Dylan went off the canvas around 1997, though he and his original portrayer, Morgan Englund, made a few appearances in Springfield to visit family. When Guiding Light decided to bring back Dylan’s daughter, Daisy, they also wanted to explore how Daisy came to be. 

The show cast daytime vet Brian Gaskill in the role, and for the past nine months we have seen a new side of Dylan.

“The show wanted a fresh start with Dylan” explains Brian. “It’s the nature of the beast for soaps to want to keep characters, but the actors need to move on. I wanted to work, the show wanted a Dylan, and it all worked out”, says the former daytime star of Port Charles and Bold and the Beautiful.

To help him discover who Dylan was, Brian researched the character on-line. He read old scripts and a synopsis of the character. One thing he didn’t do was watch old tapes of the show featuring the character. “A lot of what I read involving Dylan was when the character was younger, so a lot of what happened to Dylan to make him who he is now, happened off screen”, states Brian. “So I really am starting off fresh with him.”    

Dylan’s current story of reconnecting with Harley, the mother of his daughter, is something that Brian has enjoyed playing. As for Dylan’s feelings for Harley, Brian says, “Dylan is coming off a rebound and his affections towards Harley are so mixed in with his feelings for his daughter, that maybe his affections for Harley aren’t a long term thing for Dylan. The writers are creating story of what happened before these two were known by the viewers. Both Beth and I play up the rebound aspect of it.”

As for a future for Dylan, Brian feels that there is a good bit of story for his character. “I think Dylan could go anywhere” Brian said. “The writers have their story to tell, and if they want to tell more stories for him, I’m there for them.”

The popular actor is really enjoying his time with the cast and crew of Guiding Light.  “The people involved with this show make for one of the nicest sets I’ve been around”, enthuses Brian. “It is just a great atmosphere to work in. People like Kim Zimmer and Jordan Clarke are just wonderful. I got a few chances to sit down and talk to Jordan off camera and he is just an amazing guy. They make me really feel at home.”

Speaking of home, Brian is also very happy in his personal life. “A lot of my life is just focused on my home life”, shares Brian, who currently resides in Alabama with his family. He commutes on the days he shoots Guiding Light. “I stay with family in New Jersey or with friends in New York City,” Brian said. “I go in and say my lines, hit my marks, and them commute back to Alabama to my family.”

Gaskill and his wife, Tonya Watts, whom he met on the set of The Bold and the Beautiful, have a “beautiful, smart, quirky baby girl.” Also Tonya is an up and coming singer/song writer. “We just got back from shooting footage for her video for her single Cumberland Angels in Nashville”, says Brian excitedly. The song is based on real life events of the homeless whom Brian and his wife befriended while they lived in downtown Nashville. “We are just finishing up her album and video, and hope to get it out there soon.”

With two talented individuals as parents, Brian and Tonya’s daughter may someday feel the creative urge. I asked Brian if he would encourage his daughter to get into the business one day. “People make a lot out of the Lindsay Lohans, but there are a lot of well adjusted kids in this business,” says this proud Papa. “Just take a look at Bonnie Dennison,” who plays Dylan’s daughter, Daisy, on GL. “She has been in the business a long time and she is a very grounded individual.” 

Brian also feels that his home life has in turn affected his profession. “The life that I have lived has affected me as an artist”, reflects Brian. “I used to feel that my career was my whole life. I used to have this agent and when I would go see him he would ask how my life was. And I would tell him what job I just landed or what I just auditioned for and he would always say, ‘great Brian, but what about your life?’ Now that I have the most amazing wife and incredible little girl, I understand what he was talking about. I spent time away from Los Angeles and New York, and lived in the real world outside of show business.  I can now watch myself perform and see a real person on the screen, not just an actor acting, that is all because of the life I have lived thus far.”

Brian Gaskill’s loyal fan base is sure happy that this multi-talented and very popular actor is portraying yet another complex, interesting soap character.  We get to watch how Brian takes all his personal happiness and fulfillment and crafts Dylan with a modern, adult edge. Doesn’t get any better than that.