Soap Opera Legend And Icon Erika Slezak Celebrates Her Birthday

Erika Slezak has much to celebrate!

Erika Slezak still acts, despite the fact that it has been more than six years since her last daytime drama appearance. This is an accomplishment worth recognizing. As does the achievement the actress is now celebrating.

Happy Birthday, Erika Slezak!

And that’s because this incredibly gifted actress turned 77 years old today! She was born on August 5, 1946, in Hollywood, California. The daughter of Tony Award-winning actor Walter Slezak, Slezak graduated from the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England, at the age of 17, making her one of the youngest people to ever do so.

Following that, she appeared in a huge number of theater shows all around the country, including ones in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Houston. For the role of Mary Kennecott, R.N. on the ABC soap opera All My Children, Slezak consented to a screen test in 1971.

She eventually received a callback for an audition to play Victoria “Viki” Lord Riley on One Life to Live as the third (and last) actress. On March 17, 1971, Slezak made her acting debut. She continued to play the role throughout the show’s run on the ABC network, which ended on January 13, 2012. From the show’s April 29, 2013, debut, to its August 19, 2013, end, Slezak played the role again.

Slezak’s achievements led to her winning six Daytime Emmy Awards, all in the Outstanding Lead Actress category, breaking a record that has just recently been surpassed by Heather Tom, who played Kelly on The Bold and the Beautiful before switching to The OLTL.

Slezak also appeared as Jean Roberts in the made-for-television film Danielle Steel’s Full Circle, as Dr. Eileen Jacoby on The Resident and Donna Duvall in Blue Bloods, and as Helen in the supporting role in the feature film Guest Artist, which also starred Jeff Daniels.

Since August 4, 1978, Slezak has been wed to fellow performer Brian Davies. Michael, born in 1980, and Amanda, born in 1981, are their two children. In flashback scenes from 2003, Amanda played a younger version of Victoria. Erika Slezak’s birthday is today, and Soap Hub wants to wish her many more.

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