Jerry verDorn died on May 1, 2022, at the age of 72, according to his family. Jerry rose to prominence for his 26-year stint as attorney Ross Marler on CBS’ Guiding Light and his eight-year stint as patriarch Clint Buchanan on ABC’s One Life to Live. Jerry died in his Sparta, New Jersey, home. This summer, a private memorial service is planned. More information will be released shortly.
I’m heartbroken to hear of Jerry VerDorn’s passing. I have so many wonderful things to say about this man, but I’ll try to keep it brief. I had the honor of playing his daughter on oltl. He was genuine from start to finish. A giving actor, a caring cowor… https://t.co/r79T8c8gtW pic.twitter.com/58pxzHeZr0
— Melissa Archer (@_MelissaArcher) May 2, 2022
Jerry verDorn’s death
Jerry verDorn passed away on Sunday after a lengthy fight with cancer. However, it is uncertain if he has had any previous health concerns in the past, and his family members have yet to release an official comment on the subject.
Jerry verDorn Career
He graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead after being born on November 23, 1949. He originally planned to be an English teacher, but instead pursued a career in acting by performing key parts in theater shows, notably at Washington, D.C.’s Folger Theatre, which finally led him to New York. In March 1979, he joined the CBS radio and television serial opera Guiding Light as Ross Marler and became one of the show’s longest-running cast members for the next 26 years. In 1995 and 1996, he won the Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Jerry played Ross in The Cradle Will Fall, a 1983 television movie. It was a cinematic version of a novel, with the majority of the Guiding Light characters playing supporting parts. In October 2005, verDorn was cast as Clint Buchanan on ABC’s One Life to Live, a position he held until the show’s cancellation in 2012. In addition, he was the first actor to sign up for the show’s resurrection on The Online Network in January 2013.
On Twitter, fans express their respects.
When admirers learned about verDorn’s passing, they took to Twitter to pay their respects:
#JerryVerDorn a fine actor and true gentleman. It always felt good to see him, not just because he was so darn good looking (he was:) but because he was so affable & easygoing; while being thoroughly hardworking and dedicated to the work. All honor to one of the best of the best!
— Robin Strasser (@robinstrasser) May 2, 2022