May 1997
Stephen Nichols, my costar on Days and GH, and I have just reprised our roles as Andy and Melissa in the well-known play for two, Love Letters. Proceeds from the benefit performance go to our school, the Aliso Academy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, which helps children in Orange County, California.
But this time, Stephen and I weren’t the only ones on stage, because the teachers interpreted the entire play in sign language! And the performance was also special because it marked the directorial debut of actor Richard Biggs (ex-Days’ Marcus).
Richard is now starring on the hit sci-fi series Babylon 5. He left Days in 1992, and performed in New York Theatre for a year before joining the show as Dr. Stephen Franklin in 1993. “Babylon 5 is a five year story, so it’s similar to a soap in that regard,” Richard says. “And sci-fi fans are just as enthusiastic as soap fans.”
In fact, he spends a lot of time going to science fiction conventions around the world. He has appeared in France, Holland, and Germany. “And I’m pushing for Australia because I’d really love to visit there. Actually, it’s one of my goals, you know.”
When my sister, Debbie, asked him if he would direct this play, Richard was thrilled for two reasons. “First, I couldn’t wait to work with Stephen and Mary Beth again. I enjoyed my role as Marcus on Days.” (At one point, he was Kayla’s almost-boyfriend!) “Second, helping to support the education of deaf and hard of hearing children has become my vocation.”
Richard had a radical mastoidectomy (removal of the bone behind the ear) when he was 12 and his hearing has deteriorated ever since. He had another operation at 16 and lost 35 percent of his hearing.
I remember once on the Days set he told me that when he pulled on his ear, he got dizzy. I insisted that he see my husband, an ear nose and throat doctor. He’s since had two more operations, but the one thing I know about ears is that hearing never improves, it only deteriorates.
Richard now has no hearing at all in his left ear and only 50 percent in his right. “I don’t go swimming, and I don’t listen to loud music, but I can do theatre! I was really proud to direct this play and it was exciting to see the old gang, and Stephen and Mary Beth really listened to me!”
Well, we said we would!
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