In Memoriam: Passions’s David Bailey
The New Jersey-born actor was best known in daytime for his role as sweet patriarch Russ Matthews on ANOTHER WORLD, a role he portrayed off and on from 1973-92. He also played Teddy Malcolm on RYAN’S HOPE (1988-89), Tony Monroe on WHERE THE HEART IS (1969-70) and Dr. David Amherst in TEMPERATURES RISING (1972-73). His stage credits include Pal Joey, Thief River, Camping with Henry and Tom, The Sisters Rosensweig, Shadowlands, A Hatful of Rain, Orphans, Light Up the Sky, The Price, Death Trap and I Ought To Be In Pictures. In addition, Bailey was a founding member of the Black Book Theatre Company, through which he created the Discovery Workshop. His most recent plays, which he wrote and directed, were Are you Listening? and Your Place or Mine? which were produced at the Creative Place Theatre in N.Y.C. He was first seen on PASSIONS in September, when the soap finally showed Alistair’s face.
Richard Steinmetz (Martin, PASSIONS) said of his late co-star, “When [I found out he died], I could not believe what I heard. He was strong and virile. The last scene he did was with me, our characters were fighting and having a good fight. We would have good, strong, physical fights, which was a lot of fun for both of us. We didn’t use stunt people, either. Just him and me used to do our own stuff. He fought hard. I never knew he was 71; never even thought about what his age would’ve been. If I had to guess, I would’ve guessed like 62, maybe.
“I find myself thinking about him a lot. He reminded me a lot of Lee J. Cobb from Death of a Salesman because Lee J. Cobb was a real man’s man, which is what my father was. There were a lot of things about David that reminded me of my own father, which is strong and virile and a gruffy man. I like that kind of person. I adored the guy. Working with him was always a blast.
“His scenes [that aired after he died] with Beth were terrific. I loved them! They were funny, and [Alistair] has that lecherous thing where he just wants to take her down on the spot. I was laughing out loud watching those two.
“He is going to be tremendously missed on our show. He will always be missed. I did think the world of the guy, that’s for damn sure. He was full of life every minute he was on the show; he had a great energy about him.”
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