Kristoff Saint John

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SOAP STAR STATS

Kristoff Saint John (Neil, Y&R)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Kristoff St. John was born with acting in his blood. His father, Christopher, is an actor/director, while his stepmother, Marie, is an actress who graduated from London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. St. John considers Marie to be his mother and has a great deal of respect for her for giving up her career for her family.

At the age of 7, St. John took his first step into the family business, finding his first break on Clifton Davis's sitcom, THAT'S MY MAMA. However, it was when he played young Alex Haley in ROOTS II: THE NEXT GENERATIONS that his acting career truly took off. He landed small parts, often just guest spots, on series such as HAPPY DAYS and THE COSBY SHOW, and films like The Champ. He then got a recurring role on the COSBY spin-off, A DIFFERENT WORLD, which brought him to GENERATIONS.

GENERATIONS was an innovative soap when it debuted in 1989 because it was the first to feature a black core family. St. John played Adam during its two-year run. Before the show ended, Y&R producers contacted him to play Neil Winters, cosmetics executive and love of Drucilla.

Although a regular on Y&R since 1991, St. John is thankful that the show has given him the opportunity to take time off for other projects. He has worked on sitcoms like MARTIN and HANGIN' WITH MR. COOPER. Off-screen, St. John enjoys spending time with his kids and working for various charities, including PETA and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

2007 proved to be an eventful year for the talented actor. In addition to winning his seventh NAACP Image Award, he was nominated for his fourth Daytime Emmy. On-screen, he lost his leading lady when Victoria Rowell (Dru) left in April, but in the scenes immediately after Dru’s disappearance, St. John once again proved why he’s won so many acting honors.

Et Cetera

b>Five Random Facts
—Was a childhood friend of Soleil Moon Frye of PUNKY BREWSTER fame.
—Y&R producers offered St. John a contract two days after he began work, although he was originally hired as a day player.
—St. John plays the guitar.
— His father, Christopher St. John, starred as Ben in Shaft.
— Starred in the TV version of THE BAD NEWS BEARS with future Y&R co-star Tricia Cast (ex-Nina) and ’80s teen idol Corey Feldman.

Career Highlights

Soap Roles
GENERATIONS (Adam Marshall, 1989-91)

TV Roles
ARLI$$ (Kyle Welles, 2002)
GET REAL (Joe, 1999)
FOR YOUR LOVE (Charles Pressman, 1999)
SUDDENLY SUSAN (Patrick, 1998)
FAMILY MATTERS (D’Andre, 1998)
PENSACOLA: WINGS OF GOLD (Marovich, Prosecuting Attorney, 1998)
THE JAMIE FOXX SHOW (Morris, 1997)
LIVING SINGLE (Norwood, 1997)
MARTIN (Fred Livington, 1996)
HANGIN' WITH MR. COOPER (Eric, 1994-95)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (Sammy Garrett, 1994)
FINISH LINE (Tito Landreau, 1989)
A DIFFERENT WORLD (E.Z. Brooks, 1988)
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW! (Bob, 1987)
CHARLIE & CO. (Charlie Richmond, Jr., 1985-86)
THE ATLANTA CHILD MURDERS (Sheldon Kemp, 1985)
THE COSBY SHOW (David James, 1984)
CBS AFTERNOON PLAYHOUSE (Teddy, 1982)
SISTER, SISTER (Danny Burton, 1982)
FOUL PLAY (Jimmy Greene, 1981)
BEULAH LAND (Young Roman, 1980)
THE BAD NEWS BEARS (Ahmad Abdul Rahim, 1979)
ROOTS: THE NEXT GENERATIONS (Alex Haley, 1979)
WONDER WOMAN (Linc, 1977)
THE RICHARD PRYOR SPECIAL (Himself, 1977)
HAPPY DAYS (Brooker Brown, 1976)
THAT’S MY MAMA (Andy, 1975)

Film Roles
Spiritual Warriors (Hospital Administrator, 2006)
Carpool Guy (Steven, 2005)
Trois 2: Pandora’s Box (Victor Dubois, 2002)
The Champ (Sonny, 1979)

Memorable Quotes

"It always makes me a little nervous to hear I’m going to have [a shirtless] or a next-to-nude scene. I tend to go more for the work than I do for the body material."
— Soap Opera Digest, 4/17/07

"I would have to say, without a doubt, that the biggest change in my life has been my undying commitment and my fervent desire to keep my family happy and well. The job has allowed me the time to watch my kids grow, and I’ve seen myself grow as a father and as a man."
— Digest, 4/5/05

"Shemar [Moore, Malcolm] has a much better body than I do. I’m the first one to say, 'Can I keep my shirt on? Please?' "
— Digest, 11/5/96

"My first day on the set, Eric Braeden [Victor] said, ‘Here is some advice. Say your lines and go home. When you see Mr. Bell, say, “Hello, good to see you,” and go home. Nothing else.’ I’ve followed that advice ever since."
— on his co-stars, Digest 11/5/96

"The result is I’m seeing more minorities on daytime television. If it hadn’t been for GENERATIONS, I wouldn’t have been on Y&R."
— Defending the canceled GENERATIONS, Digest, 10/15/91

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