Lights out for GL's Grant Aleksander
by Dan J Kroll
Posted Thursday, September 04, 2004 11:16:08 AM

What is your reaction to the news that Aleksander will exit GL? I'm stunned. I can't imagine GL without Phillip (or Grant) 76% I'm not really upset. Phillip's purpose has been exhausted. 8% I have mixed feelings, but I can't wait to see what happens! 7% I'll miss seeing him, but this might be the spark GL needs. 3% Part of me thinks this is a publicity stunt and he'll return 3% I really don't know what to think about the exit. 2% Other 1% Poll Posted: September 3rd, 2004

A spokesperson for Guiding Light has confirmed what Internet rumors have hinted at for a week now - Emmy-nominated Grant Aleksander (Phillip Spaulding) has been let go from Guiding Light.

"For the next few months, Grant will be featured in a riveting storyline that will keep the Cooper and Spaulding families in the forefront well into the new year," said Mary Dwyer-Dobbin, executive in charge of production for Procter & Gamble Productions. "Grant's gifted portrayal of this complex character is guaranteed to entertain our audience, as Grant has done for many years on Guiding Light."

Aleksander joined the cast of Guiding Light in December 1982. With the exception of two two-year breaks in 1984 and 1991 and a three-year stint as Alec McIntyre on All My Children, Aleksander has been a part of the Guiding Light cast ever since. His most recent Guiding Light engagement started in 1996.

Aleksander's work on Guiding Light has earned him three Daytime Emmy nominations. In 1998 he earned his first nomination, a nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category. In 2003 and 2004, Aleksander earned back-to-back Outstanding Lead Actor nods.

Sources say that Aleksander found out about his impending exit last week.

The role of Phillip will not be recast. Aleksander will last air sometime in November.

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Related Information
News Archive: Chatter says Aleksander might want out of GL [Nov 22nd, 1999] Who's Who: Read a biography of Phillip Spaulding. About The Actor: Learn more about Grant Aleksander. More Archived News: Review more past GL news headlines. News and More: Return to soapcentral.com's GL FrontPage.