Jacklyn Zeman
ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE
SOAP STAR STATS
Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie, GH)
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Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie, GH)
— ABC
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Vital Statistics
- Birthday:
- March 6
- Marital Status:
- Wed real estate developer Glenn Gorden on Valentine's Day 1988. Previously wed to Steve Gribbin (1985-'86) and disc jockey Murray "The K" Kaufman
- Children:
- Daughters Cassidy Zee, born Sept. 16, 1990, and Lacey Rose, born July 15, 1992
- Years On Show:
- 1977-present
The 411
Jacklyn Zeman was born in Englewood, N.J. At the age of 15, she completed her high school studies and moved to the Big Apple on a dance scholarship from New York University. Her interest in dancing soon expanded to acting and three months after enrolling in a drama school that specialized in acting for the small screen, Zeman landed her first major soap role in 1976 as ONE LIFE TO LIVE's drug-addicted Lana McClain.
After Lana's untimely end, Zeman headed to Los Angeles to create the role of Bobbie Spencer, Luke's hooker-with-a-heart-of gold sister, in 1977. Daytime Emmy nominations came in 1981, 1995 and 1997 as supporting actress and in 1998 as lead actress. Zeman's Bobbie was involved in arguably one of the most moving daytime stories of the 1990s — the heart transplant story when B.J. (Bobbie's daughter) was killed in a bus accident and her ailing cousin Maxie got her heart. As a result of this story, Zeman became involved in supporting public awareness programs for organ donors.
In addition to her work on television, Zeman has performed in off-Broadway and community productions including Come Blow Your Horn, Barefoot in the Park and The Boyfriend. Her feature film credits include National Lampoon's Class Reunion and The Day the Music Died. She received critical acclaim for her starring role in the ABC Afterschool Special MONTANA CROSSROADS.
Zeman's longtime interest in fitness and beauty has segued into involvements in infomercials, exercise videos, beauty products, jewelry and books including the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook and Beauty on the Go. She also supports a number of causes including the Leukemia Foundation (her father died of the disease) and the American Heart Association.
Et Cetera
— Was a Playboy bunny
— Briefly majored in premed at New York University
— Graduated from high school at 15.
— Played a soap nurse on an episode of CHICAGO HOPE
— was named Left-hander's Society's Outstanding Left-hander of the Year Award
Career Highlights
Other Soap Roles
ONE LIFE TO LIVE, (Lana McClain) 1976-'77
EDGE OF NIGHT, 1976 (Bobbi, a stewardess)
Memorable Quotes
"I'm gonna jeopardize my marriage and my children and my family for a shtup? That's when I got concerned." —on Bobbie's affair with Damian Smith, Soap Opera Weekly, 10/15/1995
"In Bobbie's divorces she didn't ask for anything and that's because of having been a hooker. She doesn't ever want to feel she's been bought and paid for." —Weekly, 12/30/97
"I resisted the idea of having children because I knew I hadn't met the right person. I know a lot of single moms who do it and do it wonderfully well, and I'm amazed. That would be hard for me." —Weekly, 10/15/1995
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