Roscoe Born

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Wikipedia

Roscoe Born
Born
Roscoe Conklin Born

(1950-11-24)November 24, 1950
Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
DiedMarch 3, 2020(2020-03-03) (aged 69)
Occupation(s)Actor, songwriter
Years active1976–2020
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1985⁠–⁠1990)​
​
(m. 1994⁠–⁠1997)​
Children1

Roscoe Conklin Born (November 24, 1950 – March 3, 2020) was an American actor and songwriter. He is best known for his roles on various television soap operas, most notably as archvillain Mitch Laurence on One Life to Live in six stints between 1985 and 2012.

Early life and education

Born was born in Topeka, Kansas.[1][2] Roscoe went to Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland then attended both Tulane University and Boston University.[1]

Career

Born appeared most often in daytime television, first appearing on Ryan's Hope as troubled mob heir Joe Novak from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1988.[3]

From 1985 to 1987, he portrayed villain Mitch Laurence on One Life to Live [4] then again from 2002 to 2003, reprising the role once again starting in November 2009.[3]

Born appeared on Santa Barbara in his best known roles Robert Barr (1989–1991) and his twin Quinn Armitage (1990–1991), playing opposite Carrington Garland as Kelly Capwell.[5][6] He left for vacation and was written out of the show in an airplane crash in early 1990 with fan pressure leading to the return of his character, and renegotiation of his contract.[7][8][9] This role earned him an Emmy nomination.[10][11][12]

Born was a regular on the primetime soap Paper Dolls as Mark Bailey in 1984. From April 2005 to January 2006 and again in March 2009, Born was on The Young and the Restless in the critically acclaimed role of the evil Tom Fisher. Many of his daytime roles showcased him in evil roles, with the exception of Nick Rivers on the 1995-1997 ABC series The City. Nick was a grizzled musician, allowing Born the opportunity to perform his own material. He can be seen performing some of his more recent songs on YouTube.com: "Bob Dylan's Pepsi Blues"; "Blue State Mind, Red State Soul"; "Soldier On", a salute to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan; and "If It Don't Stink, Don't Stir the Pot", a response to the Boy Scouts of America sex abuse scandal. In February 2017, Born released two singles on iTunes via Chowderhead Records, "Let the Road Lead" and "Crazy is as Crazy Does".[1][13]

In the 1980s, he also guest starred in such prime time shows as Murder, She Wrote and Midnight Caller and starred in the TV movies The Haunting of Sarah Hardy and Lady Mobster. In 1989, he had a featured role in the film Pow Wow Highway. 1970s TV appearances include The Incredible Hulk, The Six Million Dollar Man, two episodes of The Rockford Files and the TV movie Fast Friends.

Around this time, Born played the dastardly Jim Thomasen on All My Children. In late 1997, he abruptly left the role and did not appear on daytime for the next several years (save bit parts on As the World Turns and Guiding Light). Born was working outside of the industry when One Life to Live rehired him from 2002 to 2003 to reprise the role of Mitch. Born portrayed an evil prison warden on Passions in 2007, and played the contract role of Dean Trent Robbins on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives[3] from May 29, 2008, to September 26, 2008.

Born studied acting at the Arena Stage workshop and made his professional acting debut for them on November 13, 1969, in the play Edith Stein.[14][15][16] In 1979, he won a Drama-Logue Award for the play Life in the Theater.[14]

In 1990, Born earned nominations for a Daytime Emmy[17][18][10] and Soap Opera Digest award.[19]

Personal life and death

From 1982 to 1990, Born was married to Ryan's Hope actress Randall Edwards. He was married to fellow Santa Barbara co-star Roberta Weiss from 1994 to 2000, and they had a daughter, Alberta.[20]

Born died on March 3, 2020, at the age of 69.[20][21] He died by suicide; his family issued a statement that attributed his death to his "long struggle with bipolar disorder".[22][23]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976Joe Forresterunknown1 episode
1977End of the WorldBob
Jailbait BabysitterRobert
1979Fast Friends Ben Lakeman
Dear Detectiveunknown1 episode
The Rockford FilesTV Commentator/Tallafero2 episodes
1981Ryan's HopeJoe Novak1981–1983
1988
The Incredible HulkSheldon1 episodes
1984Paper DollsMark Bailey10 episodes
1985One Life to LiveMitch Laurence1985-1987
2002-2003
2009-2010
2012
1988Lady MobsterRobert Castle
1989Midnight CallerSawyer1 episode
The Haunting of Sarah HardyAllen deVineyn
Powwow HighwayAgent Jack Novall
Santa BarbaraRobert Barr1989–1991
1990Santa BarbaraQuinn Armitage1990–1991
Murder, She WroteLangston 'Lanny' Douglas1 episode
1993Family PassionsKyle McDeere
1995The CityNick Rivers
1997All My ChildrenJim Thomasen
2001As the World TurnsDet. Adamski1 episode
Guiding LightPeter Vreeland1 episode
Days of Our LivesTrent Robbins
Baron Coe		2001; 2008
2005The Young and the RestlessTom Fisher2005-2006
2009
2007PassionsWarden
2008Indie Jonesin for the Kingdom of Crystal IceNeighbor

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cushman, Dustin (March 6, 2020). "'Soap Legend Roscoe Born Dead at 69". Soaps.com. United States: SheKnows Media. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  2. ↑ Beresford, Trilby (March 5, 2020). "Roscoe Born, Actor on 'The Young and the Restless,' Dies at 69". The Hollywood Reporter. United States: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Valence Media). Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Rabinowitz, Naomi (September 16, 2008). "The Born Identity". Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 33, no. 38. United States: American Media, Inc. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. pp. 63–65. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  4. ↑ Waggett, Gerard J. (November 1997). "One Life to Live". The Soap Opera Encyclopedia. New York City: Avon. pp. 163–188. ISBN 978-0061011573.
  5. ↑ "SOAP SCOOP - Roscoe Born". Daily Gleaner. 1990-08-31. p. 54. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  6. ↑ "Sabatino enjoys his role on 'DOOL' by Nancy M. Reichardt". Abilene Reporter-News. 1991-01-13. p. 129. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  7. ↑ Worsham, ENTERTAINMENT by Doris G. (1991-07-27). "SOAPS". Oakland Tribune. p. 16. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  8. ↑ "Roscoe Born to reprise 'SB' role by Nancy M. Reichardt". The Roanoke Times. 1990-05-17. p. 45. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  9. ↑ "TREAT YOUR WIFE WELL AND ALL ELSE WILL BE FORGIVEN, SAYS SOAP ACTOR by Lilana Novakovich". The Province. 1990-07-13. p. 172. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  10. 1 2 "Emmy nominations abound for the daytime's bad girls". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  11. ↑ "SOAP SCOOP By Connie Passalacqua". Goldsboro News-Argus. 1991-06-09. p. 94. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  12. ↑ "SOAP TALK by Candace Havens, "I want them to bring back the character of Robert Barr" Jul 7, 1991". Sapulpa Daily Herald. 1991-07-07. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  13. ↑ Cushman, Dustin (2020-03-09). "Soap Legend Roscoe Born Dead at 69, Family Reveals Cause of Death". Soaps. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  14. 1 2 Reed, Jon-Michael (16 January 1983). "Night Caller". Quad-City Times. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  15. ↑ Reichardt, Nancy M. (11 November 1990). "Roscoe Born enjoys playing twins on 'Santa Barbara'". The Morning Call. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  16. ↑ Variety Magazine (Vol. 257, Iss. 2 ed.). p. 64. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  17. ↑ Lipton, Lauren (May 11, 1990). "CBS Dominates Daytime Emmy Field With 74 Nominations : Television: The networks' order in nominations mirrored their daytime ratings. ABC got 39; NBC took 30". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  18. ↑ Passalacqua, Connie (July 22, 1990). "Daytime Emmys were better than usual". The Evening News. Newburgh, New York: Newburgh-Beacon News Co. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  19. ↑ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1990". Soap Opera Digest. 11 April 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  20. 1 2 Evans, Greg (March 6, 2020). "Roscoe Born Dies: 'The Young And The Restless', 'All My Children' Actor Was 69". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  21. ↑ SOD (March 6, 2020). "Soap Opera Vet Roscoe Born Passes Away". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  22. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (March 9, 2020). "Roscoe Born's Family Reveals Cause of Death, Calls For More 'Conversations Around Mental Illness". TVLine. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  23. ↑ Michael, Maloney (March 10, 2020). "Soap Opera Veteran Roscoe Born's Cause Of Death Revealed". Soap Hub. Retrieved March 10, 2020.