Don Hastings
Encyclopedia
Donald Francis Hastings is a longtime American
actor
, singer, and writer best known for his 50-year role as Dr. Robert "Bob" Hughes
" on the soap opera
As the World Turns
. Hastings has been active in show business (radio/theater) since 1940 and active on television since 1947.
's teenaged companion, the Video Ranger, on the DuMont
television series Captain Video and His Video Rangers
, from 1949 to 1955. He portrayed one of television's first superheroes designed to appeal to children.
Hastings appeared from 1956 to 1960 as Jack Lane on the soap opera
The Edge of Night
. He played Bob Hughes on As the World Turns from October 1960 until the show's final airing in September 2010 where he spoke the series' final lines "Goodnight."
Hastings ranks third behind actresses Helen Wagner
and Eileen Fulton
in having played the same role for the longest time on television. He did hold the record as the longest continuous actor in the history of television serials until November 2010, shortly after As the World Turns ended. William Roache
, who plays Ken Barlow on the British soap Coronation Street
, is now the record-holder, having played Ken Barlow since the first episode of Coronation Street in December 1960, two months after Hastings took over the role of Bob Hughes
. Neither actor has taken a break during their tenures. The Guinness Book of Records states that the non-continuous record is held by Helen Wagner
, who played Nancy Hughes on the same soap opera, As the World Turns
, from April 2, 1956 until her death in May 2010. Wagner left between 1981 and 1985. Eileen Fulton
has also left the series three times, only to return in later years.
Hastings is also a screenwriter and wrote dialogue for both As the World Turns and The Guiding Light under the name J. J. Matthew.
He is the younger brother of actor Bob Hastings
. Hastings lives in Upstate New York with his second wife, actress Leslie Denniston with whom he has a daughter, Kate. Hastings also has two daughters and one son from a previous marriage. His son Matthew has been active in show business as a writer/director and producer since 1999.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, singer, and writer best known for his 50-year role as Dr. Robert "Bob" Hughes
Bob Hughes
Dr. Robert "Bob" Hughes. M.D. is a fictional character on the American soap opera, As the World Turns. Bob was played by actor Don Hastings from October 1960 until the series' final episode on September 17, 2010...
" on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
. Hastings has been active in show business (radio/theater) since 1940 and active on television since 1947.
Career
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Hastings played Captain VideoCaptain Video
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television...
's teenaged companion, the Video Ranger, on the DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
television series Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Captain Video
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast on the DuMont Television Network, and was the first series of its kind on American television...
, from 1949 to 1955. He portrayed one of television's first superheroes designed to appeal to children.
Hastings appeared from 1956 to 1960 as Jack Lane on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
. He played Bob Hughes on As the World Turns from October 1960 until the show's final airing in September 2010 where he spoke the series' final lines "Goodnight."
Hastings ranks third behind actresses Helen Wagner
Helen Wagner
Helen Wagner was an American actress. Born in Lubbock, Texas, she is best known for her long running role as Nancy Hughes McClosky on the soap opera As the World Turns. Wagner also played the role of Trudy Bauer during the initial TV years of Guiding Light in the early 1950s...
and Eileen Fulton
Eileen Fulton
Eileen Fulton is an American actress.Fulton is known for her role as Lisa Grimaldi on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, a role that she played almost continuously for 50 years from May 18, 1960 until the show's cancellation on September 17, 2010.-As the...
in having played the same role for the longest time on television. He did hold the record as the longest continuous actor in the history of television serials until November 2010, shortly after As the World Turns ended. William Roache
William Roache
William Patrick Harry Roache MBE is a British actor, best known for his role as Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street...
, who plays Ken Barlow on the British soap Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, is now the record-holder, having played Ken Barlow since the first episode of Coronation Street in December 1960, two months after Hastings took over the role of Bob Hughes
Bob Hughes
Dr. Robert "Bob" Hughes. M.D. is a fictional character on the American soap opera, As the World Turns. Bob was played by actor Don Hastings from October 1960 until the series' final episode on September 17, 2010...
. Neither actor has taken a break during their tenures. The Guinness Book of Records states that the non-continuous record is held by Helen Wagner
Helen Wagner
Helen Wagner was an American actress. Born in Lubbock, Texas, she is best known for her long running role as Nancy Hughes McClosky on the soap opera As the World Turns. Wagner also played the role of Trudy Bauer during the initial TV years of Guiding Light in the early 1950s...
, who played Nancy Hughes on the same soap opera, As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
, from April 2, 1956 until her death in May 2010. Wagner left between 1981 and 1985. Eileen Fulton
Eileen Fulton
Eileen Fulton is an American actress.Fulton is known for her role as Lisa Grimaldi on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns, a role that she played almost continuously for 50 years from May 18, 1960 until the show's cancellation on September 17, 2010.-As the...
has also left the series three times, only to return in later years.
Hastings is also a screenwriter and wrote dialogue for both As the World Turns and The Guiding Light under the name J. J. Matthew.
He is the younger brother of actor Bob Hastings
Bob Hastings
Robert "Bob" Hastings is an American film, radio, and television character actor. He has also provided voices for animated cartoons....
. Hastings lives in Upstate New York with his second wife, actress Leslie Denniston with whom he has a daughter, Kate. Hastings also has two daughters and one son from a previous marriage. His son Matthew has been active in show business as a writer/director and producer since 1999.