Erika SlezakErika Slezak with her father, Walter Slezak, on the set of One Life to Live (1974)Born (1946-08-05) August 5, 1946 (age 79)Hollywood, California, U.S.Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic ArtsOccupationActressYears active1971–presentKnown forVictoria LordTelevisionOne Life to LiveSpouses Robert Daniel Mooney (m. 1968–1971) Brian Dies (m. 1978) Children2Parent(s)Walter Slezak Johanna Van RijinRelativesMargarete Slezak (aunt) Leo Slezak (grandfather)AwardsDaytime Emmy Award (1984, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2005) Soap Opera Digest Award (2002)Websitewww.erikaslezak.com
Erika Slezak (/ˈsleɪzæk/; born August 5, 1946)[1] is an American actress, best known for her role as Victoria "Viki" Lord on the American daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1971 through the television finale in 2012 and again in the online revival in 2013. She is one of the longest-serving serial actors in American media. For her portrayal of Viki, she has won six Daytime Emmy Awards, the most of any daytime drama actress.
Life and career[edit]Slezak was born in Hollywood, California, of Czech, Austrian, German-Jewish and Dutch descent, the daughter of Tony Award-winning Austrian actor Walter Slezak and Johanna "Kaasi" Van Rijn, and the granddaughter of opera tenor Leo Slezak.[1][2] Her godmother was Alma Mahler-Werfel. She was born two months after her grandfather died. Raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Slezak attended high school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Eden Hall in Torresdale, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At age 17, she became one of the youngest individuals ever accepted into London's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, later graduating in 1966.[1] Establishing a noteworthy reputation in theater, she performed in Milwaukee, Chicago and Houston.[citation needed]
One Life to Live[edit] Main article: Victoria LordIn 1971, Slezak auditioned for the role of nurse Mary Kennicott on the ABC soap opera All My Children. She was not cast on that show, but the network offered her the role of Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley on One Life to Live (OLTL).[1] In her 42 years in the role, Slezak won six Daytime Emmy Awards, which is an Emmy record for a female performer.[1]
In 2007, Slezak voiced strong criticism of OLTL's then-head writer, Dena Higley. In the March 2007 edition of Slezak's fan club newsletter, she stated, "Dena doesn't care about the rich history of the show, which is evident in what she writes" and that Higley "wants to write stories that she thinks are interesting but nobody else does."[3] Ron Carlivati was subsequently made co-head writer, with Higley ultimately leing the series in September 2007.
In April 2011, ABC announced that OLTL would be cancelled, with its final airdate in January 2012.[4] However, media company Prospect Park licensed the creative rights to the show from ABC in July 2011 and announced that they would migrate the series to an online format. In September 2011, Slezak confirmed she would be participating in the new version show, along with other regular cast members. The Prospect Park project stalled in November 2011, and OLTL ended its run on ABC as scheduled. In early 2013, Prospect Park announced it was moving forward with their online versions of One Life to Live and All My Children, with Slezak confirmed on board. The revived series, taped in Stamford, Connecticut, premiered on Hulu, Hulu Plus, and iTunes on April 29, 2013, and ran through August 19, 2013.[5][6]
Other projects[edit]Slezak portrayed Jean Roberts in the 1996 television film adaptation of Danielle Steel's novel Full Circle.[1]
In April 2018, Slezak appeared as Dr. Eileen Jacoby on the Fox series The Resident, in the episode "Haunted".[7] In 2019, she starred alongside Jeff Daniels in the drama film Guest Artist, based on the actor's 2006 play of the same name.[8] Later that year, she guest-starred in the CBS police drama Blue Bloods.[9] She returned to series in 2022.[10]
In 2019, Slezak was interviewed for an episode of the ABC news program 20/20 which focused on the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer. Schaeffer had a recurring role on One Life to Live in the mid-1980s.[11]
Personal life[edit]Slezak is married to Brian Dies, and is the mother of two children, Michael and Amanda.[1][12] In 2003, Amanda Dies played a teenaged version of her mother's character Victoria in flashback scenes on One Life to Live.[1] Amanda Dies died on January 29, 2024.[13]
Awards[edit]Slezak has won six Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" out of nine nominations for her role as Victoria. Nominated in 1983, 1988, and 2012, she won in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2005, making the record for most wins by an actress and, along with Justin Deas, is second to 8-time winner Anthony Geary, for the most wins for playing one character. Additionally, Slezak won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Forite Couple with Mark Derwin in 2000.[1]
Daytime Emmy Award wins Year Award 1984 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live[14] 1986 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live[15] 1992 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live[16] 1995 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live[17] 1996 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live[18] 2005 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for One Life to Live[19] Soap Opera Digest Award wins Year Award 2000 Forite Couple for One Life to Live (shared with Mark Derwin)[1] Filmography[edit] Year Title Role Notes 1971–2013 One Life to Live Victoria Lord Series regular 1996 Full Circle Jean Roberts Television film 2001 Special Unit 2 Nick's Mother Episode: "The Years" 2018 The Resident Dr. Eileen Jacoby Episode: "Haunted" 2019 Guest Artist Helen 2019, 2022 Blue Bloods Donna Duvall Episodes: "Identity" and "Nothing Sacred" 2021 Next Stop, Christmas Aunt Myrtle Television film 2025 Song Sung Blue Kris Upcoming References[edit] ^ a b c d e f g h i j "SOAP STAR STATS: Erika Slezak (Viki, OLTL)". SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ "Turner Classic Movies: Biography for Walter Slezak". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2009. ^ "The Erika Slezak Fan Club, in its 35th year, presents... Erika's World" (PDF). March 22, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2007. ^ "ABC EVOLVES THE FACE OF DAYTIME TELEVISION WITH THE LAUNCH OF TWO NEW SHOWS, THE CHEW AND THE REVOLUTION". ABC.com. April 14, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2015. ^ Rice, Lynette (January 22, 2013). "All My Children, One Life to Live update: Who's in for online return". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2015. ^ Logan, Michael (March 25, 2013). "Sneak Peek: Erika Slezak Returns to One Life to Live". TV Guide. Retrieved March 10, 2015. ^ Fairman, Michael (April 16, 2018). "TONIGHT: One Life to Live's Erika Slezak Returns To Television In The Resident". On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018. ^ "OLTL's Erika Slezak stars in new Jeff Daniels film Guest Artist". soapcentral.com. ^ "Erika Slezak talks 'Blue Bloods' on CBS, 'Guest Artist,' success (Includes interview)". www.digitaljournal.com. April 24, 2019. ^ Mistretta, Amy (October 26, 2022). "One Life to Live Legend Announces Her Exciting Return to the Screen". ^ Eades, Chris (April 8, 2019). "Erika Slezak Appears in 20/20 Documentary About Rebecca Schaeffer's Murder". ABC Soaps In Depth. ^ "Amanda Dies, One Life to Live Alum and Daughter of Soap Legend Erika Slezak, Dead at 42". Yahoo Entertainment. January 29, 2024. ^ "Amanda Dies, daughter of 'One Life to Live' actor Erika Slezak, dies at 42". NBC News. January 30, 2024. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1984". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1986". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1992". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1995". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1996". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 2005". SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009. External links[edit] Official website Erika Slezak at IMDb Erika Slezak at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television vteOne Life to Live(1968–2013)CharactersLord family Victor Lord Victoria Lord Meredith Lord Tina Lord Tony Lord Todd Manning Victor Lord, Jr. Richard Abbott Wolek family Larry Wolek Vince Wolek Anna Wolek Daniel Wolek Jenny Wolek Karen Wolek Cramer family Dorian Cramer Lord Blair Cramer Kelly Cramer Adriana Cramer Paul Cramer Buchanan family Asa Buchanan Clint Buchanan Bo Buchanan Cord Roberts Matthew Buchanan Did Vickers Rex Balsom Other Nash Brennan and Jessica Buchanan Todd Manning and Blair Cramer Roxy Balsom Jared Banks Jessica Buchanan Joey Buchanan Kevin Buchanan Natalie Buchanan Nora Buchanan Nash Brennan Skye Chandler Margaret Cochran Cathy Craig Jim Craig Rae Cummings Marco Dane Ben Didson Téa Delgado Echo DiSoy Billy Douglas Destiny Evans Greg Evans Shaun Evans Oliver Fish Robert Ford Hank Gannon Rachel Gannon Carla Gray Sadie Gray Ed Hall Josh Hall Carlo Hesser Max Holden Jeffrey King Mitch Laurence Danielle Manning Irene Manning Jack Manning Starr Manning John McBain Michael McBain Gabrielle Medina Gigi Morasco Shane Morasco Alex Olanov Allison Perkins Lindsay Rappaport Ross Rayburn Riley family Eileen Riley Siegel Joe Riley Sarah Roberts Marty Saybrooke Cole Thornhart Mark Toland Cristian Vega Brad Vernon Marcie Walsh McBain Lists Full character list 1960s–1970s characters 1980s characters 1990s characters 2000s characters 2010s characters Senior cast Erika Slezak Michael Storm Robert S. Woods Philip Carey Patricia Elliott Robin Strasser Peter Bartlett Hillary B. Smith Kassie DePaiva ExecutivesExecutive producers Doris Quinlan (1968–1977) Joseph Stuart (1977–1983) Jean Arley (1983–84) Paul Rauch (1984–1991) Linda Gottlieb (1991–1994) Susan Bedsow Horgan (1994–1996) Maxine Levinson (1996–1997) Jill Farren Phelps (1997–2001) Gary Tomlin (2001–2002) Frank Valentini (2003–2012) Jennifer Pepperman (2013) Head writers Agnes Nixon (creator) Lorraine Broderick Ron Carlivati Craig Carlson John William Corrington Joyce Hooper Corrington Brian Frons Josh Griffith Sam Hall Dena Higley Susan Bedsow Horgan Claire Labine Matthew Labine Leah Laiman Pamela K. Long Michael Malone Megan McTish Peggy O'Shea Jean Passanante Thom Racina Gordon Russell S. Michael Schnessel Henry Slesar Peggy Sloane Gary Tomlin Frank Valentini Christopher Whitesell Storylines 1968–1979 1980–1989 1990–1999 2000–2013 Todd Manning and Marty Saybrooke rape storylines Depiction of rape in One Life to Live Related Llanview Cast members Crew members ABC Daytime Prospect Park Category vteDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Elizabeth Hubbard (1974) Susan Flannery (1975) Helen Gallagher (1976) Helen Gallagher (1977) Laurie Heineman (1978) Irene Dailey (1979) Judith Light (1980) Judith Light (1981) Robin Strasser (1982) Dorothy Lyman (1983) Erika Slezak (1984) Kim Zimmer (1985) Erika Slezak (1986) Kim Zimmer (1987) Helen Gallagher (1988) Marcy Walker (1989) Kim Zimmer (1990) Finola Hughes (1991) Erika Slezak (1992) Linda Dano (1993) Hillary B. Smith (1994) Erika Slezak (1995) Erika Slezak (1996) Jess Walton (1997) Cynthia Watros (1998) Susan Lucci (1999) Susan Flannery (2000) Martha Byrne (2001) Susan Flannery (2002) Susan Flannery (2003) Michelle Stafford (2004) Erika Slezak (2005) Kim Zimmer (2006) Maura West (2007) Jeanne Cooper (2008) Susan Haskell (2009) Maura West (2010) Laura Wright (2011) Heather Tom (2012) Heather Tom (2013) Eileen Didson (2014) Maura West (2015) Mary Beth Evans (2016) Gina Tognoni (2017) Eileen Didson (2018) Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (2019) Heather Tom (2020) Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (2021) Mishael Morgan (2022) Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (2023) Michelle Stafford (2024) Authority control databases InternationalISNIVIAFWorldCatNationalUnited StatesFranceBnF dataSpain