Jennifer Bassey

Jennifer Bassey (born July 22, 1939) is an American actress who has worked on both stage and screen. She is perhaps best known for her role as Marian Colby in the ABC soap opera All My Children which she played on and off from 1983 until the show's cancellation in 2011.

Life and career Bassey was born in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Bassey moved back to the United States and took roles in several Off-Broadway plays. This led to further work in daytime soap operas.

After appearing in Love of Life, The Edge of Night, and Somerset, Bassey changed her professional name from "Joan Bassie" to "Jennifer Bassey." She chose the name Jennifer from Dr. Jennifer Stark, the role she had played on Love of Life. In the early 1990s, Bassey was one of several actresses brought in briefly to replace Eileen Fulton as Lisa on As the World Turns while Fulton was ill.

She began playing Marian Colby on ABC's soap opera All My Children (1983-1987, 1989, 1995-2009, 2011). She has appeared on All My Children for over 20 years and was a favorite among fans.

A libidinous wealthy widow with a penchant for forbidden romantic trysts, Marian was featured in a variety of storylines, allowing Bassey to showcase a variety of talents in both comedy and drama. In 1998, Bassey won the Soap Opera Digest Award for "Favorite Scene Stealer," and in 1999, alongside co-star David Canary, won the same award for "Favorite Couple". Also, in 1999, Bassey received her first Daytime Emmy nomination in the "Outstanding Supporting Actress" category. Bassey appeared on All My Children in both contract and recurring capacities until the show's 2011 network cancellation, but did not appear on the show's short-lived online incarnation.

Bassey did not participate in the February 2, 2017 All My Children reunion on the Hallmark Channel's Home & Family show. However, Home & Family did utilize footage of Bassey with actor Michael E. Knight from an infamous All My Children storyline wherein Knight's youthful Tad Martin had affairs with both Marian Colby and her daughter Liza (played by Marcy Walker). For her performance as Beverly on Anacostia, Bassey received her second Daytime Emmy nomination in the "Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Drama" category in 2018.

Personal life Bassey has been married twice, she married attorney Roy F. Emery in 1971 until his death in 1991. In 2004, she married her longtime companion, playwright Luther Davis until his death in 2008 at the age of 91. In November 2016 she became engaged to George Bamford in Waikiki, Hawaii.

In June 2015, Bassey made headlines when she was forced off a commercial airliner after a dispute with a flight attendant.

Bassey resides in Manhattan and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1988 Side by Side Jennifer Benson TV film Waxwork Mrs. Loftmore Goddess of Love Mrs. Wilson TV film 1989 Charlie Betty Wald TV film1990 The Platinum Triangle Mrs. Farber The Bonfire of the Vanities Diplomat's Wife1992 Twogether Mrs. McKenzie Stepfather III Dr. Brady TV film Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation Ruth TV film Singles Uncredited 1994 Illicit Dreams Real Estate Woman 1996 Dunston Checks In Angela Dellacroce 2000 It Had to Be You Mrs. Allen 2008 27 Dresses Jane's Aunt 2011 The Brothers Sinclair Vivian Sinclair 2017 The Depths Mrs. Peters2020 Kombucha Cure Hanna Nowacki Until We Meet Again Linda Davis Thompson Magic in Mount Holly Mrs. Halsen

Television Year Title Role Notes 1969-1971 Love of Life Dr. Jennifer Stark 1975 Somerset Dorothy Conrad 1976-1977 The Edge of Night Abby Wolcott 1983-2011 All My Children Marian Colby Chandler Series regular 1984 Paper Dolls Anna Crane 1 episode 1985 ABC Weekend Special Mrs. Waterford Episode: "Columbus Circle" 1987 L.A. Law Rita Stenheiser Episode: "The Grace of Wrath"1988 In the Heat of the Night Eugete Davenport Episode: "A Necessary Evil" Duet Mrs. Paxton Episode: "Oh Boy!" Dear John Eleanor Guthrie Episode: "Politics as Usual"1989 Who's the Boss? Beverly Fiske Episode: "Party Double" The Robert Guillaume Show Martha Episode: "Hello Again" Falcon Crest Cynthia Wallace 4 episodes Matlock Evie Malone Episode: "The Good Boy"1990 Murphy Brown Nancy Episode: "On the Road Again" Over My Dead Body Clarice Episode: "A Passing Inspection"1991 Jake and the Fatman Sara Fairchild Episode: "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" Pros and Cons Episode: "Murder Most Perfect"1993 Reasonable Doubts Dr. Nagel 2 episodes Matlock Gloria Morrell Episode: "The Debt" Tropical Heat Polly Episode: "Slumming It" L.A. Law Judge Helen Caplan Episode: "Foreign Co-respondent"1994 The Byrds of Paradise Sylvia Paton Episode: "Back in the Saddle Silk Stalkings Brooke Dupree Episode: "Time Share"1995 Robin's Hoods Cynthia Hollings Episode: "The Heartbreaker" Coach Alice Episode: "Fool for Lunch" Hudson Street Betsy Clifford Episode: "Contempt" 1996 ABC Afterschool Special Mrs. Hanff Episode: "Educating Mom" 1997 Silk Stalkings Meg Gordon Episode: "Night of the Parrot" 2002 Law & Order Mrs. Conley Episode: "Access Nation" 2007 30 Rock Old Vibrant Lady Episode: "Cleveland" 2012 Body of Proof Female Guest #2 Episode: "Falling for You" 2013 Grey's Anatomy Nancy Dawson 3 episodes2017 Woman of a Certain Age Older Kate Mini-series General Hospital Quinn Danvers 4 episodes Greenport Jean Anacostia Beverly Newman 2 episodes2020 Quarantine Joyce 3 episodes The Church of Mike Mrs. MacAuley Episode: "The Church of Mike"