Pam Long (actor)
Pamela K. Long (born 1953 or 1954[1]) is an American actress and writer. From 1981 to 1982 she played the character of Ashley Linden Marshall on NBC's Texas. After the demise of the NBC serial, Pam Long was hired as a writer initially then Head Writer for the CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light, first from 1983 to 1986; then from 1987 to 1990.
Bio
Before she started in show business, she won the title of Miss Alabama in 1974 and competed for the title of Miss America 1975. At the time, she was attending the University of North Alabama, and was involved in the Phi Mu sorority.
After graduation, she went to New York City and played Ashley Linden on Texas from 1981 to 1982. She had almost no acting experience when she landed the part: one small paying role in a dinner theatre production of Play It Again, some television commercials and an appearance on local television in Alabama were her only previous jobs.[1]
In 1982, Long also became Head Writer of Texas. The show began to improve in quality, but the ratings in the United States remained in the basement.[2] The show was more popular North of the US border. In Canada, Texas topped the daytime ratings charts for many weeks.[2] The last episode of Texas aired on December 31, 1982.
In 1983, Long became Head Writer of CBS Daytime's Guiding Light, while former Texas Executive Producer Gail Kobe joined her.
Both of her stints were well regarded and provided a renaissance for the aging show , at one point pushing the show's ratings to the #1 spot for three weeks in the summer of 1984 , dethroning then-powerhouse General Hospital from the top ratings spot. Long created some of GL's most memorable characters, like vixen Reva Shayne, haughty ice queen Alexandra Spaulding, and rough-around-the-edges ingenue Harley Davidson Cooper.
Personal
Long was once married to actor Jay Hammer and was credited for a time as Pamela Long Hammer. They have two sons together.
Interviews
NANCY M. REICHARDT of Los Angeles Times: "I intend to bring a reality to my storytelling on 'SFT,' which is a result of my own personal growth. I'm not interested in wild, outlandish, fantasy-type stories. People and their relationships are more fascinating to me." Some of the story lines she will be developing over the next few months, along with that of the McCleary brothers, will include a torrid love triangle between Patti (Jacqueline Schultz), Liza (Louan Gideon) and Hogan; there will be a hot new love story between Quinn and Evie (who is now played by Joanna Going) which Long hopes "will rival the love story of Bo and Hope Brady (Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso) on 'Days of Our Lives."'
Positions held
- Head Writer: 1983 – 1985, 1987 – 1990
- Co-Head Writer: 1985 – January 1986
Santa Barbara (hired by Paul Rauch)
- Head Writer: 1992 – January 15, 1993
- Executive Story Consultant: May 1986 – December 26, 1986 ;
- Actress: February 4, 1981 – December 31, 1982
- Head and Script Writer: January 1982 – December 31, 1982
- Script Writer: November 12, 1995
- Producer: November 12, 1995
Awards and nominations
WINS
- (1986 & 1990; Best Writing; Guiding Light)
NOMINATIONS
- (1985 & 1989; Best Writing; Guiding Light)
Writers Guild of America Award
NOMINATIONS
- (1985 & 1989 seasons; Guiding Light)
- (1993 season; Santa Barbara)
Head writing tenure
| Preceded by Paul Rader Gerald Flesher |
Head Writer of Texas 1982 |
Succeeded by Show Canceled |
| Preceded by Carolyn Culliton |
Head Writer of Guiding Light (with Richard Culliton: 1983–1984) (with Jeff Ryder: 1984–1986) 1983–1986 |
Succeeded by Jeff Ryder |
| Preceded by Gary Tomlin |
Head Writer of Search for Tomorrow (with Addie Walsh) 1986 |
Succeeded by Show Canceled |
| Preceded by Joseph D. Manetta Sheri Anderson |
Head Writer of Guiding Light 1987–1990 |
Succeeded by Nancy Curlee Stephen Demorest James E. Reilly |
| Preceded by Bridget and Jerome Dobson |
Head Writer of Santa Barbara 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Show Canceled |
| Preceded by Claire Labine Matthew Labine |
Head Writer of One Life to Live 1998 |
Succeeded by Jill Farren Phelps (de facto) |
References
- 1 2 "Texas role the perfect part for a 'female Burt Reynolds'" by Tom Jory, The Windsor Star, April 30, 1982. p. B8
- 1 2 Grunwald, D: "Who Shot Texas", pages 23–27. TV Guide (Canadian edition), March 5, 1983.
External links
- Miss Alabama official website
- Pamela K. Long at the Internet Movie Database
- Clips from Texas episodes
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jane Rice |
Miss Alabama 1974 |
Succeeded by Susie Vaughan |