING LIGHT) on his YouTube show, The Locher Room. He also played David Renaldi on ABC's One Life to Live from 1983 to 1986. She helped raise more than $1 million to find a cure for the disease. News and More: Return to Soap Central's GL FrontPage. He was given leave from the show, after which he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). His additional television credits include guest appearances on Barnaby Jones (working with Jason Evers, Meg Foster, Lenore Kasdorf, and series regular Lee Meriwether), Lou Grant (in an episode directed by Alexander Singer and co-starring Phillip Richard Allen and Bill Quinn), Falcon Crest (working with Robert Foxworth and Fritz Weaver), Spenser: For Hire (starring Avery Brooks), and Law & Order. Susan Hufford released a book about Zaslow and his fight with ALS, titled Not That Man Anymore. All Rights Reserved, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google. Zaslow has also starred in such soaps as Search for Tomorrow, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, and One Life to Live, and was even a writer on NBC's Another World. December 8, 1998 / 1:23 PM In early December, Hufford says, he managed to stand unassisted for the first time in weeks. GHs Kelly Thiebaud Is Overwhelmed By Her Emmy Nomination. The fate of David Renaldi, onetime concert pianist living with ALS, has yet to be determined. Fox on Parkinson's, and maintaining optimism, Ed Sheeran plays guitar in court in bid to show he didn't steal Marvin Gaye song, Bruce Springsteen on "Nebraska," and the emergence of Springsteen the poet, James Corden ends his final "Late Late Show" with message for Americans, Michael J. Zaslow and sister of Marika. This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, "Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools. Zaslow died on December 6, 1998, at his New York City home. Roger Thorpe was played by the late actor, Michael Zaslow. Zaslow was also the godfather of actor Christian Slater. Catch up With GUIDING LIGHT Star David Andrew Macdonald. Cancelled Daytime Drama Had to Endure Salt Being Rubbed in Its Wound: Only the Special Soaps Are Going to Survive Plus, a Photo-Filled Review of the Shows Epic History, Remembering Beloved Soap Opera Actors Who Passed Away in 2022 [PHOTOS], After Disclosing His Cancer Diagnosis, Young & Restless' Eric Braeden Reveals 'What's On My Mind'. Michael Zaslow died aged 56 on December 6, 1998. His first Trek role, Darnell, was the first death ever seen on Star Trek. The last thing I had read was that they hadn't ruled out a suicide and then I . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. She's "out there" somewhere, according to B&B boss Brad Bell. They also had another daughter, Marika Zaslow. Related news. The couple married on June 7, 1975, and were married for 23 years. Though Zaslow's stamina did decrease as the months passed, "Michael was a warrior," Phelps says. Trustee Susan Hufford and the late Emmy award-winning actor Michael. (In 2004, Zaslow's character on Guiding Light died off-screen.). GH RECAPS: What you missed the Week of April 24, 2023, THE SCOOP! "They can think, they have a sense of humor, they can still be winners." "They evaporated the minute he came on camera. Zaslow is perhaps best known for playing the villainous Roger Thorpe on the CBS soap Guiding Light for nearly twenty years, first from 1971 through 1980 and again from 1989 through 1997. Actor: Guiding Light. May 1971. Michael Zaslow was born on November 1, 1942 in Inglewood, California and was an actor and writer, best known for his work in daytime dramas, or soap operas. Michael Zaslow. Zaslow, friends say, managed to resist despair and inertia in the face of such news. ABC executives, to whom Hufford and Zaslow pitched the idea of a return to "One Life to Live," were intrigued. She produced five Broadway Theater benefits, including Love Letters starring Alec Baldwin and Tuesdays with Morrie starring Jerry Stiller, raising over $1 million for ALS research. She is. News Roundup: The Death of a Supercouple, Wedding Implosion Winners & Losers and the Shocking Identity of Mommie Dearest? On Internet news groups and chat rooms, in petitions to P&G, in letters to soap magazines, Zaslow's fans soon made their fury known. We're going to have to replace you,' " Hufford recalls. RANK: 19. Michael Zaslow expected to be at the Golden Theatre tonight. Then, after watching a reading of the play "Love Letters" from the wings, he intended to wheel back out and read from a talk he gave in Washington last spring, while lobbying for ALS research funding. He was one of the all time greats to ever grace the soap opera genre, and now he will be remembered and celebrated by many of his forme r Guiding Light cast mates and real-life daughter.