Ben Masters

Benjamin Masters (May 6, 1947 – January 11, 2023) was an American actor who is best known for his portrayal of Julian Crane in daytime drama Passions from July 8, 1999, to the show's final episode on August 7, 2008.

Early life Masters was born in Corvallis, Oregon, and graduated from the University of Oregon as a theater major.

In 1975, while filming a TV movie, One of Our Own, he broke his neck in a car accident. The break was misdiagnosed and he was sent home but, after discussing the problem with one of the doctors consulting on the movie and at the urging of his costar, George Peppard, he went back to the hospital, where a hangman's break was confirmed. Surgeons placed him in a halo traction brace, leaving noticeable scars on his forehead.

Career Masters moved to New York City and landed a role in the off-Broadway play The Boys in the Band. He also had a 13-month run in Kevin Wade's Key Exchange off-Broadway. The Broadway plays Captain Brassbound's Conversion with Ingrid Bergman and The Cherry Orchard with Irene Worth, Raul Julia, and Meryl Streep followed. Masters portrayed Nick, the older brother of the titular character in the 1976–1977 Saturday morning series Muggsy.

Masters started in daytime dramas when he portrayed Vic Strang on Another World for three months in 1982.

Masters later appeared as corporate raider Linc Bartlett in the television miniseries Noble House in 1988.

On May 14, 1994, Masters was one of the guests in the Walker, Texas Ranger two-hour special episode titled "The Reunion".

In 1999, he signed a contract for NBC's Passions, as the womanizing billionaire Julian Crane. His role on the daytime drama landed him Soap Opera Digest Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2001 and 2002 and Outstanding Lead Actor in 2005. After NBC announced that it was cancelling Passions in February 2007, Masters said "I will miss getting to play this part so much. I had such a great time playing Julian Crane. I wanted to do it until I couldn't do it anymore." Passions was later picked up by Directv for the 2007–2008 season. Death Masters died on January 11, 2023, at the age of 75, from complications of COVID-19 while battling dementia.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes1975 Mandingo Charles 1979 All That Jazz Dr. Garry 1985 Key Exchange Philip 1986 Dream Lover Michael Hansen 1987 Making Mr. Right Steve Marcus 1994 Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion Senator Julian Knox