Michael Zaslow passed away on Sunday, December 6 in New York of complications from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He leaves behind his wife, Susan Hufford, and his daughters, Helena and Marika.
Michael was born on November 1, 1942 in Inglewood, California. His extensive acting credits included appearances on Broadway as well as TV appearances in the original Star Trek series, Spencer for Hire and Law and Order. But Michael was best know for his work on Guiding Light and One Life to Live, for which he received four Daytime Emmy nominations and won the award for Lead Actor in 1994. From 1971 to 1980 and then again from 1989 to 1997, Michael played the role of Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light. In 1997, when the symptoms of his disease became noticable, but before he had be officially diagnosed, Michael was let go from Guiding Light. He found a new home at One Life to Live, where he had previously played the popular character, David Renaldi, from 1983 to 1986. He remained with One Life to Live until his death this past weekend, appearing on the show as recently as December 1.
A public memorial for Michael, sponsored by ZazAngels, will be held on January 25 at the Royale Theather in New York. The event will include a reading of Love Letters, starring Alec Baldwin, and a celebration of Michael Zaslow's life.
Before his death, Michael Zaslow formed ZazAngels to help in the fight to find treatments and a cure for ALS. Donations may be made in Michael's memory at the ZazAngels website. Goodbye Michael, we'll miss you!
, Dan J Kroll/Soap Central
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