Lynda Hirsch on Soaps

Q: I just read that Corey Feldman is getting divorced from his second wife. Wasn't he once married to Vanessa Marcil? — Randi, Washington, D.C.

A: Depends on whom you ask and when you ask them. Feldman has always stuck by his story that he and Marcil married in 1989. Marcil (ex-Brenda, "General Hospital") has changed her story throughout the years. During her years on "GH," she always admitted to her early marriage. Since her success on "Las Vegas," she has claimed that she barely knew Feldman. At one point, she described him as someone she only knew for five minutes. Nevada marriage records tell the truth. Records reveal that Feldman and Sally Vanessa Ortiz (Marcil's name at birth) married on Aug. 6, 1989; less than three years later, the couple had divorced.

Q: With all this talk of the "All My Children" move to Los Angeles, I started thinking about my favorite former "AMC" actor. What has Richard Van Vleet been doing since he left the show? — Arleta, Columbia, Miss.

Q: Van Vleet, who played Chuck Tyler on and off for 13 years, portrayed Ed Bauer on "Guiding Light" for a few years after he left "AMC." Prior to his work on "AMC," he had lots of guest spots on primetime dramas from "The Virginian" to "Night Gallery." One of his favorite experiences was a guest spot he did with Robert Wagner on "It Takes a Thief." "I was a very green actor," he recalls.

"Wagner was so gracious, he invited me to his home so we could go over lines." Years later, he had another experience with a well-known Hollywood star. "I was supposed to be his co-star. I was a few years younger. That actor did not like the age difference and got me fired." Since exiting daytime, Van Vleet, who likes to be called Van, has been involved in several animated feature films including "Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm." In real life an accomplished cartoonist, Van Vleet often gave his "AMC" co-stars sketches he did of them while they were sitting on the set. He produced and starred in the independent thriller "Judge Me Not," which was named best film at the Independent California Film Festival. He has several films that are presently in pre- and postproduction. When not acting, he has been teaching acting and film directing at the University of California Sacramento, as well as in Denver and Japan. Van Vleet and his wife, Kristen, have been married since 1969 and have two daughters.

Q: When was "Another World" canceled? — James, Orlando, Fla.

A: The show, which debuted in May 4, 1966, ended its run in 1999 after airing more than 8,800 episodes. The show was so popular that it went from an hour to 90 minutes a day. It also spawned the mystery spin-off "Somerset."

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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