Ever heard of John Martinuzzi? Unless you’re a real fan of soap operas back in the 1980s, you probably have not heard of it. Ever heard of John Morrissey? Unless you’re a movie buff and know who produced the film first category of this year or that, you probably not heard of it, either.
In fact, as a consumer of television and film entertainment, which is not likely more familiar by name, with Mr. Morrissey than you are with Mr. Martinuzzi. However, if you are a habitual consumer of television and film entertainment, be sure you are aware of the products made under these names.
In 1982, John Martinuzzi originated the role of Stavros Cassadine-deliciously evil in the General Hospital, ABC, and continued in 1984 with the work of David Preston on CBS ‘The Guiding Light. John Morrissey is the producer of films set recognized and celebrated, namely, American History X acclaimed by critics, among others, both for the big screen and television.
What makes this interesting is that Martinuzzi and Morrissey is the same man. Actor, producer, writer, photographer, designer clothes, these are their professions in the first 50 years or more.
It is in the transition from one name to another form, a visibility to the other, the meat of the story is revealed. For all practical purposes for anyone who has followed his screen work, John Martinuzzi seemed to disappear from the face of the earth, and then, only its growth “fans” as John Martinuzzi aka Stavros-is left wondering if he, like Stavros, had died. . . or at least retired from the industry, for example, a car salesman.
What happened?
John Martinuzzi, the man is alive and well, living in Los Angeles, but the name is no more.
Martinuzzi Using as his surname, the actor came to light in 1983 as Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital, a part that had no way of knowing that I live in the history of soap. And while Stavros died during the term of Martinuzzi, the character was resurrected at the end, with another actor in the role. This is when John Martinuzzi slowly began to transform itself into oblivion – or so it seemed the public had come to enjoy his convincing interpretation of a character as complicated. Despite Martinuzzi took another nationally known role in The Guiding Light a few years later, he never took the character of the viewers the same way. Then he had gone to the visibility of every day. No more John Martinuzzi.
Actually not so fast, though. Things were changing in the life of John. A lot of things. To start from the beginning, which originally brought John in the bright lights of stage, television and film, and what came about to bring out their characters change?
He was born in the 1950s. At a point where there was no male figure in his life, his mother worked as assistant to the famous Eartha Kitt, and she and John lived with her. Eartha called the “head of household”, and said it was “stubborn and aggressive in its way, but very smart.” It was a “unique” atmosphere, as the head of his house “was a black woman.” John soon got used to “women and blacks in positions of power.”
He, his mother, Eartha was from theater to theater and, as he said, acting “We thought it was … What the adults did.” So when he grew up, John did the same. He went to college and then to drama school in London. He did a considerable amount of regional theater before moving to Broadway.
How did you make the transition to soap operas?
Auditioned. As John Martinuzzi, auditioned six times for the role of Stavros Cassadine. Although Morrissey was born John James III, his parents divorced and his mother remarried a last resort. Was adopted by his stepfather and lived as John Martinuzzi in adulthood-and notoriety as an actor, once he had begun with these auditions.
John said: “At the time he reached the final,” the process of casting for the role of Stavros, “I had become what I imagined, and changed some dialogue for me and when I improvise, it add some of what I said. “Stavros was solely his, but said that some only a year or so, he put a stamp on the character irresistible. . . so much so that more than 25 years later, audiences still talk about “John Martinuzzi” and his interpretation of Stavros Cassadine. And the next thing I know is, “What happened to him?”
After his stint on General Hospital and then The Guiding Light, and other less visible functions, John moved from the front of the cameras behind them as a film producer. During this time, he decided to return to their roots. Now the name change. It happened when he fell in love and asked his girlfriend to marry him.
“You have my name?” he asked.
“It’s not Italian,” she replied, “but I prefer your real name.” He accepted, and returned to his birth name. For nearly 14 years, John James Morrissey III was married with a family, working regularly as a film producer. He helped raise his wife’s daughter from a previous marriage whom he calls “a spectacular girl” with the softness of his voice, and John Martinuzzi slipped in the past.
By changing his name, John did not realize he was actually cutting a part of their public image. Not even cross his mind. Surprisingly, he was totally unaware that he still had many followers. When the issue of consolidated Stavros was brought up, John was surprised.
“I do not think the role was recast. Family members were elected. I do not think Stavros was recast.” He hesitated. “Maybe I do not know.”
He did not know. Stavros said he was returned in 2001 with Robert Kelker-Kelly in the hand, and asked directly: “Genie was the show?”
“Genie” refers to Genie Francis, the actress who starred as Laura Spencer, and went on to become half of Luke and Laura, one of the most famous soap couples of all time.
When informed that Genie was on the show at the moment, John’s response was short. “Genie have opposed me to come to.”
This brings us to the real story, not only between the characters, Laura and Stavros, but also between the actors, Genie and John.
“I have not followed GENERAL HOSPITAL,” said John. “I did not follow GENERAL HOSPITAL when I was in it.”
After only a slight hesitation, he had evidently made a decision, the decision to tell his story. “I fell in love Genie Francis, and have lived together for several years.” This explains the realism behind their electric on-screen chemistry. “We made some plays after our work [together] … I had a good time. She was worried about becoming an actress best … So we went to New York, I wanted to study with my acting coach. We New York, which was released in some plays, who was studying “….
He paused to collect his thoughts, as if trying to decide how best to relate the next part of their shared tragedy.
“I was an alcoholic, I’m an alcoholic, and I really do not know, but it did. She had been exposed to her father’s alcoholism, and she had had its own process with drugs and alcohol even though it was very young. She understood a lot more about alcoholism and AAque me, so I think I was not a viable partner for her, really. ”
Anyone who has followed the story GENERAL HOSPITAL has heard rumors that his lead actor Genie and then became an offscreen item. What happened to the romance, however, has been almost as much a mystery protagonist’s whereabouts since leaving daytime television. There was now personally explain what had happened behind the scenes.
“It was impossible to carry out and therefore after a few years, we parted. She was, and is very annoying for me.” His voice tinged with regret. “… She was angry with me because I was upset with her.” They did things together, as often happens when love gets hurt. John seemed surprised by the depth of his memories of the years. “I did not even hardly remember the things I did that bothered her, but apparently” laughed uncomfortably, “it is still annoying, I discovered years later. She is one of the few women who have had a serious relationship with I did not stay very good friends… and for whatever reason, have not kept up friendship with Genie. ”
So the truth of the storm and Stavros Laura / Genie and John’s story is finally revealed. He lived with his grief and Genie was after, although not yet reducing their lifestyle.
“I did two years in The Guiding Light, as John Martinuzzi. “The name change had not taken place yet missing a few years in the future.” That was interesting, “he continued,” but I think my drinking began to blow more during that time … Telenovela acting just was not interested in. I was was a bit too limiting. ”
John sighed deeply. It seemed as if he had not visited this period of his life in quite some time. “I was very young and very scared to take a step and try to get somewhere on my own, go in the direction I really wanted to go as an artist at any level …. I did some works theater, while in the show. And right after my contract ended, I came to Los Angeles in 1987. I had acted in a lot of TV series, but found I was on top of my alcoholism and continue to deny, but still does not recognize it, but that was interfering with my life. ”
What happened? Love happened. “I met this woman, and I really liked … and I found some other people who were film producers, film production and began to get interested …. Acting is ego-oriented. Even [the] actors they are not particularly selfish. ”
The surprise here was that John did not seem to be a selfish man. When the world has only one or perhaps two characters on which to base an impression, and when the characters are selfish and not so nice, it’s a terrible mistake to expect the person behind the characterizations to be similar.
The man himself was quite the opposite. “Steady,” until you’re a star, worrying about how you look and having to run to pursue work. Centered in itself. And the parts of ourselves that are not necessarily the most interesting. So I was tired it. I was attracted to the film production. I had not stopped working on all there was left to act consciously, but I have increasingly involved in production. ”
When asked if he’d consider acting again, he replied: “I like acting. It’s fun. It’s the best of lifestyles …” he laughed, the sound cheerful, young, naughty, “I have lived. You show up on set, everyone treats you well and you get a lot of privileges. Nice ego boost things happen, then go out and play y… “Again he laughed,” that is all that is expected of you. It is emotionally difficult, but I like it. But I’m not so eager to go because I do not want to worry about running in search of work. It is a pain in the ass. “More cheerful laughter.” Therefore, “in definite answer to the original question,” If people ask me to act, I do. ”
It was here in its history, at a time when he was in love and away from acting and production, to true life change was proposed, and his wife, said: “Yes.” She wanted to be Mrs. Morrissey, though not, Mrs. Martinuzzi. John returned to the name given at birth, and this lifestyle worked well for a while, enough time to get used to being a husband and father. Although he was married, was well received X American History, with Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, and Stacy Keach.
“I’ve produced 14 or 15 films and television are a few things, and I have an ongoing career as a producer and a lot of credibility and good standing in the industry, so I think I’m in good shape, and may well money doing it. ”
Unfortunately, despite his professional world was going well, his personal life went through another major change. In 2001, with a solid career as a filmmaker, he and his wife had separated. John was again alone. . . and this seemed to encourage the desire for something new in your professional life, too.
“I felt I had grown limited by what he was doing as a producer,” he said. “The production is so depependent a collection so huge and the variety of people can be monumental frustrating. I can certainly make a good living and get a lot of films made, but I’m not interested in making movies that do not compel me as American History X did. I made some films just to make a living, and I do not particularly want to do that. ”
I needed to expand again. He had the means, and that “… He began writing again, I am a photographer, and shot a variety of publications. A few years ago I decided I was interested in women’s clothing, so I started designing. My line is starting to take off …. I just made a major sale of Sears Mexico. Sears in Mexico is associated with Sachs, who bought my line, named John Morrissey, as well as a number of other stores in Mexico City. I have started to sell in Miami. I’m putting all my attention on the Mexican process because my clothes on sale in September. ”
What led John to take his clothes venture south of the border with the U.S.?
“At the time I separated from my wife, I decided to learn to speak Spanish. I’ve had a growing interest in Central and South America, and have traveled to Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, Argentina and Uruguay.” Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia and Chile are on their list of travel sites in the future.
Juan-emotional journey and literally painted the picture of a businessman, a man with varied interests, yet connected, and the determination is not limited to just one, but instead, stand in them all.
When it was suggested that he was a businessman, thought for a moment before answering. “Production is business. I think I am is an artist, and I find different ways or places to practice or express or develop my art. For me, everything comes from the same place …. design clothing and writing and taking photographs and film production and acting, and all this is sort of the same thing. I know not, require different skill sets, but the impulse comes from exactly the place. I think of myself as an artist. Some of the things I do requires entrepreneurial skills, the mine is very limited. “He laughed, as if he could not see himself in that role.
However, hearing her story, there seemed little about this man who could be described as “limited.” He gave an air of confidence was, but oversure. Able, but not arrogant. Someone who knew his way in the romance, but really prefers to be in love with a special woman.
What provoked a revealing commentary on John. Speaking again on its first real national role, that of Stavros in the General Hospital, said: “It was interesting to me because it kind of changed my view of myself. I thought of myself as a character, a sort of strange-looking boy, and me as a very sexy. I had a great impact on my own image. ”
Sometimes that’s what it takes. The perception, along with acceptance and action. John went for the role was given to him, he learned to play, and highlighted.
That could, in fact, the modus operandi of these days John Morrissey. Not only has his name. In his own words, “September 17, 1993, I stopped drinking and using drugs and I’ve been clean and sober since. In 1996 I quit.” Each time everything went in the life of another curve, which has found a new role. For each new challenge, which has figured out how to play each. It seems that every corner of John in turn, will continue happily surprised.
But make no mistake. If you want to keep an eye on this artist, from now on have to be looking at John Morrissey, John Martinuzzi!
John Martinuzzi may be gone, but there is no pain there. Morrissey is here to stay!