Ben Masters

Ben Masters (born May 6, 1947) is an American actor who is best known for his portrayal of Julian Crane in daytime drama Passions from July 8, 1999, to the show's final episode on August 7, 2008.

Ben Masters
Born
Benjamin Masters

(1947-05-06) May 6, 1947
Corvallis, Oregon, United States
OccupationActor
Years active1974–2008

Early life

Masters was born in Corvallis, Oregon, and graduated at the University of Oregon as a theater major.

Career

Upon graduating Masters moved to New York and landed a role in the off-Broadway play The Boys in the Band. Ben also had a thirteen-month run in Kevin Wade's Key Exchange off-Broadway. An agent and a few Broadway plays—including Captain Brassbound's Conversion with Ingrid Bergman and The Cherry Orchard with Meryl Streep—soon followed. Masters portrayed Nick, the older brother of the titular character in the 1976–77 NBC Saturday morning live action children's series Muggsy.[1]

Masters was introduced to daytime dramas when he portrayed Vic Strang on Another World for three months in 1982.

He later appeared as corporate raider Linc Bartlett in the television miniseries Noble House in 1988.[2]

On May 14, 1994, Masters was one of the guests in a two hour long special episode of the hit television show Walker, Texas Ranger calledThe Reunion. With Chuck Norris and Clarence Gilyard as our crime fighting duo, other guests included Stuart Whitman, and Jonathan Banks.[3] In the story, Masters plays a senator whose life is danger and depend on the service of our two leads (Norris and Gilyard).[4] On its own the episode was released on Home Media.[5]

In 1999, he signed a contract for NBC's Passions, as the womanizing billionaire Julian Crane. His role on the daytime drama landed him Soap Opera Digest Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2001 and 2002 and Outstanding Lead Actor in 2005.[6] After NBC announced that it was cancelling Passions in February 2007, Masters said, "I will miss getting to play this part so much. I had such a great time playing Julian Crane. I wanted to do it until I couldn't do it anymore."[7] Passions was later picked up by Directv for the 2007-2008 season.

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1975MandingoCharles
1979All That JazzDr. Garry
1985Key ExchangePhilip
1986Dream LoverMichael Hansen
1987Making Mr. RightSteve Marcus
1994Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly ReunionSenator Julian Knox
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1976-1977MuggsyNick Malloy13 episodes
1986Kate's SecretJack StarkTV movie
1986The Deliberate StrangerDet. Mike FisherTV movie
1988Noble HouseLinc Bartlett4 episode
1988Street of DreamsKyd ThomasTV movie
1988-1989HeartBeatDr. Leo Rosetti18 episodes
1992Cruel DoubtFrank Johnston2 episodes
1993A Twist of the KnifeProsecutor Dennis ChapinTV movie
1995Lady KillerRoss Mitchell
1997The Second Civil WarMatthew LangfordTV movie
1997Spy GameGeneral Sam Wellish
1999-2008PassionsJulian Crane749 episodes

References
  1. TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. p. 435. ISBN 0-7607-5634-1.
  2. Wisehart, Bob (February 20, 1988). "Japanese Prison Freed His Muse: James Clavell Lived a Lifetime in 3 Years As a POW". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 18.
  3. "Saturday Prime Time Television". Lincoln Journal Star: 9. May 14, 1994 – via Newspapers.
  4. Burlingame, Jon (May 14, 1994). "Mac goes treasure hunting on 'Atlantis'". Intelligencer Journal: 10 – via Newspapers.
  5. Chuck Norris (1994). Walker Texas Ranger The Reunion (VHS). USA: Warner Home Video. ISBN 0-7907-2495-2. 0859321338.
  6. Ben Masters biography Archived November 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine TV.com
  7. "Passions Star: 'We're Not Dead Yet!'". Soap Opera Weekly. February 13, 2007. p. 4.
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