Erika Alma Slezak, American actress. Recipient Emmy award for Best Actress, National Academy television Arts and Sciences, 1984, 86, 92, 95, 96. Member Actors Equity Association; American Federation of television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild.
Background
Slezak was born in Hollywood, California of Czechoslovakian, Austrian and Dutch descent, the daughter of Tony award-winning Austrian actor Walter Slezak and Johanna "Kaasi" Van Rijn, and the granddaughter of opera tenor Leo Slezak. She was born two months after her grandfather died.
Education
Raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Slezak attended high school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Eden Hall in Torresdale, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Career
She is one of the longest-serving serial actors in American media. At age 17, she became one of the youngest individuals ever accepted into London"s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, later graduating in 1966. Establishing a noteworthy reputation in theater, she performed in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Houston.
One Life to Live In 1971, Slezak auditioned for the role of nurse Mary Kennecott on the American Broadcasting Company soap opera All My Children.
She was not cast on that show, but the network offered her the role of Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley on One Life to Live (OLTL). In 2007, Slezak voiced strong criticism of OLTL"s then-head writer, Dena Higley.
In the March 2007 edition of Slezak"s fan club newsletter, she stated, "Dena doesn"t care about the rich history of the show, which is evident in what she writes" and that Higley "wants to write stories that she thinks are interesting but nobody else does." Ron Carlivati was subsequently made co-head writer, with Higley ultimately leaving the series in September 2007. In April 2011, American Broadcasting Company announced that OLTL would be cancelled, with its final airdate in January 2012.
However, media company Prospect Park licensed the creative rights to the show from American Broadcasting Company in July 2011 and announced that they would migrate the series to an online format.
In September 2011, Slezak confirmed she would be participating in the new version show, along with other regular cast members. The Prospect Park project stalled in November 2011, and OLTL ended its run on American Broadcasting Company as scheduled. In early 2013, Prospect Park announced it was moving forward with their online versions of One Life to Live and All My Children, with Slezak confirmed on board.
The revived series, taped in Stamford, Connecticut, premiered on Hulu, Hulu Plus, and iTunes on April 29, 2013 and ran through August 19, 2013.
Other projects Slezak portrayed Jean Roberts in the 1996 television film adaptation of Danielle Steel"s novel Full Circle.
Achievements
Membership
Member Actors Equity Association. American Federation of television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild.
Connections
Daughter of Walter Leo and Johanna Elizabeth (Van Rijn) S. M. R. Daniel Mooney, May 20, 1968 (divorced). M. Brian Davies, August 4, 1978.