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Kassie DePaiva

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Kassie DePaiva
DePaiva in 2015
Born
Katherine Virginia Wesley

(1961-03-21) March 21, 1961 (age 63)
Morganfield, Kentucky, U.S.
Alma materIndiana University
UCLA
Occupation(s)Actress and singer
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)
Richard C. Hankins
​
​
(m. 1988; div. 1995)​

​
(m. 1996)​
Children1
Websitekassiedepaiva.com

Katherine Virginia "Kassie" DePaiva (née Wesley; born March 21, 1961)[1] is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing the roles of Chelsea Reardon on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light (1986 to 1991), Blair Cramer on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live (1993 to 2013), and Eve Donovan on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives (2014 to 2020, 2023). She received one Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her role on One Life to Live and two nominations for her role on Days Of Our Lives. DePaiva also starred as Bobby Joe in the horror film Evil Dead II (1986). As a singer, she has released three albums, Naked (2000), No Regrets (2005), and I Want to Love You (2007).

Early life[edit]

DePaiva was born and raised in Morganfield, Kentucky. Her birth name is Katherine Virginia Wesley. She was named after two of her aunts.[2] Her father was a lawyer who practiced all types of law because of the small town they lived in.[3] DePaiva has two older brothers and one younger sister.[4]

In her childhood and teens, she sang in the church choir, participated in school plays, and she was involved in class government. She was voted Most Talented in her high school class. After high school, DePaiva attended Indiana University and worked at Opryland USA in Nashville, Tennessee. She made her professional singing debut at the Grand Ole Opry when she was eighteen years old, singing two songs. She then decided to transfer to UCLA to study theater.[2][1]

Career[edit]

1979-1993: Early work[edit]

While attending UCLA, DePaiva landed her first acting job in a television commercial for Wendy's.[2] She joined a four-part harmony band called Newport. The group performed in the Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas areas. She dropped out of college to travel with Newport on a USO tour of Japan, Korea, and Okinawa. After returning to the United States, DePaiva became a back up singer for Bobby Womack. She joined him on two U.S. tours and one tour of Great Britain.[1]

Returning to acting, DePaiva (then using her maiden name of Wesley) landed the role of Bobby Joe in Evil Dead II.[5] She then joined the cast of the CBS soap opera Guiding Light as Chelsea Reardon, first airing in November 1986. The character was a singer, giving DePaiva the opportunity to perform regularly on the show.[6] After four years, she was dismissed from the series due to lack of storyline, last airing in January 1991.[7]

After leaving Guiding Light, she guest starred in episodes of Time Trax, Melrose Place, and Baywatch. An avid golfer, DePaiva hosted The Pro Shop, a syndicated series about the sport.[1]

1993-2006: One Life to Live[edit]

DePaiva was cast as Blair Cramer on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, first airing December 17, 1993. The role had previously been played by Mia Korf, an Asian-American actress.[8] She received a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Hottest Actress in 1998 for her role on OLTL.[1]

In 2000, DePaiva released her debut album, Naked. She described the music as being very raw and female-oriented.[9] On February 14, 2002, she and her husband, James DePaiva, starred on stage in A. R. Gurney's Love Letters at Jersey Central Theatre.[10][11] In 2005, she released her second album, No Regrets, a collection of pop country songs. She also performed a duet with Jim Brickman on his album, The Disney Songbook, singing "Baby Mine" from Dumbo.[9]

In March 2005, DePaiva received her first Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role on One Life to Live.[12] She co-starred with Jack Scalia in the short film Exit, written and directed by Jamie Duneier.[13] In 2006, she starred in and produced the film Undone, which was directed by her husband, James DePaiva. The film co-starred Heather Tom, Timothy D. Stickney, Forbes March, and Ricky Paull Goldin.[14] She sang Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on A Holiday Affair, an album of classic holiday songs performed by actors from ABC soap operas. She also performed with the ensemble on the closing track, We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The album was promoted with a Soapnet special, A Very Soapy Christmas.[15]

2007-2016: OLTL and Days[edit]

DePaiva released her third album, I Want to Love You, in 2007. She described the album as being more unplugged and bluegrass than her earlier recordings.[9] In 2009, she co-starred with her husband, James DePaiva, in a Time Life infomercial for a CD box set, The Power of Love.[16][17]

Actress Kassie Wesley DePaiva plays charity golf at the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival in Fayetteville, NC. ca 1994
Playing charity golf at the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival in Fayetteville, NC. ca 1994

DePaiva played Blair Cramer on One Life to Live until the final episode aired on ABC in January 2012. That same year, she also made several guest appearances as Blair on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She then played the role in an online revival of OLTL for several months in 2013.[18][19] DePaiva played Emma Parker in the thriller film We Are What We Are in 2013. She co-starred with Julia Garner and Ambyr Childers.[20] In May 2013, she co-starred with her husband, James DePaiva, in the musical 110 in the Shade at the Community School of Naples.[21]

In January 2014, Soap Opera Digest announced that DePaiva had joined the cast of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives as Eve Donovan. The role had previously been played by Charlotte Ross, who left the show in 1991. DePaiva's first airdate was June 18, 2014.[22][23][24] In September 2015, DePaiva announced that she would be leaving Days of Our Lives. Her final airdate was February 2, 2016.[25][26] She received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2016 for her role on Days.[27] DePaiva made a return appearance to Days, airing on December 9, 2016.[28]

2016-present[edit]

In 2016, DePaiva made a guest appearance on Castle, alongside her former One Life to Live co-stars Tuc Watkins and Darlene Vogel. She had worked with the star of the series, Nathan Fillion, when he was a cast member on OLTL in the 1990s.[29]

She returned to Days of Our Lives as Eve Donovan, first airing on October 27, 2017.[30][31] She briefly left the show in October 2018 and returned in December of that year. She once again left the show in December 2019.[32] DePaiva received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2019 for her role on Days.[33] She returned to the show for a few months in 2020.[34]

She appeared in the film Killian & the Comeback Kids in 2020, playing the wife of Nathan Purdee, her former One Life to Live co-star. The film was completed in 2018.[35][36] She co-starred with Wally Kurth in the short film Common as Red Hair in 2022.[37] DePaiva made return appearances to General Hospital as Blair Cramer and Days of Our Lives as Eve Donovan in 2023.[38][39]

Personal life[edit]

In the 1980s, she dated Sam Raimi, who directed her in Evil Dead II. He moved to New York with her in 1986, when she was cast on Guiding Light, and they lived together for four months.[4]

She married Richard C. Hankins, Guiding Light's art director, on September 10, 1988.[40] They divorced in 1995.

DePaiva (then known by her maiden name, Kassie Wesley), first met James DePaiva in the late 1980s at the Whaler Bar in New York, where she was singing. They didn't see each other again until 1993, when she was cast as his love interest, Blair Cramer, on One Life to Live.[41] They were married on May 31, 1996 at the courthouse in her hometown, Morganfield, Kentucky. Kassie has said that she scheduled her wedding in between a dentist appointment and a golf game. They had a more formal ceremony in June 1996 at their home in the Catskills. The second wedding included James' daughter from his previous marriage, who was four years old at the time.[42]

The DePaivas have one child together, son James Quentin (J. Q.) DePaiva, who was born on May 12, 1997.[1] When he was twelve months old, they learned that he had been born with an enlarged vestibular aqueduct, an inner-ear abnormality causing him to be completely deaf.[43] He received his first cochlear implant at eighteen months old and his second at eight years old.[44][43] In 2007, J.Q. had a recurring role on All My Children as Jason. His character appeared on Erica Kane's talk show to help her daughter, Kendall, deal with the hearing loss of her son, Spike.[45]

DePaiva is a board member and fund raiser for the League for the Hard of Hearing, a non profit that aids deaf people and their families. She has crocheted a line of hats, called "Happy Hats", and sold them online, donating the profits to deaf charities. She has also lobbied congress to make hearing tests mandatory for newborns in all fifty states.[43]

In August 2016, DePaiva announced that she had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia the month prior.[46][47] In September 2023, she announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer a year after beginning treatment for leukemia. She is now cancer free.[48]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Evil Dead II Bobby Joe Credited as Kassie Wesley
2005 Exit Andie Short film
2006 Undone Also producer
2008 The Story of Your Life Red Sauce
2013 We Are What We Are Emma Parker
2020 Killian & the Comeback Kids Mrs. Raison
2022 Common as Red Hair Carol Short film

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986-1991 Guiding Light Chelsea Reardon Contract role: October 27, 1986 - January 25, 1991

Credited as Kassie Wesley

1993-2012; 2013 One Life to Live Blair Cramer Contract role: December 17, 1993 - January 13, 2012; April 29 - August 19, 2013

Sometimes credited as Kassie Wesley and Kassie Wesley DePaiva

1993 The Pro Shop Herself (Host) Credited as Kassie Wesley
Time Trax Caitlin Carlisle Episode: "Beautiful Songbird"

Credited as Kassie Wesley

1994 Melrose Place Betty Benson-Chappell Episode: "Reunion Blues"

Credited as Kassie Wesley

Baywatch Crystal Harris Episode: "Western Exposure"

Credited as Kassie Wesley

2012; 2023 General Hospital Blair Cramer Recurring role: March 2, 2012 - December 3, 2012; September 15, 2023
2014-2020; 2023 Days of Our Lives Eve Donovan Contract role; Recurring role: June 18, 2014 – February 2, 2016; September 8 – October 4, 2016; December 9, 2016 – December 12, 2016; October 27, 2017 – December 24, 2019; July 30, 2020 – September 25, 2020; 2023
2016 Castle Joanna Masters Episode: "Witness for the Prosecution"

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • Naked (2000)
  • No Regrets (2005)
  • I Want to Love You (2007)

Other appearances[edit]

  • "Baby Mine" on Jim Brickman's The Disney Songbook. (2005)
  • "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on ABC daytime's A Holiday Affair. (2006)
  • "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Ensemble) on ABC daytime's A Holiday Affair. (2006)

Awards and nominations[edit]

List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1998 Soap Opera Digest Award Hottest Female Star One Life to Live Nominated [1]
2001 Outstanding Lead Actress Nominated
2003 Nominated
2005 Daytime Emmy Award Most Irresistible Combination (shared with Trevor St. John) Nominated [49]
2005 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [50]
2005 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress Nominated
2008 Hoboken International Film Festival Best Actress (Feature Film) Undone Nominated [51]
2016 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Nominated [52]
2019 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [33]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "About the Actors: Kassie DePaiva". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "The 411: Kassie DePaiva". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  3. ^ Davison, Valerie (March 10, 1998). "Heaven & Earth". Soap Opera Weekly. 9 (10): 24–26.
  4. ^ a b Sloane, Alison (May 10, 1994). "Sitting Pretty". Soap Opera Digest. 19 (10): 38–40.
  5. ^ James, Caryn (March 13, 1987). "Film: 'Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 16, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Who's Who in Springfield: Chelsea Reardon". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Kassie Wesley: "Why I'm Leaving Guiding Light"". Soap Opera Digest. 16 (1): 36. January 8, 1991.
  8. ^ "GL Grad is OLTL's New Blair". Soap Opera Digest. 19 (1): 10. January 4, 1994.
  9. ^ a b c "Soap Actress Doubles as Singer in Her Spare Time". The Hartford Courant. July 13, 2006. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Jersey Central Theatre Company: Past Productions". Jersey Central Theatre. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Love Letters Details". Jersey Central Theatre. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Bauder, David (March 3, 2005). "'All My Children' leads Daytime Emmy nominations with 18". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  13. ^ Starr, Michael (March 16, 2005). "The Starr Report". The New York Post. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "One Life to Live's Kassie DePaiva Produces New Film!". Soaps. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew (November 2, 2006). "Brier, Goldsberry and Lucci Featured on ABC Daytime CD "A Holiday Affair"; TV Special, Too". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "One Life to Live's Kassie and James DePaiva For Power of Love!". Soaps. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Gore, Scotty (August 7, 2009). "James & Kassie DePaiva Promote the 'Power of Love'". Soap Opera Network. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 11, 2012). "One Life to Live characters headed to Port Charles". Soap Central. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  19. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 22, 2013). "Prospect Park confirms stars signed for OLTL relaunch". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  20. ^ Rooney, David (January 26, 2013). "We Are What We Are: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "Soap stars step into TheatreZone spotlight". Florida Weekly. April 25, 2013. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kassie DePaiva Joins Days". Soap Opera Digest. January 24, 2014. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  23. ^ Lewis, Errol (January 24, 2014). "Rumor No More: Kassie DePaiva Joins 'Days'". Soap Opera Network. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  24. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 24, 2014). "OLTL fave Kassie DePaiva joins Days". Soap Central. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Kroll, Dan J.; Clifford, Kambra (September 20, 2015). "Kassie DePaiva confirms her exit from Days". Soap Central. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  26. ^ Clifford, Kambra (January 19, 2016). "Kassie DePaiva reveals final Days airdate". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  27. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners: Complete List". Variety. May 1, 2016. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  28. ^ Clifford, Kambra (November 28, 2016). "Confirmed: Kassie DePaiva returns to Days next month". Soap Central. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  29. ^ Webb Mitovich, Matt (November 6, 2015). "Castle Hosts OLTL Reunion With Guest Stars Kassie DePaiva, Tuc Watkins". TV Line. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  30. ^ "Kassie DePaiva Dishes Days Return". Soap Opera Digest. October 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  31. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (October 7, 2017). "Kassie DePaiva returns to Days of our Lives this month". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  32. ^ Clifford, Kambra (December 20, 2019). "Kassie DePaiva exits Days of our Lives, shares goodbye to fans on social media". Soap Central. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Turchiano, Danielle (March 20, 2019). "2019 Daytime Emmy Nominees Announced". Variety. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  34. ^ Clifford, Kambra (August 28, 2020). "Kassie DePaiva wraps her Days of our Lives run, thanks fans for taking the "bumpy ride"". Soap Central. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  35. ^ Miller, Rudy (August 30, 2017). "Find out how to get on screen in an independent movie". lehighvalleylive.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "Soap Vets Star In New Film". Soap Opera Digest. February 15, 2018. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  37. ^ Smith, Sherrie (May 1, 2024). "Days/GH star Wally Kurth tackles difficult subject in new film". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  38. ^ Masters, Liz (September 15, 2023). "Kassie DePaiva shares details of her return to daytime and reuniting with old friends and co-stars". Soap Central. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  39. ^ Clark, Tanya (August 30, 2023). "Daytime Alum Kassie DePaiva Brings Blair Cramer To Port Charles!". soapoperaspy.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  40. ^ "Stars' Real-Life Weddings". Soap Opera Digest. 14 (6). March 21, 1989.
  41. ^ "Playing By Heart". Soap Opera Digest. 24 (3). February 9, 1999.
  42. ^ "As the Bells Ring". People. 23: 143. February 10, 1997.
  43. ^ a b c Bernstein, Joshua M. (March 4, 2007). "Silent struggle: Soap actress helps battle hearing loss". The New York Daily News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  44. ^ Hoffman, Barbara (October 24, 2000). "A Fate Worse Than Deaf? - Controversy Over 'Miracle' Ear Devices". The New York Post. Archived from the original on April 13, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  45. ^ "JQ DePaiva's Acting Debut". Soap Opera Digest. September 4, 2007. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  46. ^ Sblendorio, Peter (August 25, 2016). "Soap opera star Kassie DePaiva battling leukemia: 'I consider this just a bump in the road'". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  47. ^ "ICYMI Kassie DePaiva Interview". Soap Opera Digest. May 17, 2017. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  48. ^ Speakman, Kimberlee (September 16, 2023). "Soap Star Kassie DePaiva Reveals She Was Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Shortly After Battle with Leukemia". People. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  49. ^ "Viewer's Favorite Award for Most Irresistible Combination". CBS. Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  50. ^ "Daytime Emmy Award Nominations". TVWeek. Detroit, Michigan: Crain Communications. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  51. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2008". New York: hobokeninternationalfilmfestival.com. 2014. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  52. ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 24, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.

External links[edit]

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