One Life to Live Cast

Versatility and the One Life to Live Cast

The One Life to Live cast features some of the best actors on daytime drama. The show focuses on the families and relationships of the wealthy Buchanans, Cramers, and the blue collar Vegas. The show also deals with mental illness and how it affects not only the individual, as in the case of Viki and her alter ego Niki, but also the heritability of the problems. Viki has battled dissociative identity disorder for decades, and the condition has now affected her daughter Jessica, who has developed the alter ego Tess.

Slezak’s powerful performances have driven the daytime drama for more than three decades and provided inspiration for her co-workers. Bree Williamson’s performance as Jessica and Tess were a page right out of Slezak’s book and long-time viewers felt Viki’s pain as she recognized her own illness in the eyes of her daughter.

Meet the Cast of One Life to Live

The cast of One Life to Live features some of the best actors on daytime television as well as a few bonafide Broadway stars.

Trevor St. John

Trevor St John took over the role of Todd Manning from the enormously popular Roger Howarth. Todd’s violent past on the show, including his participation in the date rape of Marty Saybrooke, left fans breathless with his range, so St John needed to fill big shoes. St John arrived on the show in the role of Walker Laurence, a ruse he used to protect his family. However, he could not stay away from Blair (Kassie DePaiva). When uncovered as Todd, all hell broke loose in Llanview. St. John delivers a more mature Todd Manning without losing the inner demons that have driven the character for more than 15 years. St John has also appeared on the big screen in the films The Kingdom and The Bourne Ultimatum.

Robert S. Woods

In 1979, Robert S. Woods created the role of Bo Buchanan, the second son of patriarch Asa Buchanan. Woods served in Vietnam as a Green Beret. He's worked in various acting opportunities over the last three decades including a part in the mini-series War and Rememberance. Bo's romances with Cassie, Nora and Sarah were all enormously popular with the fans of the daytime drama.

Kathy Brier

Kathy Brier began her tenure on One Life to Live in 2002 in the role of Marcie Walsh. Brier's performance as Marcie earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2004 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Brier also appeared as Tracy Turnblad in the Broadway musical Hairspray.

Kristen Alderson

Kristen Alderson began her role as Starr Manning in 1998 at the age of 7. The young actress charmed viewers as the troubled daughter of Blair Cramer and Todd Manning. Alderson's also been featured in the Broadway musical Annie as the character Molly. In 2005, Alderson received a Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Teen.

Kassie DePaiva

Kassie DePaiva began her tenure on daytime as Chelsea Reardon on Guiding Light. In 1993, she joined One Life to Live as Kassie Cramer. Kassie was paired with Max Holden and Todd Manning. Her relationship with Roger Howarth's and later Trevor St John's Todd is a huge favorite with the fans. DePaiva sang for a year in Nashville and is very popular with her fans for her rich voice and delivery of beautiful songs. She is married to James DePaiva (formerly Max Holden).

Hillary B. Smith

Hillary B. Smith made her mark in daytime by playing strong female characters first as Kit McCormick on The Doctors and later as Margo Hughes on As The World Turns. In 1992, Smith originated the role of Nora Hanen Gannon Buchananon (yes they rhyme) on One Life to Live. Nora's work as the district attorney landed Smith front and center as she participated in the prosecution of the Marty Saybrooke rape trial. Her pairing with Woods' Bo Buchanan remains popular.