But before hanging his hat at Buchanan Manor and saddling up the horses, verDorn was busy making a splash with viewers on another daytime drama. In 1979 verDorn was cast as dashing Springfield District Attorney, Ross Marler on CBS’ The Guiding Light.  It was the role of Ross that catapulted verDorn to household name status among daytime viewers. 

In the spring of 2005, the proverbial winds of change blew through the GL studios and the 26 year veteran cast member’s fate with the show would be forever changed. “Guiding Light took me off contract, which is a euphemism for firing you” reveals verDorn. 

But every dark cloud has a silver lining, as they say. Even though being taken off contract at GL came not only as a shock to verDorn and his fellow cast mates, but to daytime viewers as well, it gave verDorn a chance to reflect on his career and contemplate his next move. “All I wanted to do at GL was just work and working with no contract means you have no base salary,” he says. It was his desire to work that led verDorn to the audition circuit once again.

“The casting call for the role of Clint on OLTL was definitely a miracle of timing which does not typically happen in showbiz,” verDorn says with a chuckle. “I had to audition for Clint several times, as ABC was considering several other men for the role.”

Ultimately fate was on Jerry’s side and ABC contacted him with an offer. “OLTL was offering me a good contract to come aboard in the role of Clint, while GL was not offering me anything to stay on in the role of Ross,” the talented actor shares. So on October 11^th, 2005 verDorn hung up his necktie, bid farewell to Springfield and the role of Ross and set out upon a new adventure. This time the adventure was complete with cowboy boots, a 10 gallon hat, a bevy of beauties and a character that is very rich and grounded in daytime history.

“This character does have deep, historical roots on this show and within daytime and I am VERY honored to be given the chance to play this role,” Jerry says. But filling the cowboy boots of a character as colorful as Clint Buchanan and delving into all his roots within this show would certainly be nerve wracking to this writer. 

“I did not watch any old tapes of Clint (Ritchie) in the role,” reveals verDorn. “Instead I based my take on Clint by copying every sound and every mannerism of Phil Carey (ex-Asa) because most men come to resemble their Dad at a certain age.”

And whenever he had a question about Clint, his connection to a character or his mannerisms, verDorn went to the expert for the answer. “Luckily Erika (Slezak who plays Vicki) remembers EVERYTHING,” he says with a laugh. Since Slezak (and Vicki) remembers everything, does that mean that a reunion is on the horizon between the two former spouses? “I know the long time viewers want to see certain characters together for ever and ever but that seldom happens, and besides the Clint/Vicki ship will never really sail because these two will always be connected to one another by family, family, family. 

Hmmmmm, I wonder if Clint’s relationship with Vicki’s sometime sparring partner, Dorian Cramer strained the connection between the former spouses. “Working with Robin (Strasser) is great, but it was the idea of our former head writer to put Dorian and Clint together and history-wise, I do not think that was a good idea,” verDorn shares. So all you Dorian and Clint fans out there don’t hold your breath hoping these two will reunite anytime soon. “Since Clint found Dorian in bed with David, well let’s just say the dynamic between the two has changed.”

So which Llanview beauty has caught the eye of the dashing Clint? Well it appears to be none other than his former sister-in-law, Nora. “Sometimes good story comes from circumstances of other story,” he hints. “In Clint and Nora’s case they lived platonically in Asa’s mansion so of course conversations had to have happened and naturally closeness would occur as their lives crossed on a daily basis. 

Well my dears, from upcoming previews it appears as if Clint and Nora will give love with one another a whirl and my suspicions are that at least one resident will not be too happy with the latest Llanview couple painting the town red. “No, Bo will not be pleased, especially as Clint and Nora become more public.”  VerDorn hints that “a good story is coming, so the viewers will definitely want to be sure to tune in.”

But in the meantime, there are two other Llanview beauties that are looking for Clint’s attention, his daughters Natalie and Jessica. “I absolutely adore being with and acting with Melissa and Bree, they’re the daughters I never had in real life and my goodness they are very good in their roles on the show,” he shares. So would verDorn ever offer some fatherly advice and guidance to his onscreen daughters? “I would talk to and listen to them about anything, but only if they were to request my opinion.” 

With the rumblings that Jared may attempt to convince Natalie that she is not really a Buchanan, I asked verDorn about his thoughts towards revisiting a storyline that many long time viewers have screamed for…….the paternity of Jessica. “I honestly do not know what the writing staff has planned,” says verDorn. “We do have a new head writer (Ron Calavarti) and he loves show history, so who knows if he will revisit Jessica’s paternity.”

If Calavarti does decide to revisit Jessica’s paternity, verDorn gave me a hint as to what he hopes the final outcome would be. “Clint has been through so much with Jess, if she turned out to be his daughter it would be profound.” 

Looking out for his daughters, adjusting to life without Asa and courting a potential new love, it certainly appears as if Clint is going to have a busy 2008.  So what else is in store for the newest patriarch of the Buchanan clan? “Again, I honestly have no idea what the writers have in store, but if I were writing for Clint I’d give him some breathing room from obsessing about the kids” he says.  “But with Asa gone it now means that Clint is the paternal head of the Buchanan family and that means more pressure….but more pressure also equals great storylines.”

And it appears as if Clint will have his hands full in the role of family patriarch, especially as he and Bo recover from the reveal that their long lost brother is none other than David Vickers. “I can tell you that Bo and Clint certainly won’t make it easy on old David,” he shares with a laugh. 

So with all the pressures that being the family patriarch brings, Clint might just need to find something to shift his focus to. Perhaps that “something” might be returning as head of Llanview’s newspaper, The Banner? “Clint keeping his finger in the pie at The Banner several key times a year would be…let us say….provocative, but after the will reading demand of Asa that everyone must get along, Clint is going to have a very full plate.”

And speaking of the late Asa Buchanan, I asked verDorn his thoughts on the departure of longtime cast member Phil Carey. “Phil Carey is a legend and I was very fortunate indeed to be a small part of the family he led….he was fantastic in the scenes surrounding reading of the will.” verDorn even came up with a suggestion on how the show could keep Asa around and visible from time to time. “In my humble opinion, the occasional sighting of Asa’s ghost would be a good thing.”

Hmmmm, maybe Asa’s ghost could pop up with words of wisdom and advice for Clint when the family is in turmoil? “Exactly,” he shares. In the meantime though, Clint and verDorn will keep on doing what they’re doing, both on and off our television screens. 

It was a life changing event while on Guiding Light that led verDorn to devote his time outside of the studio to hosting charitable events to raise money to help find a cure for cancer. “My charity work began when I was diagnosed with cancer in 1993,” he shares. “It is no big deal though, I just thought I should do what I could to help. Others have done more, but each dollar takes us all closer to finding a cure. All great things are done in small steps. 

And one of those small steps verDorn does every year is hosting the annual Stars and Strikes bowl-a-thon with former Guiding Light co-star and onscreen wife, Liz Kiefer. “It started with our co-stars from GL, but for the last 2 years this event has encompassed daytime stars from both ABC and CBS…we had a great time at this years event, but then again we always have a great time when we do this….just a few days ago I presented the American Cancer Society with a check for $12,000 to help find a cure for the disease.” 

verDorn says he and Kiefer cannot take all the credit for the idea and success of the Stars and Strikes bowl-a-thon though. “This event is the brainchild of our fan club president Wendy Madore. She organizes everything and Liz and I try not to mess it up.” 

Seeing and hearing how he describes the event it’s obvious it will continue to flourish year after year. It’s also obvious that verDorn has a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Wendy Madore and all the work she puts into this event. However, Madore is not the only female involved that verDorn has tremendous respect and admiration for. From the moment, his former character Ross was paired with Blake on Guiding Light verDorn and Kiefer were catapulted into super couple status in the daytime history books and developed a huge and faithful fan following who eventually referred to them as “Bloss.”

One thing did become evident during the final moments of this interview, verDorn misses working opposite Liz Kiefer. So that led this writer to pitch to him the idea and prospects of Liz rejoining One Life, this time in the role of Viki’s vixenish half-sister and Clint’s former daughter-in-law, Tina Lord Roberts. 

“Every time I turn around I learn something new about OLTL, I did not even know Viki had a spunky half-sister,” he says. “I adore Liz and miss acting with her something fierce, as Clint would say. I would be in heaven if I could act with her again and it sounds as if Tina and Clint would butt heads once or twice.” He continues, “Liz is being so wasted (in my small opinion) at GL. She is funny, ironic, dramatic, sexy, warm, honest, and naughty and can handle tons of work, she would be a gem on OLTL and the fans would love her. Longtime fans may recognize her from the other role she played on the show years ago.  Tina could cause so much trouble for Viki and Charlie, too. Let’s make this happen.”

Alright daytime fans, let’s get campaigning to bring Kiefer over to OLTL. It is the viewers and fans of daytime that make things happen and verDorn sends his appreciation to each and every one of you. 

“I want the fans of OLTL to know how much I appreciate their patience. Having done daytime for a long while I know recasts of major characters are difficult to accept and some never accept them. So many fans have offered their support of me in the role. As I get to know the character and the show better, I am certain the performances will become deeper and more familiar. I am very aware of the role I’ve been given and how much this Clint fellow has meant to the show and I look forward to adding to the show’s heritage…In the meantime, Happy New Year everyone.”

Jerry verDorn is one of daytime’s true and classiest gentlemen this writer has had the chance of interviewing. Thank you Jerry for taking time out of your busy shooting and holiday schedule to talk with me and the fans who love and adore you so much. Additionally, a special and huge thank you goes out to Wendy Madore for her assistance in making this interview possible. 

For more information about Jerry verDorn, his career and life, the Stars and Strikes Bowling event and to join his fan club, please visit http://www.jerryverdorn.com.