Roberta Leighton (actress)

Last updated
Roberta Leighton
Born
Roberta Lee Weimar

(1953-06-23) June 23, 1953 (age 71)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater Stephens College
OccupationActress
Years active1976–1998
SpouseCorey Young (m. 1988)

Roberta Leighton (born Roberta Lee Weimar; June 23, 1953) [1] [2] is an American actress. She is best known for playing the roles of Dr. Casey Reed on The Young and the Restless (1978 to 1981, return appearances from 1984 to 1998), Shirley Pickett on General Hospital (1983), and Ginger Dawson on Days of Our Lives (1991 to 1992).

Contents

Early life

Leighton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has one sibling, a sister. She studied acting at the Guthrie Theater. She then enrolled at Stephens College in Missouri. She received two Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, one in acting and the other in writing. [3]

Career

After college, Leighton spent three seasons performing in summer stock. She appeared in stage productions of The Taming of the Shrew , Anything Goes , Sweet Charity , and A Midsummer Night's Dream . Leighton faced a decision about whether to move to New York to continue theater work or move to Los Angeles for film and television roles. She flipped a coin and it landed on heads for Los Angeles, so that was where she went. [3]

Leighton guest starred on The Blue Knight , Baretta , Barnaby Jones , Switch , and Rosetti and Ryan . [3] [4] She made her film debut with an uncredited role in One on One . [3] She played Liza Williams in the 1978 thriller film Barracuda. [5]

In 1978, Leighton joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless as Dr. Casey Reed. She played the role until 1981. She made return appearances to the show from 1984 to 1998. [6]

Leighton had roles in the films Stripes (1981) and Covergirl (1983). [7] [8] She played Shirley Pickett, a love interest for Luke (Anthony Geary) on the ABC soap opera General Hospital in 1983. [1] She guest starred on an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard in 1984. [3]

From 1991 to 1992, Leighton played Ginger Dawson on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives . [9]

Personal life

Leighton had a four-year relationship with her co-star on The Young and the Restless, David Hasselhoff. She also dated Anthony Geary when they worked together on General Hospital. [1]

She met actor Corey Young through their mutual publicist and they began a relationship after he escorted her to a charity ball. They dated for about a year before marrying on August 20, 1988. [1]

In 1991, Leighton underwent surgery to have four malignant tumors removed from her thyroid. [1]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 One on One Server at BanquetUncredited
1978 Barracuda Liza Williams
1981 Stripes Anita
1983 Covergirl Dee

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 The Blue Knight CynthiaEpisode: "Everything in Life is 3 to 1 Against"
1976; 1977; 1979 Barnaby Jones Jeannie Larkin; Donna Morgan; Vanessa Pickering3 episodes
1977 Baretta CathyEpisode: "Open Season"
Rosetti and Ryan Druscilla GerardEpisode: "Men Who Love Women"
Switch Candy LewisEpisode: "Net Loss"
1978–1981; 1984–1998 The Young and the Restless Dr. Casey ReedContract role; Guest appearances
1983 General Hospital Shirley PickettContract role
1984 The Dukes of Hazzard Candy DixEpisode: "Play It Again, Luke"
Jessie Susan HammerEpisode: "The Long Fuse"
1991–1992 Days of Our Lives Ginger DawsonContract role

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Byron, Ellen (March 17, 1992). "Don't Make Waves". Soap Opera Digest . 17 (6): 68–71.
  2. ↑ "Roberta Leighton". TV Insider. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Rout, Nancy E.; Buckley, Ellen (1992). The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama. Todd Publications. p. 163. ISBN   978-0-915344-23-9.
  4. ↑ "Men Who Love Women - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Barracuda (1978)". Popcorn Pictures. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Young and the Restless Yesteryears: Dr. Casey Reed". Soaps. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Stripes - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Covergirl - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Who's Who in Salem: Ginger Dawson". Soap Central. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
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