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Ben Masters

Ben Masters (May 6, 1947 – January 11, 2023) was an American actor best known for his portrayal of the wealthy and philandering on the Passions from 1999 to 2008. Born in , Masters graduated from Corvallis High School in 1965 and earned a B.A. in theater arts from the in 1969. After moving to , he built an early career in theater, appearing in productions such as Captain Brassbound's Conversion (with ) and , and in the production The Boys in the Band in the 1970s. He transitioned to film and television in the mid-1970s, debuting in the drama Mandingo (1975) and earning notice for his role as the choreographer's doctor in Bob Fosse's musical All That Jazz (1979). Masters' screen career included supporting roles in films like (1985), (1987), and (1993), alongside television guest appearances on series such as , , and the miniseries Noble House (1988). His role on , where he played the Crane family patriarch across 1,738 episodes, marked his most prominent and enduring work, cementing his status in daytime television. Masters died of COVID-19 complications in Palm Springs, California, at age 75, after several years battling dementia; he was survived by his sister Cheryl Lerner and her daughters, Hannah and Clea Lerner.

Early life and education

Upbringing in Oregon

Ben Masters was born on May 6, 1947, in Corvallis, , to Floyd Beryl Masters Jr. and Mary Minnie (Cozad) Masters. He grew up in Corvallis alongside his sister, Cheryl Lerner. Masters attended Corvallis High School, from which he graduated in 1965. During his high school years, he developed an early interest in the , which laid the foundation for his future career in theater.

Academic background

Ben Masters pursued his at the , where he majored in theater and developed foundational skills in acting and performance. He earned a degree in theater from the university in 1969.

Acting career

Theater work

Masters began his New York stage career with an off-Broadway debut in a revival of Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band, marking his entry into professional theater in the early 1970s. He soon achieved prominence with a leading role as Philip in Kevin Wade's , an off-Broadway romantic comedy that explored modern relationships through cycling encounters in ; the production enjoyed an extended 13-month run starting in June 1981 at the Orpheum Theatre, solidifying his reputation in contemporary ensemble works. Transitioning to Broadway, Masters made his debut in the 1972 revival of George Bernard Shaw's Captain Brassbound's Conversion at the , portraying the American Bluejacket in a cast led by as Lady Cicely Waynflete and as the title character. Directed by , the production opened on April 17 and closed after just 13 performances amid mixed critical reception; while Bergman's commanding presence was lauded for its wit and vitality, reviewers noted the staging's uneven pace and the play's dated elements in a post-colonial context. In 1977, he appeared as Yasha in Theater's acclaimed revival of Anton Chekhov's at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, alongside , Raúl Juliá, and ; directed by Andrei Șerban, the innovative production—emphasizing ensemble dynamics and symbolic staging—earned praise for revitalizing the classic's themes of loss and , running 62 performances initially before a return engagement of 48 shows. Masters continued his Broadway tenure with supporting roles in other notable productions, including Gaston in the 1973 revival of Jean Anouilh's The Waltz of the Toreadors and Codename Lazar in David Hare's Plenty in 1983 at the Plymouth Theatre, a critically hailed drama starring Kate Nelligan that dissected post-World War II disillusionment and ran for 124 performances. These stage experiences, spanning classical revivals and modern dramas, provided Masters with rigorous training in character depth and live performance, forming the bedrock of his versatile acting approach as he shifted toward screen work in the late 1970s.

Television roles

Masters began his television career with a leading role as Nick Malloy in the short-lived NBC Saturday morning series Muggsy (1976-1977), where he portrayed the responsible older brother raising his 13-year-old sister Margaret "Muggsy" Malloy in a converted truck trailer behind a gas station following their parents' death; the drama followed the siblings' daily challenges and adventures in a modest, self-reliant lifestyle. He also made guest appearances on series including Kojak and Murder, She Wrote. In 1982, Masters took on a recurring role as Vic Strang, a corporate character, in the daytime soap opera Another World for a six-month stint, introducing him to the genre's serialized storytelling. He later starred as the ambitious corporate raider Linc Bartlett in the 1988 NBC miniseries Noble House, a high-stakes drama set in Hong Kong's business world, adapted from James Clavell's novel, where Bartlett navigates , rivalries, and power struggles within an elite . Masters achieved his greatest television recognition portraying Julian Crane in the NBC soap opera Passions from 1999 to 2008, appearing in 777 episodes as the wealthy, womanizing heir to the powerful Crane family dynasty in the fictional town of . Initially depicted as a drunken philanderer trapped in a loveless, antagonistic marriage to Ivy Crane (played by Kim Huber), Julian's arc evolved through revelations of family secrets, including a long-concealed affair with Dr. Eve Russell (Tracey Ross) that produced a son, , and his gradual shift toward redemption amid the show's and melodramatic elements. The role, which spanned the series' entire run, significantly boosted Masters' fame in , earning him a dedicated fanbase for his nuanced performance of a character blending villainy with vulnerability. While specific on-set anecdotes from Masters are limited in public records, his consistent presence highlighted the demanding nature of soap production, involving rapid script changes and extensive filming schedules. Masters also made notable guest appearances, including as U.S. Senator Julian Knox in the 1994 episode "The Reunion" of Walker, Texas Ranger, where his character becomes the target of an assassination plot uncovered by Ranger Cordell Walker during a law enforcement reunion and shooting competition.

Film roles

Masters made his film debut in the 1975 drama Mandingo, directed by Richard Fleischer, where he portrayed Charles Woodford, the sadistic half-brother of the protagonist Hammond on a Louisiana plantation in the antebellum South. His character embodies the film's unflinching exploration of slavery's brutality, including sexual exploitation and racial violence, which sparked significant controversy upon release for its graphic depictions and perceived sensationalism of historical atrocities. The production, adapted from Kyle Onstott's novel, featured a cast including Perry King and James Mason, and Masters' performance as the entitled, abusive heir contributed to the narrative's critique of white Southern privilege. In 1979, Masters appeared in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical musical All That Jazz, playing Dr. Garry, a attending to the protagonist Joe Gideon () amid his health crisis in the film's hospital sequences. This role placed him in an ensemble that blended fantasy, dance, and drama to reflect Fosse's own life as a driven choreographer facing personal demons, with Masters' character underscoring themes of mortality and medical intervention. The film's innovative narrative structure, interweaving rehearsals, editing sessions, and hallucinatory vignettes, highlighted Masters' contribution to its introspective portrayal of artistic excess. Masters continued with supporting roles in several 1980s films, including (1985), where he reprised his stage role as Philip, a commitment-averse navigating a casual romance in , adding depth to the comedy's examination of modern relationships. In Dream Lover (1986), he played Dr. Michael Hansen, a sleep researcher treating the protagonist's recurring nightmares. His performance as Steve Marcus in the sci-fi comedy (1987), directed by , involved a entangled in a romance with an , contributing to the film's satirical take on and . These roles showcased Masters' versatility in both dramatic and lighter fare, often as grounded foils to more eccentric leads.

Personal life and death

Family and relationships

Ben Masters maintained a private . He was previously married for eight years, until his wife left him around 1997. There are no publicly documented long-term romantic partners or children after the . He was survived by his , Cheryl Lerner, and her daughters, nieces Hannah and Clea Lerner, who resided in . Masters formed enduring friendships with several Passions co-stars, reflecting the close-knit dynamics of long-term soap opera ensembles. Eric Martsolf, who played Ethan Winthrop, shared a personal tribute after Masters' death, recalling a lighthearted photo from their final day on set and describing him as a beloved colleague. Similarly, Lindsay Hartley, known for her role as Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, expressed deep affection in her remembrance, highlighting their shared professional history and the impact of his passing.

Health issues and passing

In 1975, during the filming of the television movie One of Our Own, Masters sustained a severe injury in a car accident when his vehicle hit a slick spot at 35 miles per hour, causing him to go through the without a seatbelt. Initially misdiagnosed as a , he was sent home from the hospital, but escalating pain prompted his return, where X-rays revealed fractures in two places of his cervical spine. He underwent treatment with halo traction for six months, which left permanent scars on his from the device. This injury briefly interrupted his rising career, requiring extensive recovery time. In his later years, following the end of Passions in 2008, Masters battled for several years. He passed away on January 11, 2023, at the age of 75, due to complications from at in .

Legacy

Awards and nominations

Ben Masters received several nominations for his portrayal of on the Passions, highlighting the recognition he garnered from fans and industry observers for his comedic and dramatic range in the role. He earned three nominations from the for Outstanding in 2001, 2003, and 2005, awards that were determined through ballots submitted by the magazine's readership, underscoring peer and fan validation of his contributions to . Additionally, Masters received pre-nominations for the , including for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003 and 2005, and Outstanding in 2004, reflecting initial peer acknowledgment within the before final selections. No wins accompanied these nominations, but they affirmed his status as a standout performer in the genre during ' run from 1999 to 2008.

Cultural impact

Masters' portrayal of , the philandering patriarch of the powerful Crane family, became a cornerstone of ' enduring appeal, contributing to the soap opera's status as a favorite known for its elements and boundary-pushing narratives. The series, which aired from 1999 to 2008, developed a dedicated fanbase that appreciated its unconventional blend of romance, , and fantasy, with Crane's evolving storylines—often involving family secrets, affairs, and redemption—central to its phenomenon-like draw in . Following Masters' death on January 11, 2023, numerous co-stars from shared heartfelt tributes highlighting his warmth, professionalism, and impact on set. Lindsay Hartley, who played Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald and shared many scenes with him as Crane's onscreen wife, described Masters as an "extraordinary human" whose empathy and wit made her feel safe amid the show's chaotic plots, recalling a moment when he comforted her with the line, "If it’s love, is it wrong?" during a tense scene. Liza Huber, who portrayed Gwen Hotchkiss, expressed heartbreak over losing his humor and the cherished memories from their nine years together on the show. Other cast members, including (Ethan Winthrop), Donn Swaby (Chad Harris), and (Tabitha Lennox), praised his kindness, inventive spirit, and ability to live life fully, while director called him a who brought joy to the production. Fan communities echoed these sentiments online, mourning the loss of a beloved figure whose Crane brought levity and depth to the series' wild arcs. Masters' multifaceted career, which bridged Broadway theater—where he performed alongside Ingrid Bergman and Meryl Streep in productions like Captain Brassbound's Conversion and The Cherry Orchard—with film roles in Mandingo and All That Jazz, and ultimately television soaps, exemplified a successful transition across mediums that resonated with aspiring performers in the industry. His path from stage acclaim to daytime stardom, including an earlier stint on Another World, demonstrated versatility in adapting theatrical training to the demands of serialized TV, influencing how actors approached cross-medium opportunities in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. As of 2025, retrospectives continue to underscore Masters' legacy, with analyses revisiting Passions' revolutionary queer representation and over-the-top plots—like the controversial 2007 storyline involving Crane's son —positioning his performance as pivotal to the show's innovative cultural footprint in soap history. Articles reflecting on the cast's post-show trajectories have noted the evolving recognition of Passions' fan-driven endurance, crediting Masters' Crane for embodying the series' blend of villainy and humanity that keeps it alive in enthusiast discussions.

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