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PROFILE

Laurence Lau

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SOAP STAR STATS

Laurence Lau (ex-Brian, ATWT)

— JPI

Vital Statistics

BIRTHDATE:: May 10
BIRTHPLACE:: Long Beach, CA
STAR SIGN:: Taurus
MARITAL STATUS:: Single
YEARS ON SHOW:: September 2008-January 2009; briefly returns in March.

THE 411

Laurence Lau was born in Long Beach, California and raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He began his college years at Columbia University where here was at the top of his class, majoring in finance. After taking a film appreciation course for fun, he "got the bug" then transferred to Utah's Brigham Young University, where he decided on a career in theater. After appearing in several plays in Utah, Lau decided to move to Hollywood. Some of his first roles were short stints on several TV series, including EIGHT IS ENOUGH, THE WALTONS and HAPPY DAYS. His big break came in 1981 when he was cast as heartthrob Greg Nelson on ALL MY CHILDREN. He was paired with Kim Delaney's character Jenny, and the duo went on to make soap history as one of the show's most beloved couples. Lau left AMC in 1986 for ANOTHER WORLD, where he starred as Dr. James "Jamie" Frame, opposite Anne Heche.

Lau left the soap world in 1990 to pursue other ventures. Over a decade later he made his return to daytime on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. He stepped into the part of Sam Rappaport, replacing actor Kale Brown, who played his father-in-law, Michael Hudson, on AW. Lau stayed on in Llanview until 2003, when he left to go back to his theater roots.

Lau has made a name for himself on stage both domestically and abroad, as well as in primetime TV. He has starred in more than 10 plays and has had roles in television series such as FRASIER, LAW & ORDER and JAG.

On May 20, 2008, Lau returned to ALL MY CHILDREN for a week as Greg Nelson to catch up with old pals Jesse and Angie Hubbard (who had just returned to the show) and brother-in-law Tad Martin.

Also in 2008, he accepted an offer to join AS THE WORLD TURNS as Brian Wheatley, a role that stirred controversy as the closeted Brian married Lucinda Walsh and harbored secret feelings for her grandson, Luke.

Lau currently lives in New York City.

ET CETERA

Five Random Facts
—He has a first-degree black belt in karate.
—Some of his favorite hobbies include jogging, skiing and horseback riding.
—He is still good friends with Barbara Garrick (ex-Allison, OLTL).
—He appeared in a Campbell's Select Soup commercial in 2005 with John Lithgow.
—He is a major Alfred Hitchcock fan. His favorites include North By Northwest and Notorious.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

OTHER SOAP ROLES
ONE LIFE TO LIVE (Sam, 2001-2003)
ANOTHER WORLD (Jamie, 1986-1990)
ALL MY CHILDREN (Greg, 1981-1986; 2008)

MOVIE ROLES
The Awakening (Will, 2005)
Franklin Charter (Larry, 2005)
Slow Moe (Coach Kerr, 2005)
Jumping For Joy (Will, 2002)
The Penny Promise (George, 2001)
Return To The Secret Garden (Tom, 2000)

TV ROLES
LAW & ORDER (Pancho, 2004)
JAG (Lawrence, 2000)
MARTIAL LAW (2000)
BRIMSTONE (Brad, 1999)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (Greg, 1998)
MIKE HAMMER (Deputy, 1998)
FRASIER (Steven, 1998)
THE LOVE BOAT (1982)
TOUGH GIRL (Wally, 1981)
THE BEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE WORLD (Mark, 1981)
HAPPY DAYS (Phil, 1981)
THE WALTONS (Young G.I., 1980)
EIGHT IS ENOUGH (Larry, 1980)

THEATER ROLES
Scituate (The Barrow Group Theatre - Main Stage)
Arrivals (Bank Street Theatre)
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (Pennsylvania Center Stage)
Spine (The Barrow Group Theatre)
Breaking Legs (Vienna English Theatre — European Premier)
One (Riverside Theatre — Regional)
The Exonerated (The Culture Project — Bleeker Street Theatre — Off-Broadway)
The Exonerated (National Tour)
The Flid Show (New Directions Theatre — Soho Rep)
The Goat (or who is Sylvia?) (Vienna English Theatre — European Premier)
The Borderland (The Currican Theatre — Off-Off-Broadway)
You're Not My Boyfriend (The Image Theatre — Off-Off-Broadway)
Lou Ann Hampton Lauverty Oberlander (Ensemble Studio Theatre — Off-Off-Broadway)
Peephole (The Inner Space - Off-Off-Broadway)
Seven Comes Eleven (Westbank Theatre — Off-Off-Broadway)
The Wedding (Tribeca Repretory Theatre — Off-Off-Broadway)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Lighthouse Repretory Theatre)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"I just can't believe that it's been about 20 years [laughs]! It's great. I still hear from people who say how much they loved [Greg and Jenny]. I'm thrilled that I got to be a part of that. It was a great time." — Lau told Soap Opera Digest in 2005 about being one of soaps' most popular couples.

"When I was in [the play] A Midsummer Night's Dream, playing Lysander and during the sword first with Demetrius, my sword broke in half, and I had to finish the fight with only half a sword while 500 people laughed their heads off." — Lau told Digest in 2001 about his most embarrassing moment.