Ellen Wheeler
Encyclopedia
Ellen Wheeler is an American
actress, director and producer. She has appeared in several soap opera
s, including Another World
and All My Children
. In 1986, she won the Daytime Emmy Award
for "Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series
" for her work as twins Marley
and Vicky Love Hudson
on Another World. In 1988, she won another Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
" for her work as Cindy Parker Chandler on All My Children
. Wheeler's character was one of the first characters with AIDS
on daytime television. Wheeler also made a memorable guest appearance as Phyllis Wicke in the 1991 primetime revival
of the gothic
soap opera
Dark Shadows
.
In 1996, she starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
episode, "The Quickening".
In 1998, she briefly reprised the role of Marley on Another World
. Rather than have the same actress play the role of both twins, the show made the unprecedented move to have Wheeler, the first actress to play the twins, portray Marley, and have actress Jensen Buchanan
continue to play Vicky; their differences in appearance (other than a considerable height and build difference which were never addressed) were explained by plastic surgery after Marley was disfigured in a fire.
Wheeler was once married to her Another World
costar, Tom Eplin
. They were married during the time that their characters "Vicky/Marley" and "Jake" were involved.
, Wheeler drew on her stage directorial experience and was invited by Executive Producer, Chris Goutman, to direct
a few episodes of Another World. After the cancellation of Another World in 1999, she continued her focus on directing. While continuing to act, she directed several episodes of As the World Turns
and finally became part of the directorial team at As the World Turns.
After two seasons with ATWT, Wheeler served for a time an associate producer at another Procter & Gamble
serial, Guiding Light
. After returning to ATWT and directing the show for several years, she was promoted to Executive Producer of Guiding Light in April 2004, serving until that show's September 2009 cancellation. Under her direction, the show named a new head writer, David Kreizman
, and in 2008, she created a four-person head writing team; in addition to Kreizman, that team includes Lucky Gold, Chris Dunn and executive story editor Jill Lorie Hurst.
Wheeler is credited with Guiding Light's transition to a new filming method. The show moved away from traditional three-camera filming in a "proscenium" stage setting, and in early 2008 began to broadcast episodes that were recorded on digital cameras. The show rebuilt smaller, more realistic sets in its studio and also used several other sets in a New Jersey town (adjacent to New York City, where GL is produced).
In 2007, Wheeler launched Guiding Lights 70th anniversary (the longest running show in history) by volunteering her cast and crew on a charity and service campaign known as "Find Your Light", encouraging viewers to participate alongside actors, directors and crew members in work for the homeless and other deserving groups and individuals across the country.
.
Another World
The Bold and the Beautiful
As the World Turns
Dark Shadows
Guiding Light
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, director and producer. She has appeared in several soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s, including Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
and All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
. In 1986, she won the Daytime Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for "Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series has been given every year at the Daytime Emmys since the 12th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony in 1985. The award category was originally called the Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series...
" for her work as twins Marley
Marley Hudson
Marley Love Hudson was a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World. After AW was cancelled the character crossed over to the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns in 2000 to 2003.-References:...
and Vicky Love Hudson
Vicky Hudson
Victoria "Vicky" Hudson Frame Harrison McKinnon was a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World after AW was cancelled the character crossed over to the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns in 1999...
on Another World. In 1988, she won another Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series has been given every year at the Daytime Emmys since the 6th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony in 1979....
" for her work as Cindy Parker Chandler on All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
. Wheeler's character was one of the first characters with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
on daytime television. Wheeler also made a memorable guest appearance as Phyllis Wicke in the 1991 primetime revival
Revival (television)
A television revival is an attempt to revive a defunct series by producing new episodes created for broadcast. Network executives may decide to attempt to revive a television program when they feel that a market once again exists for it....
of the gothic
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
.
In 1996, she starred in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode, "The Quickening".
In 1998, she briefly reprised the role of Marley on Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
. Rather than have the same actress play the role of both twins, the show made the unprecedented move to have Wheeler, the first actress to play the twins, portray Marley, and have actress Jensen Buchanan
Jensen Buchanan
Jensen Buchanan is an American actress, best known for portraying Sarah Gordon Buchanan #1 on One Life to Live....
continue to play Vicky; their differences in appearance (other than a considerable height and build difference which were never addressed) were explained by plastic surgery after Marley was disfigured in a fire.
Wheeler was once married to her Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
costar, Tom Eplin
Tom Eplin
Tom Eplin is an American actor known for his long run as the character of Jake McKinnon on two soap operas for a combined total of nearly two decades: on Another World and on As the World Turns .Eplin was married to his Another World costar Ellen Wheeler from 1985 to 1988...
. They were married during the time that their characters "Vicky/Marley" and "Jake" were involved.
Directing and producing
During the final season of Another WorldAnother World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
, Wheeler drew on her stage directorial experience and was invited by Executive Producer, Chris Goutman, to direct
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
a few episodes of Another World. After the cancellation of Another World in 1999, she continued her focus on directing. While continuing to act, she directed several episodes of As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
and finally became part of the directorial team at As the World Turns.
After two seasons with ATWT, Wheeler served for a time an associate producer at another Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
serial, Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
. After returning to ATWT and directing the show for several years, she was promoted to Executive Producer of Guiding Light in April 2004, serving until that show's September 2009 cancellation. Under her direction, the show named a new head writer, David Kreizman
David Kreizman
David Kreizman is an American soap opera writer. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.Kreizman was a part of the writing team for the long running CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light since the late 1990s. In 2004, he was promoted to the position of Head Writer by newly appointed...
, and in 2008, she created a four-person head writing team; in addition to Kreizman, that team includes Lucky Gold, Chris Dunn and executive story editor Jill Lorie Hurst.
Wheeler is credited with Guiding Light's transition to a new filming method. The show moved away from traditional three-camera filming in a "proscenium" stage setting, and in early 2008 began to broadcast episodes that were recorded on digital cameras. The show rebuilt smaller, more realistic sets in its studio and also used several other sets in a New Jersey town (adjacent to New York City, where GL is produced).
In 2007, Wheeler launched Guiding Lights 70th anniversary (the longest running show in history) by volunteering her cast and crew on a charity and service campaign known as "Find Your Light", encouraging viewers to participate alongside actors, directors and crew members in work for the homeless and other deserving groups and individuals across the country.
Personal life
Wheeler is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She lives with her husband and children in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Positions held
All My ChildrenAll My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
- Actress: Karen Parker (1989)
- Actress: Cindy Parker Chandler (1987-1989, 2000, 2001)
Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
- Actress: Marley HudsonMarley HudsonMarley Love Hudson was a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World. After AW was cancelled the character crossed over to the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns in 2000 to 2003.-References:...
(1984-1986, 1998-1999) - Actress: Vicky HudsonVicky HudsonVictoria "Vicky" Hudson Frame Harrison McKinnon was a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Another World after AW was cancelled the character crossed over to the CBS daytime soap opera As the World Turns in 1999...
(1985-1986)
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS Daytime. It premiered on March 23, 1987....
- Actress: Sarah (1995; guest)
As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
- Director (August 1999-July 2002 (hired by Christopher GoutmanChristopher GoutmanChristopher Goutman is an American soap opera producer, writer, actor, and director. He has played minor roles on Search for Tomorrow, Texas and The Edge of Night. After leaving acting, he began to direct on All My Children, As the World Turns, Guiding Light, and Another World...
), January 2003-March 2004, February 4, 2010 - September 17,2010) - Actress: Marley Hudson (Cameos from 2000-2003)
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
- Actress: Phyllis Wicke (1991, five-episode guest appearance)
Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
- Executive ProducerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
(March 16, 2004 - September 18, 2009) - Head WriterHead writerA head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
(March 2008 - April 2008) - Producer (July 2002-January 2003)
Awards and nominations
- Daytime Emmy WIN (2007; Best Drama Series; Guiding Light)
- Daytime Emmy NOMINATION (2001-2003; Best Directing; As the World Turns)
- Daytime Emmy WIN (1988; Best Supporting Actress; All My Children)
- Daytime Emmy WIN (1986; Best Younger Actress; Another World)