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Kristian Alfonso

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Kristian Alfonso
Alfonso, with Days of Our Lives co-star Peter Reckell in 2004
Born
Kristian-Joy Alfonso

(1963-09-05) September 5, 1963 (age 60)
Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1981–present
Spouses
Simon Macauley
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1991)​
Danny Daggenhurst
​
​
(m. 2001)​
Children2
Websitewww.kristianonline.com

Kristian-Joy Alfonso (born September 5, 1963)[1][2] is an American actress, former figure skater, and fashion model. She is best known for playing the role of Hope Williams Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives (1983 to 1987, 1990, 1994 to 2020, return appearances from 2023 to present). She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress (then known as Outstanding Ingénue) in 1985 for her role on Days. Alfonso also played Pilar Ortega on Falcon Crest (1988 to 1990) and Lauren Ethridge on Melrose Place (1993 to 1994).

Early life[edit]

Alfonso was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. Her birth name is Kristian-Joy Alfonso. Her grandparents hailed from Sicily and Calabria, giving her full Italian heritage.[3][4] She has one sibling, an older sister.[5][6] As a teenager, she was an above-average student. Her extra-curricular activities were focused on ice skating and dance classes. Alfonso won the gold medal in figure skating at the Junior Olympics when she was thirteen years old.[7] After injuring her leg in a sledding accident, she had to give up skating and dancing.[6] Alfonso soon received opportunities that led to a modeling career and eventually acting. She graduated from Brockton High School in 1982.[7]

Career[edit]

1977-1981: Early work[edit]

After her skating career ended, Alfonso was signed to Wilhelmina Models. By the time she was fifteen, she had appeared on the covers of 30 international magazines, including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen in 1979.[7][3] Alfonso considered herself lucky to be working as a model because she stands at only 5'4½ inches tall. She sometimes had to stand on apple boxes to appear taller.[6]

Alfonso's modeling work gained attention from NBC and she received her first acting role. She was cast as Kelly Blake in the television film The Star Maker (1981), co-starring with Rock Hudson.[6][4][8] She was asked to audition for the role of Hope Williams on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, but she declined because she didn't want to move to Los Angeles.[4]

1983-1986: Days of Our Lives[edit]

In 1983, Alfonso had another opportunity to audition for the role of Hope on Days of Our Lives and she took it. During her screen test, she tripped and fell down the staircase at the Horton house. The producers were charmed by her clumsiness and she was signed to a contract.[4] Alfonso was the fifth actress to play Hope. The role had previously been played by Tammy Taylor in 1981. Alfonso's first air date was April 14, 1983.[9] The character of Hope Williams was paired with Bo Brady (played by Peter Reckell). Soap Opera Digest said the love story was "classic in its origins and continues to make people melt: gruff boy from the wrong side of the tracks...tames the spoiled rich girl who was getting into all sorts of trouble."[6]

Alfonso won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Exciting Female Newcomer for her role on Days in 1984.[10] She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress (then known as Outstanding Ingénue) in 1985.[11] She also received Young Artist Award nominations in 1984, 1985, and 1986.[12][13][14]

1987-1994: Other work[edit]

Alfonso and Peter Reckell decided to leave Days of Our Lives, last airing in April 1987. The characters of Bo and Hope left Salem to sail around the world with their son, Shawn.[9][15] After leaving Days, Alfonso made guest appearances on Who's the Boss? and Murder, She Wrote.[16] She played Cassandra in the television film Out of Time (1988).[17] From 1988 to 1989, she had recurring roles on MacGyver and Full House.[16]

In 1988, Alfonso joined the cast of the CBS series Falcon Crest, playing Pilar Ortega.[16] In April 1990, it was announced that she would return to Days of Our Lives for a few months during a hiatus from Falcon Crest.[15] Since Peter Reckell was able to make a long term return to Days and Alfonso wasn't, the character of Hope was killed off.[9]

Alfonso co-starred with Dolph Lundgren in the film Joshua Tree (also titled Army of One) (1993).[18] She had a recurring role on Baywatch. From 1993 to 1994, Alfonso played the recurring role of Lauren Ethridge, a Hollywood madam, on Melrose Place.[19][16] She guest starred on Burke's Law.[7] Alfonso played Chris Madigan in the television film Blindfold: Acts of Obsession (1994).[20] She was considered to play figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in a television film.[19]

1994-2009: Days return[edit]

Alfonso returned to Days of Our Lives, first airing May 6, 1994. Alfonso signed a long-term contract with the show.[19] In 1995, she received a Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Hottest Actress for her role on Days.[21] She played Jeanna in the film In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King.[22] In 1997, Alfonso played Chelsea Coals in the television film What Happened to Bobby Earl?[23][24] She also appeared in the television film Steve.oedekerk.com.[25]

In 1999, she won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Female Star for her role on Days of Our Lives.[26] In 2000, she played her Days character, Hope Brady, on an episode of Friends.[16] She also played Hope in the primetime special Days of Our Lives' 35th Anniversary.[27] In 2001, Alfonso and Peter Reckell won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Couple.[28]

Alfonso played Mary Everly in the film Day of Redemption (2004).[29] She guest starred with Peter Reckell, playing their Days characters, on an episode of 30 Rock in 2009.[30]

2019-present[edit]

In November 2019, it was announced that the entire cast of Days of Our Lives had been released from their contracts. The show was put on an indefinite hiatus.[31][32] In January 2020, the show was renewed for season 56. Alfonso returned as Hope in February 2020.[33][34] Days suspended filming in mid-March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, Alfonso announced that she wouldn't be returning to the show when it resumed production in September. In a statement, she said, "It is now time for me to write my next chapter."[35]

In October 2020, it was announced that Alfonso would co-star with Alison Sweeney in the Hallmark Channel film Chronicle Mysteries.[36] In 2021, she joined the cast of Lifetime's four-movie V. C. Andrews event, appearing in the episodes All That Glitters and Hidden Jewel.[37] In July 2022, Alfonso returned to the role of Hope Brady in Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, a spinoff series streaming on Peacock.[38] In 2023, she returned to Days of Our Lives for a short time, along with her former co-stars Peter Reckell and Victoria Konefal.[39] In April 2024, it was announced that Alfonso would make a brief return to Days, airing November 29.[40]

Personal life[edit]

Alfonso was married to Simon Macauley from 1987 to 1991. They have a son, born in October 1990. She married Danny Daggenhurst on October 6, 2001.[41] The couple have two children.[1][42][43]

In November 2006, Alfonso created her own jewelry line called Hope Faith Miracles and a fashion line, Hope by Kristian Alfonso. Ten years later, she announced the company had been purchased, and she was no longer involved.[44]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Joshua Tree Rita Marek
1995 In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King Jeanna
2004 Day of Redemption Mary Everly
2019 Cool Cat's Crazy Dream Dream World Kristian Video

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Star Maker Kelly Blake Television film
1983–1987; 1990; 1994–2020; 2023, 2024 Days of Our Lives Hope Williams Brady Contract role (1983–1987; 1994–2020); Recurring role (1990; 2023; 2024)
1985 Amazing Stories Episode: "Remote Control Man"
1987 Who's the Boss? Frankie Episode: "Frankie and Tony Are Lovers"
1988 Murder, She Wrote Michele Gambini Episode: "A Very Good Year for Murder"
Out of Time Cassandra Barber Television film
1988; 1989 MacGyver Deborah 2 episodes
1988; 1989 Full House Judge; Robin Winslow 2 episodes
1988–1990 Falcon Crest Pilar Ortega Cumson Series regular

44 episodes

1993 Baywatch Debra Harris 2 episodes
1993–1994 Melrose Place Lauren Ethridge Recurring role

7 episodes

1994 Burke's Law Susan Bell Episode: "Who Killed the Legal Eagle?"
Blindfold: Acts of Obsession Chris Madigan Television film
1997 What Happened to Bobby Earl? Chelsea Coals Television film
steve.oedekerk.com Lisa Television film
2000 Friends Hope Brady Episode: "The One That Could Have Been: Part 1"
Days of Our Lives' 35th Anniversary Hope Williams Brady Television film
2003 Secret Lives Host
2009 30 Rock Hope Brady Episode: "Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001"
2021 The Chronicle Mysteries Sheriff Williams Television miniseries
V.C. Andrews' Landry Family Gladys 2 episodes
2022 Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Hope Williams Brady Television miniseries

5 episodes

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Official Kristian Alfonso Website". Official Kristian Alfonso Website. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Waldo, Garren (September 5, 2022). "Days of our Lives Alum Kristian Alfonso Celebrates Her Birthday". Soap Hub. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Kristian Alfonso Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kristian Alfonso Archives". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kristian Alfonso, Danny Daggenhurst Biography". MySportDab. September 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "#TBT - Kristian Alfonso". Soap Opera Digest. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "About the Actors - Kristian Alfonso". soapcentral.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Star Maker - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Who's Who in Salem: Hope Williams Brady". Soap Central. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 1984". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "1985 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "Fifth Annual Youth in Film Awards 1982-1983". youngartistawards.org. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "Sixth Annual Youth in Film Awards 1983-1984". youngartistawards.org. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  14. ^ "Seventh Annual Youth in Film Awards 1984-1985". youngartistawards.org. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Bonderoff, Jason (April 17, 1990). "Late Breaking News: Can Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso Bring Back the Magic?". Soap Opera Digest. 15 (8): 72–73.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Credits: Kristian Alfonso". TV Guide. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Out of Time - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  18. ^ "Army of One - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Days Flash: Alfonso Sails Into Salem". Soap Opera Digest. 19 (10): 8. May 10, 1994.
  20. ^ "Blindfold: Acts of Obsession - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  21. ^ "The Soap Opera Awards". Soap Opera Digest. 20 (22): 63. October 24, 1995.
  22. ^ "In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man With One Eye Is King". Entertainment Weekly. October 27, 1995. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Shales, Tom (January 28, 1997). "'Bobby Earl': Good Boy, Wrong Turn". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "Hope Alice Williams played by Kristian Alfonso: Actor Bio". NBC. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  25. ^ Everett, Todd (September 7, 1997). "Steve.Oedekerk.com". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  26. ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 1999". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  27. ^ "Days of Our Lives' 35th Anniversary". AV Club. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  28. ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 2001". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  29. ^ "Day of Redemption - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  30. ^ Bowe, Jillian (December 3, 2009). "Kristian Alfonso & Peter Reckell Debut on 30 Rock Tonight!". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  31. ^ Ausiello, Michael (November 12, 2019). "Days of Our Lives: Entire Cast Released From Contract — Is the End Nigh?". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  32. ^ Todisco, Eric (November 12, 2019). "Days of Our Lives Put on Hiatus — But Source Says Soap Will 'Almost Definitely Get Renewed'". People. United States: Time Inc. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  33. ^ Ausiello, Michael (January 29, 2020). "Days of Our Lives Renewed at NBC — Which Cast Members Are Returning?". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  34. ^ "DAYS to Resume Production February 3". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. January 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 6, 2020). "Kristian Alfonso Exits Days of Our Lives After 37 Years". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  36. ^ Bowe, Jillian (October 23, 2020). "Former Days of Our Lives Star Kristian Alfonso Joins Alison Sweeney's Chronicle Mysteries". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  37. ^ "Kristian Alfonso Shares Upcoming Role In V.C. Andrews Lifetime Movie Event Series, 'All That Glitters' and 'Hidden Jewel'". Michael Fairman TV. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  38. ^ Haring, Bruce (July 3, 2022). "'Days Of Our Lives' Star Kristian Alfonso Is Back - But It's A New 'Day' In Her Career". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  39. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (November 12, 2022). "Peter Reckell, Kristian Alfonso, and Victoria Konefal returning to Days of our Lives". Soap Central. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  40. ^ Rice, Lynette (April 22, 2024). "'Days Of Our Lives' Brings Back Kristian Alfonso For Brief Return To Pay Tribute To Late Bill Hayes". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  41. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (October 19, 2001). "Alfonso's double commitment". Soapcentral.com. United States. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  42. ^ "Kristian Alfonso 411". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
  43. ^ "Heiress who casts herself as a struggling actress". September 20, 1996. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  44. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (November 11, 2016). ""Days" Kristian Alfonso bows out of jewelry world". Soapcentral.com. United States. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

External links[edit]

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