Stephen Nichols

Last updated
Stephen Nichols
Born
Stephen Earl Nichols

(1951-02-19) February 19, 1951 (age 73)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Years active1978–present
Spouse
Lisa Gordon
​
(m. 1984)​
Children3

Stephen Earl Nichols (born February 19, 1951) is an American actor, recognized for his roles on American daytime soap operas. He has portrayed Steve "Patch" Johnson on NBC's Days of Our Lives on and off since 1985. In 1996, he joined the cast of ABC's General Hospital as Stefan Cassadine; he exited the role in 2003. From 2009 to 2013, he portrayed the role of Tucker McCall on The Young and the Restless .

Contents

Stephen Nichols has three children: Vanessa, Aaron, and Dylan. Nichols married Lisa Gordon in 1984. All three children have had small parts on Days of Our Lives. Nichols’ son, Aaron, played young Steve Johnson. Nichols’ daughter, Dylan, has a burgeoning music career. Nichols has two grandchildren. [1]

Career

After turning down an art scholarship to Ohio State University, he traveled west, studied yoga and lived as a monk while preparing vegetarian meals for the monks and nuns in a Hollywood ashram. [2]

After three years of celibacy, a steady diet of ice cream and the films of Truffaut and Bergman, he landed at the Theater Academy of Los Angeles City College where he studied for two years. Nichols went on to study with Stella Adler, Jack Colvin and Harry Mastrorgeorge. [3]

For his stage work, Nichols has been honored with three Drama-Logue Awards and two LA Weekly Theater Awards [4] for his performances in such notable productions as Pieces of Time (for his portrayal of real-life killer, Donald Bashor), for Delirious (directed by Ron Link), and as Jim Morrison in the last thirty-six hours of his life in The Lizard King. [5] Nichols also appeared at LATC in Rick Clutchey's The Cage, [6] in the award-winning production of Michael Cristofer's The Shadow Box at Theater East and Love Letters, during its initial run at the Canon Theater. [7]

Most recently, Nichols appeared in He Hunts at the Geffen Playhouse and was seen in the U.S. première of Joe Pintaro's The Dead Boy, [8] for which Nichols received a Maddy Award.

Days of Our Lives

His original portrayal of Steve "Patch" Johnson (1985–90) earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role and five Soap Opera Digest Best Actor Awards. Steve and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) remain one of the most popular couples, and the most-covered, on Days of our Lives ever. [9] Nichols talked about one of their favorite storylines and shared, “Mary Beth likes Emily and Gideon. It was a fantasy, it wasn’t really us, but we were reading this beautiful diary, in the old mansion, and then it would flash to the characters.” [10]

Nichols returned to the role of Steve (Patch) Johnson on Days of Our Lives in 2006, and played the role until 2009.

On April 17, 2015, it was reported that Nichols would return as reprise the role of Steve "Patch" Johnson of NBC's Days of Our Lives and Nichols second return air date on September 15. [11] He continues to play the role as of September 2023.

From December 2019-January 2020, Nichols played the role of Stefano DiMera [12] as part of a storyline where Dr. Wilhelm Rolf implanted a chip into Steve Johnson's brain that turned him into "the new Stefano DiMera". [13]

Other work

Nichols also portrayed Stefan Cassadine on the soap General Hospital (1996–2003). [14] This role reunited him with Evans, while his character was later paired with Laura Spencer, played by Genie Francis.

Other TV appearances have included Matlock , L.A. Law , Diagnosis: Murder , The Nanny (with former Days of our Lives co-star Charles Shaughnessy), Second Chances, Sisters, a recurring role on Empty Nest , and playing Jesse James opposite Pierce Brosnan in the NBC mini-series Around the World in 80 Days . [15]

Nichols has appeared in several feature films, first co-starring with Demi Moore in Choices. He was also in Witchboard ; Soapdish with Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Downey, Jr.; Heaven's Tears; Cover Me with Paul Sorvino; Phoenix with Brad Dourif and William Sanderson; and the Showtime short A Hard Rain with John Mahoney, [16] which earned best film honors at the British Film Festival for director Dennie Gordon.

Nichols has directed several stage productions, including Sixty Minutes from L.A., a presentation pilot for television, Wild Horses (co-director) and most recently, wrote and directed the dramatic short film Get the Dime starring Daniel Bess and Robert Picardo. [17] Get the Dime was a director's pick at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. Upcoming,[ when? ] Nichols will direct the feature films Eau de L.A. and Fear of Falling.

On December 17, 2009, it was reported on stephennichols.net and cbs.com that he had joined the cast of CBS's The Young and the Restless as Tucker McCall, replacing William Russ. Nichols's first air date was January 27, 2010. On Y&R, he would later be reunited with General Hospital counterpart Genie Francis, who played Genevieve Atkinson on the show. Nichols's last day on Y&R was January 29, 2013. [18]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1978 A Different Story Man at Bath
1981ChoicesChris
1984Killing TimeJim
1985HouseScott
1986 Witchboard Brandon Sinclair
1991 Soapdish Self
1994A Hard RainMunson
1995Cover MeDimitri
1995PhoenixTyler McClain
1995Heaven's TearsPeter Steiner
1995The Glass CageRenzi
1997Deep CoverDutch Leonard
1998 Merchants of Venus The Stud
2009Get The Dime (Short Film)Director, editor, writer
2014I See (Short Film)Director, editor
2019A Beauty & The Beast ChristmasHoward

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 Dynasty Flight AttendantEpisode: "Oil: Part 1" (uncredited)
1983 Wizards and Warriors Ogden
1982–1983 Dallas Paramedic2 episodes
1985 T.J. Hooker Tony PerinoEpisode: "Street Bait"
Crazy Like a Fox CroiserEpisode: "The Geronimo Machine"
1985–90, 2006–09, 2015– Days of Our Lives Steve Johnson Regular role
2019–20 Stefano DiMera
1989 Around the World in 80 Days Jesse JamesEpisode 3
1990 Matlock Cliff LockwoodEpisode: "The Biker"
1991 L.A. Law Corrinne's LawyerEpisode: "He's a Crowd"
Shades of LA Walt CantonEpisode: 'Burial Ground"
1992 Murder, She Wrote Barry CarrollEpisode: "Danse Diabolique"
FBI: The Untold Stories William Timothy Kirk
2000 Malibu Road Brad Dimitri4 episodes
Santa Barbara Dr. Skyler GatesRecurring role, 24 episodes
1993 Renegade Carl CaninEpisode: "Endless Summer"
Melrose Place Steve HarrisEpisode: "Collision Course"
The Nanny Brock StormEpisode: "Personal Business"
1993–1994 Second Chances Tommy Simmons5 episodes
1994 In the Heat of the Night Chuck BookerEpisode: "Conspiracy of One"
Sisters SteveEpisode: "Heroes"
Diagnosis Murder Miles ArcherEpisode: "Georgia on My Mind"
1995 Empty Nest Matt Kane3 episodes
1997–2003 General Hospital Stefan CassidineRegular role
Port Charles
2002 She Spies Kurt Maxim
2009 Crash Thigpen's ClientEpisode: "You, I'll Be Following"
2010–2013 The Young and the Restless Tucker McCall Contract role
2022 Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Steve Johnson Chapter 2
2023Body and SoulTucker McCall as Thrust Manninga soap within a soap on Days of Our Lives

See also

Related Research Articles

Mary Beth Evans is an American television actress, known for her role as Kayla Brady on the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives, and her role as Sierra Estaban on the CBS daytime soap As the World Turns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Sweeney</span> American actress (born 1976)

Alison Ann Sweeney is an American actress, reality show host, director and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a role she played under contract with the show from January 6, 1993 to October 30, 2014. In this role, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, four Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Fan Voted Daytime Emmy Award. After making sporadic appearances since then, she returned as a series regular in 2021. In 2007, she became the host of The Biggest Loser in its fourth season, and left the series at the end of the 16th season in 2015.

Thaao Penghlis is an Australian actor. He is best known for roles in United States daytime soap operas such as Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara, and General Hospital, but has also guest-starred on a number of crime dramas, such as Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Hart to Hart, Nero Wolfe and Magnum, P.I.. He also starred in the late 1980s remake of Mission: Impossible. Penghlis has studied under Hollywood acting teacher Milton Katselas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eileen Davidson</span> American actress, author and television personality

Eileen Marie Davidson is an American actress, author, television personality and former model. Davidson is best known for her roles in soap operas as Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks on NBC's Days of Our Lives and Ashley Abbott on CBS's The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Brady</span> Fictional character from Days of Our Lives

Roman Brady is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives. The role was originated in 1981 by Wayne Northrop, who played the role until 1984 and from 1991 to 1994, and is currently being portrayed by series veteran Josh Taylor, who stepped into the role in 1997. Roman is a member of the fictional Brady family, and has been a central character on the show since his introduction in 1981. Over the years, Roman has been involved in a number of storylines, including romances, family conflicts, and mystery plots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefano DiMera</span> Soap opera character

Stefano DiMera is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, played by Joseph Mascolo. Created by Pat Falken Smith, Stefano was introduced on January 18, 1982 as the father of Tony DiMera looking to expand his criminal empire to Salem. Stefano's early storylines included his feud with Roman Brady, playing his children – Tony and Renée DuMonde against one another when he is presumed dead, orchestrating a series of murders with his son and Tony's deranged look-a-like André, and replacing the presumed dead Roman with the brainwashed John Black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo Brady</span> Fictional character from Days of Our Lives

Bo Brady is a fictional character from the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. The role has been most notably portrayed by Peter Reckell, who originated the role on May 3, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abe Carver</span> Soap opera character

Abe Carver is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera Days of Our Lives. Actor James Reynolds has played the character since he originated it on the series in 1981, and is currently the fifth longest serving actor on the show. The role is one of the longest-running African American characters in American soap operas. The character was created by head writer Pat Falken Smith. Abe is the widowed husband of Lexie Carver, daughter of international crime lord, Stefano DiMera. He is the father of Brandon Walker and Theo Carver and the adoptive father of Lani Price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen DiMera</span> Fictional character from Days of Our Lives

Kristen Blake DiMera is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. The role was portrayed by Eileen Davidson. Davidson joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1993, and departed in 1998 after a five-year stint. After a 14-year absence, Davidson returned to the role of Kristen in the fall of 2012. Kristen and her brother Peter were raised by super villain Stefano DiMera at a very young age following the deaths of their parents; however, their mother Rachel was later revealed to be alive.

Steve Johnson (<i>Days of Our Lives</i>) Fictional soap opera character

Steve "Patch" Johnson is a fictional character on Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by head writers Sheri Anderson, Thom Racina and Leah Laiman, he has been portrayed by Stephen Nichols since 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celeste Perrault</span> Soap opera character

Celeste Perrault is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. The character is well known for her psychic abilities in the series. Celeste was portrayed by Tanya Boyd and Beverly Todd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayla Brady</span> Soap opera character

Kayla Brady Johnson is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, a soap opera on the NBC network. She made her first appearance in 1982. Kayla was created by Pat Falken Smith as one of the original members of the Brady family. She is known for her popular pairing with Steve Johnson. This relationship gave the couple the title of a famous super couple. Kayla was described as being the "good" girl of the serial. During her time on Days of our Lives, Kayla was extremely well received by television critics. Kayla Brady Johnson is one of the six Brady children. She is the daughter of the late Shawn Brady and Caroline Brady. She is the sister of Roman and Kimberly Brady, the half-sister of Bo Brady, and the sister of adopted brothers Frankie and Max Brady. She has been married five times, once to Jack Deveraux and four times to Steve Johnson. Steve and Kayla have two children, a daughter, Stephanie, and a son, Joey. Mary Beth Evans returned to Days of Our Lives for a short-stint on June 18, 2010, and then again on recurring status starting in December 2011. She was upgraded to regular status in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Kiriakis</span> Soap opera character

Philip Kiriakis is a character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Child actors portrayed the character of Philip until he was rapidly aged and returned under the portrayal of Brandon Tyler in October 1999. Tyler was quickly replaced by Jay Kenneth Johnson, who was in the role until leaving the show in December 2002. The character returned in May 2003 played by Kyle Brandt. After Brandt left the show in October 2006, Johnson returned to the role in January 2007 then left on April 20, 2011. In 2015, actor John-Paul Lavoisier was cast in the role; he was let go the following year, last appearing in December 2016. In 2019, Johnson reprised the role on the digital-only Last Blast Reunion series and returned to Days of Our Lives in August 2020; he later departed in December 2021. In August 2023, Lavoisier returned to the role before departing two months later; he will return in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sami Brady</span> Soap opera character

Sami Brady is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the Peacock streaming service, portrayed by Alison Sweeney since 1993. The character is first seen as a newborn baby in the episode of October 16, 1984, in which mom Marlena Evans gives birth to her and her twin brother Eric Brady. Initially played by a series of child actresses, Sweeney took over the role of Sami when the character was rapidly-aged from a pre-teen to a teenager, in January 1993, under the pen of head writers Sheri Anderson and James E. Reilly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ava Vitali</span> Fictional character

Ava Vitali is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by and introduced by then-executive producers Ken Corday and Edward J. Scott, the role is portrayed by Tamara Braun, who won a Daytime Emmy Award for the role in 2009. Introduced as a "mysterious woman from Steve's past," Ava was later revealed as a woman from a Mafia family. Ava appeared for six months in 2008, and returned in December 2015 for a three-month guest appearance. Following a brief voice appearance in 2017, Ava returned to the show on a regular basis in November 2020. She departed again on December 20, 2022 and returned on August 8, 2023

Joey Johnson (<i>Days of Our Lives</i>) Fictional character

Joey Johnson is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera aired on the NBC network, presently portrayed by Tanner Stine. Introduced in 2008, Joey was created by head writers Hogan Sheffer and Meg Kelly as the youngest child of supercouple, Steve "Patch" Johnson and Kayla Brady. The role was played by siblings Brody and Jonas until the character was written out in 2009. Child actor Jadon Wells appeared in the role of Joey on a recurring basis from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, the character was rapidly aged to 16 when James Lastovic was cast in to play the role. Joey returns having skipped out on boarding school suffering from abandonment issues. It is later revealed that Joey had secretly been conspiring with Ava Vitali to orchestrate Patch and Kayla's reunion. Unbeknownst to Joey, Ava is his father's ex-lover and Ava has caused quite a bit of trouble for Kayla and the rest of the Brady family.

Lucas Brentley Adams is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Dr. Tripp Dalton Johnson on the NBC and Peacock soap opera Days of Our Lives. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series for his role on Days of Our Lives in 2018 and 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "Stephen Nichols Biography". soaphub.com. Soap Hub. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Jewell, Zoey (11 September 2019). "Five Fast Facts About Veteran Soap Star Stephen Nichols". soaphub.com. SoapHub. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Stephen Nichols Archives". soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  4. ↑ Brounstein, Diane (19 February 2018). "Stephen Nichols Celebrates Amazing Milestone!". soaphub.com. Soap Hub. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "#TBT - STEPHEN NICHOLS". soapoperadigest.com. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "#TBT - STEPHEN NICHOLS". soapoperadigest.com. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  7. ↑ "Stephen Nichols biography". soaphub.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  8. ↑ "Stephen Nichols Biography". imdb.com. IMDb, Inc. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  9. ↑ "Stephen Nichols Archives". soapoperadigest.com. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Cushman, Dustin (February 14, 2017). "Interview: Mary Beth Evans, Stephen Nichols talk Steve & Kayla's wedding". SheKnows Soaps. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ Hughes, Heather (April 17, 2015). "'Days Of Our Lives' Spoilers: Stephen Nichols Return Date Confirmed – Patch Will Be Back In Salem On September 14". Soap Opera Spy. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ Barnet, R.J. (4 December 2019). "'Days Of Our Lives' Spoilers: Here's The Real Reason Why Stefano DiMera Chose Steve 'Patch' Johnson As His Successor!". dailysoapdish.com. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  13. ↑ Deese, Hollie (27 November 2019). "Honoring the Nine Lives of Stefano DiMera As Days Brings Stefano Back". soaps.sheknows.com. SheKnows Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Stephen Nichols". imdb.com. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "Stephen Nichols". imdb.com. IMDb, Inc. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  16. ↑ "Stephen Nichols". imdb.com. IMDb, Inc. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  17. ↑ Brounstein, Diane (19 February 2018). "Stephen Nichols Celebrates Amazing Milestone!". soaphub.com. Soap Hub. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  18. ↑ Kroll, Dan J. "Stephen Nichols tapes final Y&R scenes". soapcentral.com. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.