August 15, 2000
Soaps In Depth

Michael Tylo left behind his heart heart when a new project started monkeying around in outer space

Although Michael Tylo's trip to Cape Canaveral was for business, his stay was a pleasure. Not only had the veteran of GUIDING LIGHT (as Vanessa's half brother, Quint) and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS (as good-'n'-evil twins Rick and Blade) been cast in a film that fictionalizes the government's first attempts to send chimps into space, but his castmates included two of his golfing buddies, Scott Thompson (ex-Connor, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) and James Woods, with whom wife Hunter Tylo (Taylor, B&B) also is close.

"Scott and I play guidance technicians in the bunker," explains the soap mainstay, who résumé also includes GENERAL HOSPITAL and ALL MY CHILDREN (where he was paired on-screen with his future missus). "I'm jazzed about it. The whole race to space really intrigued me as a kid. I had the privilege of meeting Buzz Aldrin once, and I also worked with Kate Collins (ex-Natalie, AMC), whose father piloted a mission."

More Than Kid Stuff

Although the idea of a week with the guys in sunny Florida appealed to Tylo, he initially was hesitant to take a hiatus from playing Mr. Mom to his and Hunter's four children - especially since their youngest, Katya, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer.

"Ever since my daughter became sick, I haven't been actively looking for work that would keep me away from the house," he says. "I let Hunter do her thing: it's a great job and she enjoys it."

That's not to say that Tylo hasn't been keeping busy. After Katya fell ill, he successfully spearheaded an effort to pass a resolution in California declaring October Retinoblastoma International Month. Now he's hoping to pass a state law requiring doctors to perform eye exams at birth to detect pediatric eye diseases.

"I've become friends with the speaker of California Assembly," he reveals, "and other states and countries have asked for advice on getting their own resolutions passed."

Capital Gains

Could Tylo's involvement in political process entice him to become more involved in government? "I do find it interesting," he admits. "I enjoy the challenge of it."

In the meantime, Tylo wouldn't rule out the idea of popping up on another soap - thought he thinks soaps might have ruled him out. "These days," he muses, "soaps aren't looking for people my age. They want people with hard bodies and no life experience."

Michael Tylo kisses and tells on his comely former soap co-stars

In his years in daytime, the leading man had the good fortune to play scenes with some real Wonder Women. He even liked one of his castmates so much that he married her. Here's what he has to say about a few of his best gals...

Hunter Tylo: When Tylo signed on with ALL MY CHILDREN as adventurer Matt Connolly in 1986, blonde bombshell Deborah Morehart already was in Pine Valley, playing reformed con artist Robin McCall. By and by, their characters became involved, and so did they themselves. Today, Morehart is Tylo's wife Hunter. "When I first met her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life," he recalls. "I was dumbstruck and could only babble. She thought I was an absolute nutcase."

Susan Lucci: Not only did Tylo's AMC stint introduce him to the head turner who now shares his name, but it afforded him the opportunity to interact with the superstar whose name is synonymous with soaps - Erica Kane herself. "Absolutely terrific to work with, and never acted like a star," he attests. "I salute people like her."

Lisa Brown: In 1981, Tylo joined GUIDING LIGHT as Quint McCord, a mysterious archeologist who really, ahem, dug the reformed bad girl that this fellow serial mainstay was playing. Shortly after she reprised her GL role in the mid '90s, he followed the suit. "A delight to work with and a good friend," he says of GL's current on-set performance tutor. "She's one of the smartest actresses I know and is a great teacher and coach."

Brenda Epperson Doumani: Tylo's early '90s gig on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS paired him with this Eileen Davidson look-alike not once, but twice, for both of the brothers that he played - Rick and Blade Bladeson - had it bad for her Ashley Abbott. "Hysterical," he calls his two-time leading lady. "We always laughed and carried on. We were neighbors for a while in Las Vegas and she remains good friends with Hunter and me."