Photo: NBC
We are celebrating 32 years in daytime for Wally Kurth!
Wally was born in Billings Montana. He studied musical theater at Loretto Heights College in Denver and moved to California for UCLA’s Musical Theater Arts Program. Wally has worked in primetime, film (television and motion picture), theater, including Broadway, and of course daytime.
In 1987, he created the role of handsome, rich attorney at law, Justin Alexander Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives. Justin is a legacy character from one of Salem’s legacy families, The Kiriakis’. Then in 1991, he took over the role of handsome, rich, sometimes “ruthless” businessman, Ned Ashton, on General Hospital. Ned is a member of the cornerstonene family in Port Charles, the Quartermaine’s. Wally also played Sam Hutchins on As the World Turns in a recurring role from November 2007-February 2008.
I always say Wally Kurth has the best soap life! How lucky can one person get? He and his characters are soap royalty, two times over. He has worked with some of the best to ever do it. Which is only right given the fact that he’s one of the best himself.
Since he began playing the roles, Wally has reprised both roles (several times) and currently lives in and out of Salem and Port Charles. Ned or Justin? How can you choose? We are so grateful we don’t have to. We get the best of both worlds. And when we really get lucky, especially with Days’ current production schedule, we are blessed enough to see him on our screens at or near the same time.
Wally is also a producer, director, singer, guitarist and songwriter. Wally writes and performs music with his partner, Christian Taylor and their Emmy Award Winning Band, Kurth & Taylor. The band has recorded multiple albums, videos, performed at concerts, including concerts to benefit various charities. The band won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song, Barefoot Ballet, from their album Freedom. The song was featured on an episode of General Hospital. Wally co-wrote the song with Christian. Wally narrated the sports documentary, Class C: The Only Game in Town. In 2009, it won Best of the Festival at Fort Collins TriMedia Festival.
Here’s to you Wally for 32 years in daytime and at least 32 more!
Congratulations!
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