February 2009
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The Erika Slezak Fan Club, in its 37th year, presents... February 2009 Off the Cuff Dear Friends, February 16, 2009 Our fan club celebrated 37 years last month, making it the longest running active fan club in daytime history! I’m very proud of this accomplishment too. Thanks so much to our wonderful staff, AJ and Kit, and of course to Erika, who has kept my interest Erika Slezak Official Fan Club all these years – even when the stories haven’t been there. [email protected] We’ve lost two giants in daytime recently – Clint Ritchie and Phil Carey. Both were Website wonderful actors, who truly made their characters come to life. I always believed that www.erikaslezak.com Clint Ritchie was Clint Buchanan. And his scenes with Erika always worked. I was especially impressed with Clint when he showed his tender side. All those shows when Clint was trying to get Viki back from her breakdown are so memorable. I remember when the club was doing a 20th Anniversary Tribute Book for Erika. I had Erika’s World Staff not received anything from Clint, however, right before our deadline, my phone rang and it was Clint, who proceeded to read me the nicest tribute to Erika that you could Honorary President Erika Slezak ever imagine. He said he had been working on it, and wanted it to be perfect. That’s the man I remember. Clint, please know that your contribution to One Life to Live will President & Publisher be forever with us. And while I never had any encounters with Phil Carey, everyone Walter Miller, Jr. knew who Phil was. He was larger than life, and I suppose much like Asa. We can’t forget that Phil had a very successful career as a film actor before joining OLTL. I Editor AJ remember enjoying him in Calamity Jane with one of my all time favorites, Doris Day. And I’m a huge Lucille Ball fan, so I remember when Phil guest starred in an Assistant Editor episode of Lucy’s second series, “The Lucy Show.” I had seen Phil at the studio Kathryn [Kit] Williams many times, but never had the opportunity to introduce myself. I now wish I had. Many fans have emailed regarding their disappointment with the lack of story for Erika, and I’m certainly in agreement with all of you. It seems that all Viki has been doing lately has been dispensing advice. Erika seems optimistic however, so let’s hope things change fast. Founded January 1972 Take care, Walter © 2009 Erika’s World All rights reserved. No text may be reproduced without written permission. © 2009Erika’s World 1 February 2009 ask Erika Telephone interview February 13 loop with the death of Clint Ritchie [ex-Clint] and Phil Carey Last time we spoke was right before Super [Asa] within a week of each Soap – how was that? I tell you what, it was other. Phil's memorial is tonight fun. I'm sad that it was the last one. People in New York, so we are all enjoy it so much. It is a really nice break for the going. His wife asked me to say actors that go down there. It is fun, you are in the a few words, which I am warm weather – and meeting all of the people is honored to do. I'm sure it will be terrific. It's humbling – people are so sweet and a funny memorial because Phil so nice. I'm sorry that it is the last one. was nothing if not funny. If they told all of the What is this new thing that they are talking Philly stories collected in the world, we would be about, Soap Nation? They are talking about there until next year. I think it will be fine, and doing this sort of wandering Super Soap, where then there is a reception afterwards at O'Neils, they are going to have people travel to various which will be fun too. cities, rather than ask that Whom does he leave everyone come to Florida. a viki moment to remember behind? He had two families Why are they doing this? I – obviously, Colleen his wife, don't know – I really don't know. and Sean and Shannon, his It was a successful event but I children. Shannon will be 29, think cost wise, it probably wasn't or actually I think she turns 30 very good. You know, everything in June – and I'm not sure comes down to money. how old Sean is. I think he's his mid 20's. And then Phil Right, and with the economy had 3 children by his first wife. the way it is… Yes. Though I I don't know if they are going don't even think the economy to be there. Colleen is the was the reason, because they one who was with him for 38 Paris, TX Llanview style had decided last year that this (before “Llanview 90210”) years. was going be the last one. Even though he had lung Well, the attendance was large! Yes. cancer and had been ill, was it a surprise? It was a surprise because he seemed to be doing The fans were great. Yes, they were just well. I mean he was in the studio a little over a wonderful. month ago taping that last thing. I had a long talk Now, your whole family came with you. Yes, I with Colleen on Saturday morning and she said dragged my whole family down there – kicking he seemed to be doing fine and it was just the and screaming – no, they had a wonderful time – last two days that he went downhill. She said what's not to like – you get to spend three or four they had obviously been expecting it for three days in Disneyworld – it's fantastic. years because of the lung cancer. Last Thanksgiving, I think they told him the chemo Did you spend extra time there? Yes, we did. wasn't working anymore. And so they were It ended on Sunday but we stayed until Tuesday, expecting it but when it happened – it happened so we had an extra day at the park. so suddenly. The weather was cold. It was cooler than last Did he know that Clint had passed by the time year, but it was nice and comfortable. he died? I don't know the details. Woodsy [Bob Woods – Bo] went to see him a lot – Bob was And how is Brian doing? Brian is terrific, thank very close to Phil. He did visit and I think he did you. He's absolutely fine, and everything is going well. Obviously, we were all knocked for a (Continued on page 3) © 2009Erika’s World 2 February 2009 ask erika (Continued from page 2) email from Erin Torpey [ex-Jessica] where she tell him but we don't know how much he said he was a very warm and loving man – that's remembered because he was a little out of it the what she remembers very fondly. last days – that's what I heard. Very sad. Very. I talked to his niece and his My goodness, and with sister yesterday. Clint, that was a surprise. That was a shock – because How are they doing? Well, I guess ok. I didn't he hadn't been ill, although know them. I had sent a funeral wreath to the they said he had pneumonia viewing and they called to thank me. It was very I think. He was in the nice to talk to them – to say how sorry I am. hospital and they discovered I think some of the best scenes with you and his heart beat was very Clint are the tender scenes with Viki. It is irregular and low. They said what stands out in my mind. He could be he had to have a pacemaker. So they put in the incredibly good and touching. pacemaker but he had a blood clot and apparently the blood clot was pushed to the Exactly that's the word I was looking for. brain by the pacemaker. But he was in a coma Really touching – it was a gift. and unconscious – they operated on him I believe but he never woke up – he died very Clint will be missed and Phil – my goodness, peacefully. both within a week. Yes. How sad though. Stunning. He was only 70. When was the last time you had contact with Clint? Well, I always send him Christmas cards. But the last time I saw him was the last he was back. I think that was when Viki had the heart transplant. I think that was the last time he worked on the show. What memories of Clint come to mind? You know at this point, you only remember funny and good things. We had a good time – we worked Obviously the show can't do any tributes for 20 years and he was a very because Asa is dead and Clint is now played funny guy. We laughed a lot. by Jerry Ver Dorn. What they do, at least what He could be rude, he could be they have done in the past, is that they dedicate delightful, he could be a show to the person who has passed away. At obnoxious – you know, all of the end of that show they put up the card, and the things that all of us are. they take 15-20 seconds from the show time, But I remember him being and they do a tribute that way.