Grant Aleksander
Encyclopedia
Grant Aleksander Kunkowski (born August 6, 1959), better known as Grant Aleksander, is an American
actor.
. He grew up as the youngest of three brothers.
for the 1986 season as dastardly "DJ Phillips", and the role of "Alec McIntyre" on All My Children
from 1993 to 1996.
Aleksander portrayed Phillip Spaulding
on the daytime drama Guiding Light
from 1982 to 1984. He was temporarily replaced for a time by actor John Bolger
, but returned to Guiding Light from 1986 to 1991, citing exhaustion from being front-burner five days a week for five years. He also dealt with the loss of both of his parents in the early 1990s, and took an extended sabbatical from the show. Aleksander again returned to the show in April 1996, and Phillip was once again involved in front-burner story, with ex-wife Beth, as well as new love interests Harley Cooper and Olivia Spencer.
The announcement in 2004 that Aleksander was let go by the show came as a great shock to fans and to the industry. Media reports speculated on a number of possible reasons, including Aleksander's high salary, and allegations that Aleksander was temperamental or had been feuding with the actress who portrayed his love interest.
It initially appeared that Phillip was murdered the same year, but a subsequent story in 2005 revealed that the character was alive. Subsequent attempts by producers to have him return in 2005 and 2006 did not meet with success.
In late 2008, it was announced by the official Guiding Light website that he would be reprising his role as Phillip Spaulding. Aleksander resumed the role on February 9, 2009.
Aleksander played the bartender at "Mickey's Bar" in the 1986 movie Tough Guys
, starring Burt Lancaster
and Kirk Douglas
. In 2006, he appeared in two motion pictures, The Big Bad Swim
and the American Civil War
film Fields of Freedom.
He was also featured on several episodic television series, mostly in the 1980s and 1990s. His first appearance was in the ABC Afterschool Special
, "A Very Delicate Matter". His guest starring roles include Who's the Boss?
and The Fall Guy
. Aleksander also played Nicholas Drake in the 1986 made-for-TV movie Dark Mansions.
, who played his former love interest, Harley Cooper. He has been nominated for three Daytime Emmy Award
s, including in 2003 and 2004 for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series.
. He is a vegetarian, who is an active member of PETA
(one of the instructional videos on the PETA website features Aleksander, warning people about the dangers of leaving an animal inside a car when temperatures are warm outside.) and known for his activism in animal rights. Grant is a 1978 graduate of McDonogh School
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor.
Early life
Aleksander was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was well known at McDonogh School as both a football player and a thespian. He attended the Washington and Lee UniversityWashington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
. He grew up as the youngest of three brothers.
Career
He is best-known for his work in daytime dramas (soap operas). Among his appearances in daytime are a stint on CapitolCapitol (TV series)
Capitol is an American soap opera which aired on CBS from March 29, 1982 to March 20, 1987 for 1,270 episodes. As its name suggests, the storyline usually revolved around the political intrigues of people whose lives intertwined in Washington D.C....
for the 1986 season as dastardly "DJ Phillips", and the role of "Alec McIntyre" on All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
from 1993 to 1996.
Aleksander portrayed Phillip Spaulding
Phillip Spaulding
Phillip Granville Spaulding is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. The character is the adopted son of business mogul, Alan Spaulding, and his first ex-wife, Elizabeth. Phillip has been portrayed by three different actors with Grant Aleksander the most recent...
on the daytime drama Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
from 1982 to 1984. He was temporarily replaced for a time by actor John Bolger
John Bolger
John Emanuel Bolger is an American actor. He attended Holy Family High School and graduated from Bucknell University in 1977 He was a Dorm Resident Adviser as well as appearing in many campus productions. He also played football was a starting linebacker for the Bucknell Bison...
, but returned to Guiding Light from 1986 to 1991, citing exhaustion from being front-burner five days a week for five years. He also dealt with the loss of both of his parents in the early 1990s, and took an extended sabbatical from the show. Aleksander again returned to the show in April 1996, and Phillip was once again involved in front-burner story, with ex-wife Beth, as well as new love interests Harley Cooper and Olivia Spencer.
The announcement in 2004 that Aleksander was let go by the show came as a great shock to fans and to the industry. Media reports speculated on a number of possible reasons, including Aleksander's high salary, and allegations that Aleksander was temperamental or had been feuding with the actress who portrayed his love interest.
It initially appeared that Phillip was murdered the same year, but a subsequent story in 2005 revealed that the character was alive. Subsequent attempts by producers to have him return in 2005 and 2006 did not meet with success.
In late 2008, it was announced by the official Guiding Light website that he would be reprising his role as Phillip Spaulding. Aleksander resumed the role on February 9, 2009.
Aleksander played the bartender at "Mickey's Bar" in the 1986 movie Tough Guys
Tough Guys
Tough Guys is a 1986 comedy starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallach and Dana Carvey. It was directed by Jeff Kanew.Lancaster and Douglas made several films together, including I Walk Alone , Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , The Devil's Disciple , and Seven Days in May , becoming something...
, starring Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
and Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
. In 2006, he appeared in two motion pictures, The Big Bad Swim
The Big Bad Swim
The Big Bad Swim is a 2006 American independent film about a group of adults who enroll in an adult education beginner's swim class. The film takes place in southeastern Connecticut, in towns like Old Lyme, New London, Essex, and Uncasville. It was directed by Ishai Setton...
and the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
film Fields of Freedom.
He was also featured on several episodic television series, mostly in the 1980s and 1990s. His first appearance was in the ABC Afterschool Special
ABC Afterschool Special
The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were...
, "A Very Delicate Matter". His guest starring roles include Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss?
Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992...
and The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
. Aleksander also played Nicholas Drake in the 1986 made-for-TV movie Dark Mansions.
Awards
Aleksander has been nominated for seven Soap Opera Digest Awards, winning one in 1999, for "Favorite New Couple", with Beth EhlersBeth Ehlers
-Personal life:Born in Queens, New York, Ehlers eventually moved closer to Manhattan and attended Satellite Academy, a performing arts school, as a child. Ehlers briefly attended Syracuse University before focusing on her acting career....
, who played his former love interest, Harley Cooper. He has been nominated for three Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s, including in 2003 and 2004 for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series.
Personal life
Aleksander is married to attorney and former actress, Sherry Ramsey. They currently reside in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He is a vegetarian, who is an active member of PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(one of the instructional videos on the PETA website features Aleksander, warning people about the dangers of leaving an animal inside a car when temperatures are warm outside.) and known for his activism in animal rights. Grant is a 1978 graduate of McDonogh School
McDonogh School
McDonogh School is a private, coeducational, K-12, college-preparatory school founded in Owings Mills, Maryland, USA in 1873.- History :The school was established near Baltimore, Maryland in 1873 and funded by the estate of John McDonogh, a former Baltimore resident, who died in 1850...
.