“Stephen Nichols Shares His Private Passions”
By Rosemary Rossi -Soaps In Depth/ABC Edition – Pg. 74
February 6, 2001
General Hospital’s worldly Stefan Cassidine was raised to appreciate the finer things..without ever flashing a contented grin. Lately however, he has loosened up a bit, his guarded grimace occasionally setting free and actual smile. And he has moved away from the speech drummed into him by boarding schools toward snappy Chloe-isms. What’s going on?
“Stefan is intrigued by Chloe’s determination and her guilelessness,” explains his portrayer, Stephen Nichols. “She’s tough yet childlike. Stefan hasn’t met anyone quite like her.”
But don’t get the actor wrong. He doesn’t see Stefan as lonely. “That’s so self-pitying,” he notes. “When those feelings come up, he pushes them back down. He’s constantly on the run from his feelings in general. There is a deep, subconscious place that Stefan is operating from. He must find a way to best his mother to win her respect and thereby win her love. That is more complex than another Machiavellian chess match between two villains.”
Renaissance Man
Stefan may have been painted into a corner by Helena, but Nichols is another story altogether. While Stefan merely likes to acquire objects of art, Nichols actually creates them. “In High School, sculpting was my passion.”
So inspired, Nichols actually considered a career as an artist. Today though, he paints to relax. “For a while I was not happy creatively,” he admits. “My wife, Lisa, who knows me better than anyone, handed me a gift certificate for art classes. I began an oil painting class in April and a life drawing class, which I’m still doing. It’s very satisfying.”
His Blues Period
While acting as Days of our Lives, anti-hero Patch Johnson in the late 1980’s, Nichols would play the harmonica. However, when he left Days, he left the harmonica behind. “But my brother, Zach Zunis, is still one of the greatest blues guitarists in the world. When I was on Days, we formed the One-Eyed Blues Band”- and played benefit concerts and nightclubs.
Having written a handful of songs, mostly for his children- Vanessa, Aaron, and Dylan- Nichols used to sing to them every night and play guitar. “I don’t do it for public consumption- yet!”
He’s now trying to make more time for all things artistic. “It’s easy to get focused on one thing. If it’s satisfying you, the other avenues fall by the wayside. Music, for example. I’ve been wanting to get back into guitar…and writing songs.”
A New Direction
Whereas Stefan battles from within the world’s most dysfunctional family, on the flip side, Nichols is busy enjoying daughter Dylan’s new puppy, Gertie. Meanwhile, the missus recently was asked to attend the Austin Film Festival, where, out of 3,500 submissions, her screenplay made the cut. “I plan to direct it,” he says. “We’re going to raise the money and do it. This script is so good. Lisa could probably get it made on a larger scale. But she insists that I am the man for the job. She has so much faith in me. I am lucky to have her.”
FYI:
Birthday: February 19
And a one, and a two..: Growing up, Nichols was bitten by the performing bug while watching variety programs like THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW with his grandpa.
Higher Learning: The actor studied for three years to be a monk, and worked as a cook in a monastery. There he learned concentration, self control, and working with a spirit of giving.
Getting the Gold: His five year gig on Days of our Lives earned the soap vet a Best Actor Emmy Nomination
Above the Law: Nichols portrayed Jesse James in the NBC miniseries AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, with Pierce Brosnan.
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