Don Hastings
|
|
Don Hastings |
Bucks County Playhouse productions
Period of Adjustment - George Haverstick - 1967
Internet Broadway Database - Don Hastings
Internet Movie Database - Don Hastings
Don Hastings
(1934 - )
Don Hastings, who has been playing the role of Dr. Bob Hughes on the CBS Television daytime drama, "As The World Turns" since October 1960, is also a member of the Writer's Guild. He wrote scripts for ATWT under the series' creator and head writer, Irna Phillips, from 1971 to 1972, and has also written for CBS's other East Coast daytime drama, Guiding Light. In November 1993, he was honored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) with the Silver Circle award, which recognizes people with a minimum of 25 years in the television industry.
Hastings got his unexpected start in show business at the age of 6, while accompanying his older brother, Bob, to the children's radio program on which he sang. A producer heard that the younger Hastings could sing as well, and an audition that followed landed him a part on the radio program "Coast to Coast on a Bus."
The exposure Hastings received from that radio role led to a part in the national company of the play Life With Father in 1941. He toured with them for three seasons and has acted ever since.
Hasting's Broadway credits include his 1944 debut in I Remember Mama, On Whitman Avenue (1946), A Young Man's Fancy (1947) and Summer and Smoke (1948). During these years, he also worked in radio and television.
In 1949, Hastings turned to television full-time, playing Ranger on the children's program "Captain Video," until the program went off the air six years later. He subsequently worked in a number of television series, including "Studio One," which was originally a radio show on which Hastings also played a part; "Crunch and Des," and the daytime dramas, "A Date with Life" and "Modern Romances."
In April 1956, he joined the cast of his first daytime drama, "The Edge of Night," where he remained for four and a half years.
His wife, actress Leslie Denniston, whom Hastings met when she was on ATWT, has also worked on "Guiding Light". The live in New York state with their daughter, Katharine Scott Hastings (b. 9/23/82). He also has two daughters, Jennifer and Julie, and a son, Matthew, from a previous marriage.
Hastings' interests include travel and golf. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and his birthdate is April 1, 1934.