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Kristian Alfonso

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Kristian Alfonso
Alfonso, with Days of Our Lives co-star Peter Reckell in 2004
Born
Kristian-Joy Alfonso

(1963-09-05) September 5, 1963 (age 60)
Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1981–present
Spouses
Simon Macauley
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1991)​
Danny Daggenhurst
​
​
(m. 2001)​
Children2
Websitewww.kristianonline.com

Kristian-Joy Alfonso (born September 5, 1963)[1][2] is an American actress, former figure skater, and fashion model. She is best known for playing the role of Hope Williams Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives (1983 to 1987, 1990, 1994 to 2020, return appearances from 2023 to present). She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress (then known as Outstanding Ingenue) in 1985 for her role on Days. Alfonso also played Pilar Ortega on Falcon Crest (1988 to 1990) and Lauren Ethridge on Melrose Place (1993 to 1994).

Early life[edit]

Alfonso was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. Her birth name is Kristian-Joy Alfonso. Her grandparents hailed from Sicily and Calabria, giving her full Italian heritage.[3][4] She has one sibling, an older sister.[5][6] As a teenager, she was an above-average student. Her extra-curricular activities were focused on ice skating and dance classes. Alfonso won the gold medal in figure skating at the Junior Olympics when she was thirteen years old.[7] After injuring her leg in a sledding accident, she had to give up on skating and dancing.[6] Alfonso soon received opportunities that led to a modeling career and eventually acting. She graduated from Brockton High School in 1982.[7]

Career[edit]

After her skating career ended, Alfonso was signed to Wilhelmina Models. By the time she was fifteen, she had appeared on the covers of 30 international magazines, including Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen in 1979.[7][3] Alfonso considered herself lucky to be working as a model because she stands at only 5'4½ inches tall. She sometimes had to stand on apple boxes to appear taller.[6]

Alfonso's modeling work gained attention from NBC and she received her first acting role. She was cast as Kelly Blake in the television film The Star Maker (1981), co-starring with Rock Hudson.[6][4][8] She was asked to audition for the role of Hope Williams on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, but she declined because she didn't want to move to Los Angeles. In 1983, she had another opportunity to audition for the role and she took it. During her screen test, she tripped and fell down the staircase at the Horton house. The producers were charmed by her clumsiness and she was signed to a contract.[4] Alfonso was the fifth actress to play Hope. The role had previously been played by Tammy Taylor in 1981. Alfonso's first air date was April 14, 1983.[9]

The character of Hope Williams was soon paired with Bo Brady (played by Peter Reckell). Soap Opera Digest said the love story was "classic in its origins and continues to make people melt: gruff boy from the wrong side of the tracks...tames the spoiled rich girl who was getting into all sorts of trouble."[6] Alfonso was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress (then known as Outstanding Ingenue) in 1985.[7]

Alfonso left in 1987, returning in 1990 for a brief stint, and full-time in 1994. In November 2019, it was announced the entire cast of Days of Our Lives were released from their contracts.[10][11] Alfonso returned to the soap in February 2020.[12][13] Five months later, she announced she had quit the role of Hope, and would not be returning when the soap resumed production after it shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[14]

While part of the show, she also appeared in Season 6 of Friends in an episode titled "The One That Could Have Been, Part 1" as Hope.

After Alfonso exited Days of Our Lives in April 1987, she was cast as Pilar Ortega on Falcon Crest for its last two seasons. In 1993, she starred alongside Dolph Lundgren in the film Joshua Tree,[7] in which she played a cop abducted by an innocent convict on the run.

Alfonso's other film and television credits include MacGyver ("The Negotiator" and "Unfinished Business"), Blindfold: Acts of Obsession, Full House, Burke's Law, Murder, She Wrote, Melrose Place, Baywatch, Amazing Stories, “Out of Time” (1988 TV movie with Bill Maher), Love Stories, and Who's the Boss?. She also co-starred with Kate Jackson in the CBS movie "Whatever Happened to Bobby Earl.[15]

Personal life[edit]

Alfonso was married to Simon Macauley from 1987 to 1991. They have a son, born in October 1990. She married Danny Daggenhurst on October 6, 2001.[16] The couple have two children.[1][17][18]

In November 2006, Alfonso created her own jewelry line called Hope Faith Miracles and a fashion line, Hope by Kristian Alfonso. Ten years later, she announced the company had been purchased, and she was no longer involved.[19]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Joshua Tree Rita Marek
1995 In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King Jeanna
2004 Day of Redemption Mary Everly
2019 Cool Cat's Crazy Dream Dream World Kristian Video

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Star Maker Kelly Blake Television film
1983–1987; 1990; 1994–2020; 2023, 2024 Days of Our Lives Hope Williams Brady Contract role (1983–1987; 1994–2020); Recurring role (1990; 2023; 2024)
1985 Amazing Stories Episode: "Remote Control Man"
1987 Who's the Boss? Frankie Episode: "Frankie and Tony Are Lovers"
1988 Murder, She Wrote Michele Gambini Episode: "A Very Good Year for Murder"
Out of Time Cassandra Barber Television film
1988; 1989 MacGyver Deborah 2 episodes
1988; 1989 Full House Judge; Robin Winslow 2 episodes
1988–1990 Falcon Crest Pilar Cumson Ortega Series regular

44 episodes

1993 Baywatch Debra Harris 2 episodes
1993–1994 Melrose Place Lauren Ethridge Recurring role

7 episodes

1994 Burke's Law Susan Bell Episode: "Who Killed the Legal Eagle?"
Blindfold: Acts of Obsession Chris Madigan Television film
1997 What Happened to Bobby Earl? Chelsea Coals Television film
steve.oedekerk.com Lisa Television film
2000 Friends Hope Brady Episode: "The One That Could Have Been: Part 1"
Days of Our Lives' 35th Anniversary Hope Williams Brady Television film
2003 Secret Lives Host
2009 30 Rock Hope Brady Episode: "Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001"
2021 The Chronicle Mysteries Sheriff Williams Television miniseries
V.C. Andrews' Landry Family Gladys 2 episodes
2022 Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Hope Williams Brady Television miniseries

5 episodes

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Official Kristian Alfonso Website". Official Kristian Alfonso Website. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013.
  2. ^ Waldo, Garren (September 5, 2022). "Days of our Lives Alum Kristian Alfonso Celebrates Her Birthday". Soap Hub. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Kristian Alfonso Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Kristian Alfonso Archives". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kristian Alfonso, Danny Daggenhurst Biography". MySportDab. September 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "#TBT - Kristian Alfonso". Soap Opera Digest. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "About the Actors - Kristian Alfonso". soapcentral.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Star Maker - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "Who's Who in Salem: Hope Williams Brady". Soap Central. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Ausiello, Michael (November 12, 2019). "Days of Our Lives: Entire Cast Released From Contract — Is the End Nigh?". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  11. ^ Todisco, Eric (November 12, 2019). "Days of Our Lives Put on Hiatus — But Source Says Soap Will 'Almost Definitely Get Renewed'". People. United States: Time Inc. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  12. ^ Ausiello, Michael (January 29, 2020). "Days of Our Lives Renewed at NBC — Which Cast Members Are Returning?". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  13. ^ "DAYS to Resume Production February 3". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. January 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 6, 2020). "Kristian Alfonso Exits Days of Our Lives After 37 Years". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  15. ^ "Hope Alice Williams played by Kristian Alfonso: Actor Bio". NBC. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  16. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (October 19, 2001). "Alfonso's double commitment". Soapcentral.com. United States. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "Kristian Alfonso 411". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
  18. ^ "Heiress who casts herself as a struggling actress". September 20, 1996. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  19. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (November 11, 2016). ""Days" Kristian Alfonso bows out of jewelry world". Soapcentral.com. United States. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2020.

External links[edit]

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