Nancy Lee Grahn
September 28, 1996 to Present
Ms. Grahn grew up in Skokie, IL, and often returns to visit family members. It was in a Skokie community theater production of Oklahoma that Ms. Grahn landed her first role as "The pony on the left that pulled the surrey with the fringe on top." But as she matured, so did her roles.
While attending the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, Ms. Grahn had the great fortune to study with Sandy Meisner and Bill Epsen. She went on to land roles in productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Guys And Dolls, Two For The Seesaw and Barefoot In The Park at various repertory theaters across the country, including the Goodman Repertory theater in Chicago and Michigan's Meadowbrook theater.
After she decided to move to Los Angeles, Ms. Grahn's television career began to blossom. Her first role was that of Beverly Wilks, Marco Dane's secretary, on the daytime drama, One Life to Live. She went on to win guest-starring roles on such shows as Magnum, P.I., Murder, She Wrote, Babylon V and Diagnosis Murder, among others. She has also played recurring roles on Aaron Spelling's Models Inc, Melrose Place, 7th Heaven, as well as Stephen Bochco's Murder One. But the role dearest to Ms. Grahn's heart was that of Julia Wainwright on the daytime drama, Santa Barbara, for which she won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 1989.
As much joy as Ms. Grahn receives from her work, it pales in comparison to the joy she receives from her daughter, Katherine Grace. She refers to her as "heaven on a stick."
The versatile Grahn has also written two plays, chaired the Media Access Awards to promote portrayal of disability in the media, volunteered at Van Nuys Child Abuse Clinic, and toured college campuses promoting specific women's issues. She has also made the talk show circuit with her father, a recovering alcoholic, and discussed alcoholism and its impact on the family. She also organized and hosted "Daytime for Gore," bringing together some of daytime's brightest stars during the 2000 presidential election.
As a single working mother, Ms. Grahn no longer has any spare time when not working. Her every moment is blissfully filled to the brim with daughter Kate.
Melrose Place
Denise Fielding
1997
7th Heaven
Principal Russell
1997-1999
General Hospital
Alexis Davis
September 28, 1996 to Present
Murder One
Connie Dahlgren
1995-1996
Santa Barbara
Julia Wainwright Capwell
1985 to 1993
Streets of Justice
Young Woman Lawyer
1985
Kids Don't Tell
Puppet Lady
1985
Obsessed with a Married Woman
Bianca
1985
One Life to Live
Beverly Wilkes
1980 to 1982
Children of the Corn III
Amanda Porter
1995
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (
2012; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (1989; for Santa Barbara) [Tied with Debbi Morgan]
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (
2003,
2004,
2005,
2017,
2018; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (
2000,
2011,
2022; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (
1989; for Santa Barbara) [Tied with Debbi Morgan]
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2017,
2018; for General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2011, 2012, 2013,
2014; for General Hospital)
Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Outstanding Supercouple (1991; for Santa Barbara)
Soap Opera Digest Award Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2000, 2001, 2003; for
General Hospital)
Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actress (1993; for Santa Barbara)
Soap Opera Digest Award Nominee, Hottest Female Star (1993; for Santa Barbara)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Skokie, Illinois
DATE OF BIRTH: April 28, 1958
HEIGHT: 5'6"
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Brown
News Archive: Grahn denies casting call means the end of Kelly Monaco. [Aug 7, 2009]
News Archive: Grahn opens up on firing of Lexi Ainsworth. [Oct 9, 2011]
News Archive: GH star gives Vera Wang a dress down. [Oct 21, 2011]
News Archive: Nancy Lee Grahn accepts Emmy in her pajamas. [Jun 23, 2012]
News Archive: Nancy Lee Grahn, GH renew their vows. [May 22, 2014]
News Archive: Nancy Lee Grahn to launch digital series on ABC.com. [Oct 2, 2014]
News Archive: Premiere date set for GH Now. [Jan 5, 2015]
News Archive: GH's Nancy Lee Grahn sparks Twitter outrage with comments on Viola Davis' historic Emmy win [Sep 21, 2015]
News Archive: Viola Davis comments on Nancy Lee Grahn's controversial tweets following her Primetime Leading Actress Emmy speech [Sep 28, 2015]
News Archive: GH's Nancy Lee Grahn breaks social media silence [Oct 20, 2015]
News Archive: GH's Nancy Lee Grahn shares her abortion story [Mar 4, 2016]
News Archive: Nancy Lee Grahn injured in dance accident [Apr 27, 2016]
News Archive: ROUGH CUTS: Nancy Lee Grahn on how she really feels about Julexis fans [Jul 13, 2016]
News Archive: General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn celebrates 20 years in Port Charles [Sep 28, 2016]
News Archive:WATCH: 2018 Emmy Reels for Lead Actress [Apr 5, 2018]
News Archive: GH's Nancy Lee Grahn hospitalized while on vacation [Jul 12, 2018]
News Archive: No shame: Soap stars take pride in their non-acting jobs, defend Geoffrey Owens after he is job-shamed [Sep 3, 2018]
News Archive: General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn writing memoir, promises juicy tales from the soap world [Oct 25, 2019]
News Archive: General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn to wed [Dec 30, 2019]
News Archive: Soap stars start podcasts while world awaits end of coronavirus pandemic [Mar 27, 2020]
News Archive: INTERVIEW: General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn says her osteoporosis story is NOT an "old lady" storyline [Sep 18, 2020]
News Archive: General Hospital head writers discuss Alexis' future troubles, long road to recovery [Jan 30, 2021]
News Archive: The Bold and the Beautiful's Heather Tom hosts Leading Ladies Lunch for 2021 Emmy nominees [Jun 21, 2021]
News Archive: Back surgery sidelines General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn [Mar 20, 2022]
News Archive: 2022 Daytime Emmy nomination reaction: Supporting Actress nominees [May 5, 2022]
News Archive: Nancy Lee Grahn shares update about her memoir: "I am ready to tell the whole truth" [Aug 5, 2022]
News Archive: Watch General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn prepare for a whole new career [Feb 19, 2024]
News Archive: General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn is ready for Alexis to take on Nina [Feb 23, 2024]
News Archive: A new Lexus for Alexis? General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn's side-of-the-road adventure [Mar 11, 2024]
News Archive: Why General Hospital needs to make Alexis a lawyer again NOW [Mar 19, 2024]
News Archive: General Hospital Comings and Goings: Lane Davies reunites with Nancy Lee Grahn in Port Charles [May 1, 2024]
News Archive: General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn speaks out on Haley Pullos' incarceration [May 14, 2024]
News Archive: Nancy Lee Grahn and Lane Davies bring Santa Barbara magic to General Hospital [May 21, 2024]
News Archive: General Hospital stars bid farewell to Gregory Harrison [May 22, 2024]
