In 1983, sometime around my 20th birthday, I met “The Queen of Daytime Television,” soap opera star Mary Stuart. I was a young aspiring actor living in NYC and she was the grande dame of TV’s longest running serial drama, Search for Tomorrow . I landed some extra work on the show that eventually evolved into a small part and I was so besotted with the medium itself that I took on side work in the production office…not only to earn a living, but to be around the excitement of the daily inner workings of the show. I floated between the writing, casting and executive offices learning all aspects of what goes on “behind the scenes.” Mary took notice of my skills on both sides of the camera and offered me yet another side gig: she would give me personal acting coaching in exchange for helping her answer her fan mail and type up the edits of a new play she was writing. How could I refuse!? Mary was not only an esteemed and groundbreaking TV star, she was a fine actress, having gr
The GLAAD Media Awards announced After Forever is one of eight recipients of their Special Recognition Awards. Co-Creator Kevin Spirtas shares, “ After Forever is honored to receive this special recognition from GLAAD. As an independently produced series featuring a story about love and loss for gay men over 50, we enthusiastically share the mission of honest LGBTQ portrayals in the media. This award could not have come at a more sensitive time for us, after losing my co-creator/writing partner, Michael Slade, to cancer just prior to the New Year. Our desire to continue telling these stories is now stronger than ever.”