PRESS



"Palance Faces the Future After 'RH' Cancellation," United Feature Syndicate, November 25, 1988

By Nancy M. Reichardt


NEW YORK -- Only a few years ago, 18-year-old Michael Palance -- who plays spoiled but love-starved rich kid Rob Rowan on "Ryan's Hope" -- was a highschool student with a big dream: To be a successful actor.

As luck would have it, while Palance was in the 11th grade, he landed a recurring role as class clown Kevin Stanton on "Guiding Light." Although Palance planned to attend New York University after his "GL" stint ended, the actor had to postpone his plans when "Ryan's Hope" tapped him to play Rob Rowan. It was a dream come true for Palance, but his hopes were dashed when ABC recently announced the cancellation of "RH" after 13-and-a-half years on the air.

"When I heard the news, my immediate reaction was of numbness," says Palance. "I'm upset that a lot of the plans that were made are not going to go through now. But the cancellation has happened. It's a fact.

"The cast and crew of the show -- and everybody else up and down the line -- knows that we're a good show," he adds proudly. "We have nothing to be ashamed of. We're going to keep our heads up high and go out with a bang."

Since Palance joined "RH" this past June, his romance with eccentric older woman Delia Crane (played by Ilene Kristen) has shaken up the denizens of Riverside. And just about everyone in town would love to break them up. At first, Rob began dating lower-class Delia to spite his manipulative upper-crust mother, Sherry Rowan (Diana van der Vlis). But later the love match turned into the real thing -- much to his mother's dismay.

Palance says he thoroughly enjoyed playing out his character's May-December love story with Delia. The make-believe romance has even led to a close friendship between Palance and Kristen.

"I've learned so much from Ilene -- she's fantastic!" raves the Long Island born-and-reared actor. "When you get that close in scenes together, you can't help but become really good riends. I love Ilene's energy. She's always up. We have terrific chemistry. It feels good to do scenes with her."

If Palance could script his own ending to the Rob-Delia plotline, he'd have the two of them ride off into the sunset together.

"There's going to be a lot coming up on the show where everybody ends up hating Rob," reveals Palance. "I would love to see him show everybody up, marry Delia, and be happy. For right now, though, I wish they'd get the two of them in bed! I don't know why soaps have to drag things out so long."

Since Palance is a few years younger than his 23-year-old TV persona, it's been a learning experience for him to play the suave and sophisticated Rob.

"Portraying Rob has taught me a lot about myself," offers Palance. "It's hard to play someone older. I've spent a lot of time observing older people and doing character studies of them. I've been forced to become more mature. Rob and I are very different, so it's a real high for me to play him. He's my alter ego, my dark side."

Palance, whose only acting credits, besides the two soaps, are a failed pilot called "Down Delaware Road" and an educational film about the drug crack, says he's eager to pay his dues in the theater after "RH" leaves the air.

"Since I stepped into television first, I've never had a chance to work at my craft in the theater and really grow as an actor," says Palance. "I need to get down to basics before I pursue nighttime TV and film, which is where I eventually see myself going."

If nothing pans out right away in the theater world, Palance plans to attend New York University part-time and work toward a degree.

"Education is very important," he emphasizes. "Going to college could only help me in my career, and also help me grow as a person. I would like to be a learned person. An education is something no one can ever take away from you."

---

Nancy Reichardt is a soap opera columnist for United Feature Syndicate, Inc.