Van Hansis
Encyclopedia
Van Hansis is an American
actor
. Hansis, who uses the name Van professionally, starred on the long-running CBS
soap opera
As the World Turns
as Luke Snyder
, the son of one of the show's signature supercouples, Holden
and Lily Snyder (played by Jon Hensley
and Martha Byrne
, later Noelle Beck
), although the character's biological father is Damian Grimaldi
. Hansis made his first appearance on December 14, 2005, taking over the role from Jake Weary
, and played the character until the end of the show's run, appearing in its final episode, which aired on September 17, 2010.
More recently, Hansis has had guest roles on television series and starred in a feature film, Occupant (film)
. In addition, he has works in progress, including a role in a short film, Wedding Day produced by Peter Sterling and a role in a comedy web series.
, but moved to Greenfield
in the third grade when his mother became a principal in the Gill-Montague Regional School District. He attended Four Corners School and later the Greenfield Center School. Hansis began acting in theater camp as a child. He attended high school at a boarding school
called Walnut Hill
, in Natick
, because, he says, he knew by then he wanted to be an actor "and it was a good school for that." He was able to flex his early acting muscles performing at the Shea Theater.
Hansis graduated from Carnegie Mellon University
in 2004, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in Acting from the School of Drama. Prior to joining As The World Turns, he starred in the Broadway
play
The Laramie Project
in Pittsburgh, among other stage shows. In 2006 he also starred in the short film The Time Machine. He has worked professionally at the Williamstown
Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, in productions of On the Razzle, Twelfth Night, and The Indian Wants the Bronx. From Sept. 2007 to mid-January 2008 he appeared off-Broadway
in a production of Charles Busch
's Die, Mommie, Die! In 2007, he was nominated for his first Daytime Emmy Award
. He received a second nomination in 2008 and a third in 2009.
In March 2010, Hansis was cast in his first movie, an independent horror movie titled "Occupant" that was filmed in late April and early May 2010. The film premiered on the opening night of the Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
on October 14, 2011 in New York City. On October 18, 2011, the film was released on-demand in many cable systems and on most digital platforms (i.e., iTunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, PlayStation) in the U.S. and Canada. A full list of providers, as well as trailers, interviews and other information can be viewed at the movie's website. The DVD will be released in November 2011.
On October 26, 2011, Van Hansis was guest star on the series Psych (season 6)
episode 3. He played the character Adrian Viccellio, a man with a rare blood disease who attempted to drain Lassiter's blood for his own use.
On November 4, 2011, Hansis was a guest star on the series Nikita (season 2)
episode 7. He played Yuri, a man from Alexandra's past who was sent to kill her.
as gay
in a storyline in spring 2006. Luke subsequently became romantically involved with Noah Mayer
(played by Jake Silbermann
), a pairing hailed as the first gay supercouple
in soap opera history, despite controversy about their storyline
. In the last months of the show, after having broken up with Noah, Luke became romantically involved with Dr. Reid Oliver
(played by Eric Sheffer Stevens
), until Reid's death following an accident. Luke and Noah appeared together for the last time on the show's penultimate episode: Noah was preparing to move to Los Angeles to make a film, while Luke was remaining behind in Oakdale, still grief-stricken over the loss of Reid. It was not made clear whether Luke and Noah would ever renew their romance. Their final interaction ended with Noah inviting Luke to come to L.A. someday and then briefly kissing him in the WOAK newsroom in an homage to their first kiss, with which Hansis and Silbermann made television history in an episode that aired August 17, 2007, by portraying American daytime drama's first ever gay male kiss.
While many fans bemoaned the fact that the three gay characters ended up either alone or dead, in stark contrast to the happier resolutions provided for many of the heterosexual characters, Hansis noted in an interview that "Luke becomes the focused character of the end of the show, and he is a gay character", and sees Luke as "the point of view character for the wrapping up [of] this 54-year-old show." Hansis further noted that Luke "has got a whole life out there somewhere for him, and he is going to rise above these tragedies. I think it's in his character to do that."
. The film premiered on the opening night of the Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
on October 14, 2011 in New York City. On October 18, 2011, the film was released on-demand in many cable systems and on most digital platforms (i.e., iTunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, PlayStation) in the U.S. and Canada. A full list of providers, as well as trailers, interviews and other information can be viewed at the movie's website. The DVD will be released in November 2011.
episode 3. He played the character Adrian Viccellio, a man with a rare blood disease who attempted to drain Lassiter's blood for his own use.
On November 4, 2011, Hansis was a guest star on the series Nikita (season 2)
episode 7. He played Yuri, a man from Alexandra's past who was sent to kill her.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Show/Film!!Role
|-
|2005–2010||As the World Turns
||Luke Snyder
|-
|2011||Psych (season 6)
||Adrian Viccellio
|-
|2011||Nikita (season 2)
||Yuri
|-
|2011||Occupant (film)
||Danny Hill
|-}
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...
. Hansis, who uses the name Van professionally, starred on the long-running CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
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...
as Luke Snyder
Luke Snyder
Luciano Eduardo "Luke" Snyder is a fictional character from the American daytime drama As the World Turns. He was most recently portrayed by actor Van Hansis....
, the son of one of the show's signature supercouples, Holden
Holden Snyder
Holden Snyder was a fictional character on the American daytime soap opera As the World Turns. He was portrayed by Jon Hensley, who originated the role.-See also:*Holden Snyder and Lily Walsh*Supercouple...
and Lily Snyder (played by Jon Hensley
Jon Hensley
Jon Hensley is a former American actor and current singer and songwriter.- Career :Hensley's first television role was in 1985 on the daytime drama One Life to Live as Brody Price...
and Martha Byrne
Martha Byrne
Mary Martha Byrne is an American actress, singer and screenwriter.In 2008, she left CBS's As the World Turns as the passionate role of Lily Snyder. In 2009, she was featured on ABC's General Hospital as Andrea Floyd...
, later Noelle Beck
Noelle Beck
Noelle Beck is an American actress, best known for her role as Trisha Alden on the ABC daytime soap opera Loving.-Career:...
), although the character's biological father is Damian Grimaldi
Damian Grimaldi
Damian Grimaldi was a fictional character on the CBS daytime drama As the World Turns. He has been portrayed by Paolo Seganti from April 1993 to January 10th, 1996, May 30th to September 4th, 1997, May 10th to June 4th, 2001, August 17th to September 25th, 2001 and from May 25th, 2006 to August...
. Hansis made his first appearance on December 14, 2005, taking over the role from Jake Weary
Jake Weary
Jake Weary is an American actor, singer and musician.-Movie career:After an initial guest role on his mother's show, Guiding Light in 2002, he was cast as Luke Snyder on the television soap opera As the World Turns....
, and played the character until the end of the show's run, appearing in its final episode, which aired on September 17, 2010.
More recently, Hansis has had guest roles on television series and starred in a feature film, Occupant (film)
Occupant (film)
Occupant is a 2011 American thriller film featuring Van Hansis as Danny, a young New Yorker about to inherit an old apartment. It was written by Jonathan Brett and directed by Henry S. Miller and shot in New York City, USA...
. In addition, he has works in progress, including a role in a short film, Wedding Day produced by Peter Sterling and a role in a comedy web series.
Biography
Hansis is originally from North AdamsNorth Adams
North Adams can refer to several places in the United States:* North Adams, Massachusetts* North Adams, Michigan...
, but moved to Greenfield
Greenfield, Massachusetts
Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair...
in the third grade when his mother became a principal in the Gill-Montague Regional School District. He attended Four Corners School and later the Greenfield Center School. Hansis began acting in theater camp as a child. He attended high school at a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
called Walnut Hill
Walnut Hill
Walnut Hill is the name of several locations in the United States:* Walnut Hill, Florida, a community in northern Escambia County, Florida* Walnut Hill, Illinois, a village* Walnut Hill, Medford, Massachusetts, a neighborhood...
, in Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
, because, he says, he knew by then he wanted to be an actor "and it was a good school for that." He was able to flex his early acting muscles performing at the Shea Theater.
Hansis graduated from Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in 2004, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in Acting from the School of Drama. Prior to joining As The World Turns, he starred in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
The Laramie Project
The Laramie Project
The Laramie Project is a play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie,...
in Pittsburgh, among other stage shows. In 2006 he also starred in the short film The Time Machine. He has worked professionally at the Williamstown
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, in productions of On the Razzle, Twelfth Night, and The Indian Wants the Bronx. From Sept. 2007 to mid-January 2008 he appeared off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
in a production of Charles Busch
Charles Busch
Charles Louis Busch is an American actor, screenwriter, playwright and female impersonator, known for his appearances on stage in his own camp style plays and in film and television. He wrote The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, which was a success on Broadway.-Early life:Busch was born in 1954 and...
's Die, Mommie, Die! In 2007, he was nominated for his first Daytime Emmy Award
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...
. He received a second nomination in 2008 and a third in 2009.
In March 2010, Hansis was cast in his first movie, an independent horror movie titled "Occupant" that was filmed in late April and early May 2010. The film premiered on the opening night of the Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
GOTHAM SCREEN is the newest addition to New York City's film festival scene.After its debut in 2007 as a screenplay contest, Gotham Screen, or GSIFF International Film Festival, has been expanded to showcase shorts and feature films...
on October 14, 2011 in New York City. On October 18, 2011, the film was released on-demand in many cable systems and on most digital platforms (i.e., iTunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, PlayStation) in the U.S. and Canada. A full list of providers, as well as trailers, interviews and other information can be viewed at the movie's website. The DVD will be released in November 2011.
On October 26, 2011, Van Hansis was guest star on the series Psych (season 6)
Psych (season 6)
The sixth season of Psych, consisting of 16 episodes, premiered on the USA Network in the United States on October 12, 2011. James Roday, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, Corbin Bernsen and Kirsten Nelson all reprised their roles as the main characters...
episode 3. He played the character Adrian Viccellio, a man with a rare blood disease who attempted to drain Lassiter's blood for his own use.
On November 4, 2011, Hansis was a guest star on the series Nikita (season 2)
Nikita (season 2)
The second season of Nikita, an American television drama based on the French film Nikita , the remake Point of No Return , and a previous series La Femme Nikita , was announced on May 17, 2011, which premiered on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central...
episode 7. He played Yuri, a man from Alexandra's past who was sent to kill her.
As the World Turns
Shortly after Hansis took over the role, the character came outComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
in a storyline in spring 2006. Luke subsequently became romantically involved with Noah Mayer
Noah Mayer
Noah Mayer is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama As the World Turns. He is portrayed by Jake Silbermann and made his first appearance on June 1, 2007.Noah Mayer was an intern at WOAK television and a student at Oakdale University...
(played by Jake Silbermann
Jake Silbermann
Jake Silbermann is an American actor.-Biography:Silbermann was born June 1, 1983, and is a native of New York City. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in theater from Syracuse University, where he participated in many productions including Three Sisters and True West...
), a pairing hailed as the first gay 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...
in soap opera history, despite controversy about their storyline
Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer
Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer are fictional characters and a supercouple from the American CBS daytime drama As the World Turns. Luke was portrayed by Van Hansis, and Noah was portrayed by Jake Silbermann. On Internet message boards, the couple is referred to by the portmanteau "Nuke"...
. In the last months of the show, after having broken up with Noah, Luke became romantically involved with Dr. Reid Oliver
Reid Oliver
Dr. Reid Oliver was a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama As the World Turns. He was portrayed by Eric Sheffer Stevens and made his first appearance on January 19, 2010...
(played by Eric Sheffer Stevens
Eric Sheffer Stevens
Eric Sheffer-Stevens is an American actor, best known for playing Dr. Reid Oliver, Luke Snyder's boyfriend, on American soap opera, As The World Turns....
), until Reid's death following an accident. Luke and Noah appeared together for the last time on the show's penultimate episode: Noah was preparing to move to Los Angeles to make a film, while Luke was remaining behind in Oakdale, still grief-stricken over the loss of Reid. It was not made clear whether Luke and Noah would ever renew their romance. Their final interaction ended with Noah inviting Luke to come to L.A. someday and then briefly kissing him in the WOAK newsroom in an homage to their first kiss, with which Hansis and Silbermann made television history in an episode that aired August 17, 2007, by portraying American daytime drama's first ever gay male kiss.
While many fans bemoaned the fact that the three gay characters ended up either alone or dead, in stark contrast to the happier resolutions provided for many of the heterosexual characters, Hansis noted in an interview that "Luke becomes the focused character of the end of the show, and he is a gay character", and sees Luke as "the point of view character for the wrapping up [of] this 54-year-old show." Hansis further noted that Luke "has got a whole life out there somewhere for him, and he is going to rise above these tragedies. I think it's in his character to do that."
Filmography
Hansis starred as, Danny Hill, in the thriller Occupant (film)Occupant (film)
Occupant is a 2011 American thriller film featuring Van Hansis as Danny, a young New Yorker about to inherit an old apartment. It was written by Jonathan Brett and directed by Henry S. Miller and shot in New York City, USA...
. The film premiered on the opening night of the Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
Gotham Screen Film Festival & Screenplay Contest
GOTHAM SCREEN is the newest addition to New York City's film festival scene.After its debut in 2007 as a screenplay contest, Gotham Screen, or GSIFF International Film Festival, has been expanded to showcase shorts and feature films...
on October 14, 2011 in New York City. On October 18, 2011, the film was released on-demand in many cable systems and on most digital platforms (i.e., iTunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, PlayStation) in the U.S. and Canada. A full list of providers, as well as trailers, interviews and other information can be viewed at the movie's website. The DVD will be released in November 2011.
Television
On October 26, 2011, Van Hansis was guest star on the series Psych (season 6)Psych (season 6)
The sixth season of Psych, consisting of 16 episodes, premiered on the USA Network in the United States on October 12, 2011. James Roday, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, Corbin Bernsen and Kirsten Nelson all reprised their roles as the main characters...
episode 3. He played the character Adrian Viccellio, a man with a rare blood disease who attempted to drain Lassiter's blood for his own use.
On November 4, 2011, Hansis was a guest star on the series Nikita (season 2)
Nikita (season 2)
The second season of Nikita, an American television drama based on the French film Nikita , the remake Point of No Return , and a previous series La Femme Nikita , was announced on May 17, 2011, which premiered on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central...
episode 7. He played Yuri, a man from Alexandra's past who was sent to kill her.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year!!Show/Film!!Role
|-
|2005–2010||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...
||Luke Snyder
Luke Snyder
Luciano Eduardo "Luke" Snyder is a fictional character from the American daytime drama As the World Turns. He was most recently portrayed by actor Van Hansis....
|-
|2011||Psych (season 6)
Psych (season 6)
The sixth season of Psych, consisting of 16 episodes, premiered on the USA Network in the United States on October 12, 2011. James Roday, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, Corbin Bernsen and Kirsten Nelson all reprised their roles as the main characters...
||Adrian Viccellio
|-
|2011||Nikita (season 2)
Nikita (season 2)
The second season of Nikita, an American television drama based on the French film Nikita , the remake Point of No Return , and a previous series La Femme Nikita , was announced on May 17, 2011, which premiered on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central...
||Yuri
|-
|2011||Occupant (film)
Occupant (film)
Occupant is a 2011 American thriller film featuring Van Hansis as Danny, a young New Yorker about to inherit an old apartment. It was written by Jonathan Brett and directed by Henry S. Miller and shot in New York City, USA...
||Danny Hill
|-}
External links
- VanHansis.com: Fan Website
- Happy Birthday,Van Hansis! Facebook page A fan tribute in honor of Van Hansis.