Phil Carey
ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE
SOAP STAR STATS
Phil Carey (ex-Asa, OLTL)
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Phil Carey (ex-Asa, OLTL)
— ABC
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Vital Statistics
- Birthday:
- July 15, 1925
- Spouse:
- Colleen (1974-present)
The 411
Phil Carey grew up in suburban Long Island in the towns of Malverne and Rosedale. He knew he wanted to be an actor at a very young age and studied drama at the University of Miami. His big break came during a summer stock production of Over 21, when a Warner Brothers rep saw him and arranged for his first screen test.
And though daytime viewers may think of Carey solely as the ornery, much-married Asa Buchanan on OLTL, as he has played that role since 1979, Carey has been a working actor since 1951. His impressive rèsumè boasts countless movies — many Westerns — and a list of Hollywood legends as co-stars including Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Doris Day, Gary Cooper and Peter Fonda. He's been directed by John Ford, Russ Meyer and Jonathan Demme. During his stint on OLTL he's nabbed several SOAP OPERA DIGEST Award nominations: 1993 (Outstanding Villain), 1994 (Outstanding Scene Stealer), 1997 (Outstanding Male Showstopper), 1999 (Outstanding Male Scene Stealer).
Carey took a hiatus from OLTL in 2006 to seek treatment for lung cancer and returned in October. Earlier this year, he opted not to appear on a recurring basis and left the show, although he will appear in three episodes airing in November.
Et Cetera
—He was born Eugene Carey in Hackensack, N.J.
—He is 6 feet 4 inches tall
—He is a former Marine, having served in both World War II and the Korean War
Career Highlights
Notable TV Roles
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (1979) (Commander Kaiser) (as Phillip Carey) in episode: "The Halloween Dream"
THE BIONIC WOMAN (1976) (Major Andrews) in episode: "The Vega Influence"
MCCLOUD (1975) (Howard Barnett) in episode: "The Man with the Golden Hat"
IRONSIDE (1968) (Dick Richards) in episode: "Barbara Who"
THE VIRGINIAN (1965) (Captain Edward Parmalee) in episode: "We've Lost a Train"
77 SUNSET STRIP (1963) (Charles 'Brick' Garrett) in episode: "Flight 307"
CHEYENNE (1962) (Marshal Frank Nolan) in episode: "Johnny Brassbuttons"
THE RIFLEMAN (1961) (Dr. Simon Battle) in episode: "Death Trap"
THE FORD TELEVISION THEATRE (1948) in episode: "The Trestle"
Notable Film Roles
Fighting Mad (1976) (Pierce Crabtree)
Rebel Rousers (1970) (Rebel)
The Time Travelers (1964) (Dr. Steve Connors)
Port Afrique (1956) (Rip Reardon)
Mister Roberts (1955) (Mannion)
Calamity Jane (1953)(Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin)
Memorable Quotes
"I never expected daytime to be quite this rigorous. It's the hardest work an actor can ask for -- harder than anything." —Soap Opera Digest, 11/11/1980
"I'm happy in New York. I think we're organized so much better than any other city or town I've ever seen. The police, the fire department, my hat's off to them." —Digest, 6/25/2002
"Do not unpack. There's no way I will ever last at this thing. I can't memorize this garbage."—what he told his wife after his first day on OLTL, to Digest 8/31/1999
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