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Kassie DePaiva JPI LARGE

Kassie DePaiva

Role Blair, OLTL

Show One Life To Live

The 411

BIRTHDATE: March 21

BIRTHPLACE: Morganfield, Kentucky

STAR SIGN: Aries

YEARS ON SHOW: 1993-present

MARITAL STATUS: Married to James DePaiva (ex-Max, OLTL) since 1996

CHILDREN: James Quentin (J.Q.), born in 1997, and stepdaughter Dreama, born in 1992


BIRTHDATE: March 21
BIRTHPLACE: Morganfield, Kentucky
STAR SIGN: Aries
YEARS ON SHOW: 1993-present
MARITAL STATUS: Married to James DePaiva (ex-Max, OLTL) since 1996
CHILDREN: James Quentin (J.Q.), born in 1997, and stepdaughter Dreama, born in 1992

Kassie DePaiva's interest in the arts started when she was still in grade school. She first took to the stage when she was in the fifth grade. Throughout her childhood and teen years, she continued to sing in her church choir, participate in school plays and she was involved in class government. After graduating high school, DePaiva attended Indiana University and worked at Opryland in Nashville, TN. She then debuted as a singer at the Grand Ole Opry at just 18 years old. Soon after, she went to California (and the University of California, Los Angeles) to pursue acting and landed the first job she auditioned for — a Wendy's ad. During this time, DePaiva joined a singing group called Newport, which gave her the opportunity to perform all over Asia. She also sang backup for Bobby Womack.

In 1986, DePaiva returned to acting, playing Bobbie Joe in the horror flick Evil Dead II. Shortly after the movie wrapped, she debuted as GUIDING LIGHT's good girl, Chelsea Reardon. She played the role until 1991, then left to make a variety of prime-time appearances. DePaiva came back to daytime in 1993, when she took over the part of OLTL's Blair from Mia Korf. Despite looking nothing like her predecessor, who was of Asian descent, DePaiva quickly gained fans. She and her co-star, James DePaiva (ex-Max), fell in love and wed on May 31, 1996. The next May, the DePaivas welcomed their first child together, James Quentin (J.Q.; James has a daughter, Dreama, from his previous marriage). Upon learning that their son had a hearing deficiency, J.Q. received a cochlear implant. The DePaivas became active in the League for the Hard of Hearing.

While consistently enjoying front-burner status on OLTL, she has also continued to pursue her singing career. In addition to performing on the show once in a while, she has put out several CDs, which can be purchased on her Web site, www.kassiedepaiva.com. She also performs around the country with The Divas of Daytime TV, her group with fellow daytime stars Bobbie Eakes (Krystal) and Kathy Brier (ex-Marcie, OLTL).

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Random facts

  • Kassie is short for Katherine, and her middle name is Virginia; she was named for two of her aunts.
  • In addition to singing and acting, DePaiva also enjoys painting.
  • Voted "Most Talented" in her high school class.
  • Favorite movies are The Sound of Music and Gone With the Wind.
  • Childhood heroine is Mary Tyler Moore.

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