Marcy Walker
Encyclopedia
Marcy Lynn Walker also known as Marcy Smith, is an American
actress known for her roles on daytime soap opera
s. Her most famous roles are those of Liza Colby
on All My Children
, which she played from 1981–1984 and again 1995–2005, and as Eden Capwell on Santa Barbara
1984–1991.
and traveled the world during her youth. In 1979, she graduated from Triad High School
in Troy, Illinois
, where she was active in the drama club. She also attended Antelope Valley High School
in Lancaster, California
in 1975–1978.
Marcy has one son, Taylor, fathered from the sperm
of her third husband, Stephan Collins. In 1999, she married Doug Smith and goes by the name Marcy Smith in her private life. She was once married to actor Billy Warlock
. In a 1998 interview with Soap Opera Digest
, she explained the breakup.
soap opera, All My Children. She was honored with two Outstanding Supporting Actress
Daytime Emmy
nominations in 1983 and 1984. After a successful three-year run, she decided to leave the show for other opportunities. She was replaced promptly with actress Alice Haining, as Liza Colby on the show.
In 1984, Walker created another popular soap opera role in the form of Eden Capwell on Santa Barbara. Her character, partnered with A Martinez
's character, Cruz Castillo, became one of the show's most popular supercouple
s. She was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
in 1987 and 1988, and finally won in 1989 for an emotional storyline, in which her character was brutally raped. She left the show in 1991.
In 1993, she started playing the role of Tangie Hill on Guiding Light
. While the role was created specifically for Walker, the character didn't catch on with the audience. In August 1995, she left the show, in favor of the full time return of Nola Chamberlain, played by Lisa Brown
. Walker then made a long-awaited comeback
appearance as Liza Colby on All My Children in September 1995. In 2001, she was nominated for another Outstanding Lead Actress Daytime Emmy award.
It was announced that Walker's contract would not be renewed when it expired in 2004. Her farewell appearance on All My Children aired on September 28, 2004.
The exit of Liza Colby occurred amid rumor that Walker would return to the show on a recurring basis. This rumor was fueled by the fact that her exit was very open-ended. She was not killed off, like some notable fan favorites like Jesse Hubbard, played by Darnell Williams
, but rather assumed a new identity. Her character simply decided to take her daughter to live out of reach from her controlling ex-husband Adam Chandler
, played by David Canary
.
According to Soap Opera Digest
magazine, Walker was at first hesitant to go on a recurring basis, but later warmed to the idea. In December 2004, the writers created a scene where Liza appeared making a phone call. Walker appeared again in January 2005, when her character assisted Babe Carey Chandler
and Jamie Martin, in their attempt to flee from Adam's wrath. The characters of Babe and Jamie were played by Alexa Havins
and Justin Bruening
.
Former head writer
Megan McTavish
spoke to the soap media and publicly thanked Walker for working without a contract, but also hinted that she did not intend for Liza to return to the show any time soon. However, in 2009, the character of Liza returned, albeit played this time by actress Jamie Luner
.
After Walker left All My Children, she decided to accept a position in Christian ministry, based in Huntersville, North Carolina, where she remains working with youth.
In addition to her work with daytime soap operas, Walker has starred in several movies of the week, including The Return of Desperado, Bar Girls, Midnight's Child, and Terror In the Shadows.
, she decided to pursue Christian ministry on a full-time basis. In 2005, she began working at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, North Carolina
as their Director of Children's Ministry. On July 22, 2010, she announced on her Facebook page that she was resigning her position on staff with the church to take a position at another Charlotte-area church. The Mission Pastor of her former church once said "Marcy is the coolest."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress known for her roles on daytime 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,...
s. Her most famous roles are those of Liza Colby
Liza Colby
Liza Colby is a fictional character on the American soap opera All My Children who has been played by actress Jamie Luner from April 2009 until September 2011. She was previously played by actress Marcy Walker from 1981-1984 and then again from 1995-2005, although the role was also briefly...
on All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
, which she played from 1981–1984 and again 1995–2005, and as Eden Capwell on Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (TV series)
Santa Barbara is an American television soap opera, first broadcast in the United States on NBC on July 30, 1984, and last aired on January 15, 1993. The show revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family of Santa Barbara, California...
1984–1991.
Personal life
Walker was born in Paducah, KentuckyPaducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
and traveled the world during her youth. In 1979, she graduated from Triad High School
Triad High School (Illinois)
- Basic Information :Triad is a high school located in Troy, Illinois. Triad serves the communities of Troy, St. Jacob, and Marine, as well as small portions of Collinsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, and Highland. The school district has a total area of . The majority of Triad High School students...
in Troy, Illinois
Troy, Illinois
Troy is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,524 at the 2000 census.Troy is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where she was active in the drama club. She also attended Antelope Valley High School
Antelope Valley High School
Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California, and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District, in northernmost Los Angeles County, California. It was founded in 1912. It is located near the western edge of the Mojave Desert...
in Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
in 1975–1978.
Marcy has one son, Taylor, fathered from the sperm
Sperm
The term sperm is derived from the Greek word sperma and refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell...
of her third husband, Stephan Collins. In 1999, she married Doug Smith and goes by the name Marcy Smith in her private life. She was once married to actor Billy Warlock
Billy Warlock
Billy Warlock is an American actor best known for playing Eddie Kramer, a lifeguard on the original three seasons of Baywatch and in the reunion movie in 2003, as well as for numerous daytime roles, most notably Frankie Brady on Days of our Lives and A.J...
. In a 1998 interview with Soap Opera Digest
Soap Opera Digest
Soap Opera Digest is a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It features onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional information...
, she explained the breakup.
- He thought I was somehow more valuable than him and I could never live it down. I couldn't jump off the pedestal. He was unhappy about everything and I couldn't be happy about anything. I think that Billy is fantastic and, in his heart, he's one of the nicest people that you'll ever meet. It's just that he hasn't been acknowledged a lot in his life and he needs—and deserves—a lot of everything. I was just not the person who was able to give it to him. Unfortunately, if you really love someone, you let them know when they're bad, as well as when they're good. He needed as much positive reinforcement as he could get and never wanted to hear the negative. I learned that too late. I often played the devil's advocate, thinking I was helping by being honest.
- —Marcy Walker
Acting background
In 1981, Walker was cast in her first acting job as Liza Colby on the ABC TelevisionABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
soap opera, All My Children. She was honored with two Outstanding Supporting Actress
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series has been given every year at the Daytime Emmys since the 6th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony in 1979....
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
nominations in 1983 and 1984. After a successful three-year run, she decided to leave the show for other opportunities. She was replaced promptly with actress Alice Haining, as Liza Colby on the show.
In 1984, Walker created another popular soap opera role in the form of Eden Capwell on Santa Barbara. Her character, partnered with A Martinez
A Martinez
Adolfo Larrue Martinez, III , better known as A Martinez, is an American actor and singer with roles in the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara and the primetime dramas L.A. Law and Profiler.-Early life:...
's character, Cruz Castillo, became one of the show's most popular supercouple
Supercouple
A supercouple or super couple is a popular or financially wealthy pairing that intrigues and fascinates the public in an intense or even obsessive fashion...
s. She was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is an award which has been given every year at the Daytime Emmys ceremony since 1974...
in 1987 and 1988, and finally won in 1989 for an emotional storyline, in which her character was brutally raped. She left the show in 1991.
In 1993, she started playing the role of Tangie Hill on Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
. While the role was created specifically for Walker, the character didn't catch on with the audience. In August 1995, she left the show, in favor of the full time return of Nola Chamberlain, played by Lisa Brown
Lisa Brown
Harley Brown is an American actress, born in Kansas City, Missouri.She is best known as half of the supercouple Quint and Nola, playing alongside actor Michael Tylo, on Guiding Light. She played the role of Nola Reardon Chamberlain from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 1998...
. Walker then made a long-awaited comeback
Comeback
A comeback is the return of a person of public interest, a style or fashion in the mid-point of media interest. The term is predominantly used in politics, sports and pop music. In the case of a band, the term reunion is used...
appearance as Liza Colby on All My Children in September 1995. In 2001, she was nominated for another Outstanding Lead Actress Daytime Emmy award.
It was announced that Walker's contract would not be renewed when it expired in 2004. Her farewell appearance on All My Children aired on September 28, 2004.
The exit of Liza Colby occurred amid rumor that Walker would return to the show on a recurring basis. This rumor was fueled by the fact that her exit was very open-ended. She was not killed off, like some notable fan favorites like Jesse Hubbard, played by Darnell Williams
Darnell Williams
Darnell Williams is a British-born soap opera actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Jesse Hubbard on the ABC soap opera All My Children, a role which has earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards.-Biography:...
, but rather assumed a new identity. Her character simply decided to take her daughter to live out of reach from her controlling ex-husband Adam Chandler
Adam Chandler
Adam Chandler, Sr. is a fictional character from the daytime drama All My Children, portrayed by David Canary from December 1983 through his departure on April 23, 2010. Adam Chandler was one of the most devious and powerful individuals within the town of Pine Valley, Pennsylvania...
, played by David Canary
David Canary
David Hoyt Canary is an American actor, who starred in both soap operas and prime time television. He is best known for his roles as the ranch foreman, Candy Canaday on Bonanza and identical twins Adam Chandler from 1983 to 2010 and Stuart Chandler from 1984 to 2009 on the daytime serial, All My...
.
According to Soap Opera Digest
Soap Opera Digest
Soap Opera Digest is a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It features onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional information...
magazine, Walker was at first hesitant to go on a recurring basis, but later warmed to the idea. In December 2004, the writers created a scene where Liza appeared making a phone call. Walker appeared again in January 2005, when her character assisted Babe Carey Chandler
Babe Carey
Arabella "Babe" Carey Chandler is a fictional character from the American daytime drama All My Children. She was originally portrayed by actress Alexa Havins, from October 13, 2003 to October 8, 2007, and then by actress Amanda Baker from October 8, 2007 to October 31, 2008...
and Jamie Martin, in their attempt to flee from Adam's wrath. The characters of Babe and Jamie were played by Alexa Havins
Alexa Havins
Alexa Carole Havins is an American actress. She first came to prominence in 2003, when she became the originating actor in the role of Babe Carey Chandler on the daytime drama All My Children...
and Justin Bruening
Justin Bruening
Justin Bruening is an American actor and former fashion model. In 2003, his acting career began when he was cast in the role of Jamie Martin on the daytime drama All My Children, earning him a Soap Opera Digest Award in 2005 for the portrayal...
.
Former head writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
Megan McTavish
Megan McTavish
Megan McTavish is an American television actress and soap opera writer. McTavish is best known for several head writing stints on All My Children.-Early career:...
spoke to the soap media and publicly thanked Walker for working without a contract, but also hinted that she did not intend for Liza to return to the show any time soon. However, in 2009, the character of Liza returned, albeit played this time by actress Jamie Luner
Jamie Luner
Jamie Michelle Luner is an American television actress, best known for her role as Lexi Sterling on Melrose Place and Rachel Burke on Profiler...
.
After Walker left All My Children, she decided to accept a position in Christian ministry, based in Huntersville, North Carolina, where she remains working with youth.
In addition to her work with daytime soap operas, Walker has starred in several movies of the week, including The Return of Desperado, Bar Girls, Midnight's Child, and Terror In the Shadows.
Filmography
| Year | TV Movie/Series | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Terror in the Shadows | Rebecca/Christine |
| 1996 | Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus #17 | Lieutenant Kathy Leone |
| 1993–1995 | Guiding Light | Tangie Hill |
| 1993 | Nick's Game | Maxine "Max" Clift |
| 1992 | Overexposed | Ann Demski |
| 1992 | Midnight's Child | Kate |
| 1991 | Palace Guard | Christy Cooper |
| 1990 | Babies | Cindy |
| 1990 | Bar Girls | Melanie Roston |
| 1990 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception | Marie Ramsey |
| 1988 | The Return of Desperado | Caitlin Jones |
| 1984–1991 | Santa Barbara | Eden Capwell Castillo |
| 1981–1984, 1991, 1995-2004, 2005 | All My Children | Liza Colby |
| 1980 | Life on the Mississippi | Emmeline |
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Talking About Sex | Rachel Parsons |
| 1985 | Hot Resort | Franny |
Awards and honors
| Year | Award | Role (Show) |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Leading Actress | Liza Colby (All My Children) |
| 1997 | Soap Opera Award Outstanding Supporting Actress | Liza Colby (All My Children) |
| 1989 | Daytime Emmy Winner, Outstanding Leading Actress | Eden Capwell (Santa Barbara) |
| 1989 | Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Leading Actress | Eden Capwell (Santa Barbara) |
| 1988 | Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Leading Actress | Eden Capwell (Santa Barbara) |
| 1987 | Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Leading Actress | Eden Capwell (Santa Barbara) |
| 1984 | Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress | Liza Colby (All My Children) |
| 1983 | Daytime Emmy Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress | Liza Colby (All My Children) |
Ministry background
In early 2005, after juggling two roles, one as an actress and another working part-time in her home church, Hope Church, in Wilton, ConnecticutWilton, Connecticut
Wilton is a town nestled in the Norwalk River Valley in southwestern Connecticut in the United States. It is located in Fairfield County. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 18,062. In 2007, it was voted as one of CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" in the United States.Located along...
, she decided to pursue Christian ministry on a full-time basis. In 2005, she began working at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, North Carolina
Huntersville, North Carolina
Huntersville is a large town in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties, North Carolina, United States. The population was 46,773 at the 2010 census, which makes Huntersville the 19th largest city in North Carolina. It is located about 12 miles north of uptown Charlotte. It is thought that the town...
as their Director of Children's Ministry. On July 22, 2010, she announced on her Facebook page that she was resigning her position on staff with the church to take a position at another Charlotte-area church. The Mission Pastor of her former church once said "Marcy is the coolest."