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Stephen Schnetzer
Stephen Schnetzer
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Stephen Paul Schnetzer (born June 11, 1948)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Cass Winthrop on Another World from 1982 to 1986, returning in 1987 until the show's cancellation in 1999. He won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Actor in 1989 for his role on Another World and received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1990 for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Schnetzer was born in Canton, Massachusetts. His father was a postal worker and his mother was secretary to the superintendent of schools in Canton.[2] His father had German and Irish ancestry.[3] His mother was a war bride from Algeria.[4]

Schnetzer attended Catholic Memorial School[5] and The University of Massachusetts, earning a degree in French, with a minor in Spanish.[4][3] He studied acting at Juilliard and The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.[3] While at Juilliard, he took circus classes and learned to juggle. Schnetzer trained with William Esper, using the Meisner technique.[4]

Career

[edit]

Early in his career, he was sometimes billed under the names Steven Schnetzer, Stephen St. Paul, and Steven St. Paul.[1] He made his film debut with a small role in Hail (credited as Steven Schnetzer).[6] In 1976, he played Lucentio in a TV movie production of The Taming of the Shrew and guest-starred on Hawaii Five-O (credited for both roles as Stephen St. Paul).[1]

Schnetzer played the role of Julie Olson Williams' brother, Steven Olson, on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1978 to 1980.[7] He guest-starred on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.[8]

In 1980, he made his Broadway debut in Filumena, playing the son of Joan Plowright. The play was directed by Laurence Olivier.[3] Schnetzer joined the cast of the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, playing Marcello Salta from 1980 to 1982.[9][1] Schnetzer returned to Broadway in 1981, playing Mark Harrison in A Talent For Murder at the Biltmore Theater.[10] On television, he appeared in the 1983 TV movie Rage of Angels.[1]

He landed the role of attorney Cass Winthrop on Another World in 1982 and stayed until 1986. He decided to leave to pursue other opportunities in Los Angeles, while also spending time with his newborn son.[3] Schnetzer returned to Another World in 1987, continuing to play Cass until the show's final episodes aired in June 1999.[11] He won a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1989 for Outstanding Comic Actor for his work on the show.[12] He also received Soap Opera Digest Award nominations in 1986, 1991, 1992, and 1999.[13] He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1990.[14]

During his time on Another World, Schnetzer appeared in the TV movie Shattered Innocence. He guest-starred on The Cosby Mysteries and Prince Street.[1] After Another World's cancellation, Schnetzer continued to appear as Cass Winthrop on the CBS soap operas As the World Turns (1999 to 2002; 2005 and 2006) and Guiding Light (2002).[15] He made guest appearances on Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[8] He played Mr. Hammon in the 2005 drama film Brooklyn Lobster.[16]

Schnetzer returned to Broadway in 2002, replacing Bill Pullman in the role of Ross in Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?[17] He went on to play the role of Martin in a production of The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at Lyric Stage in Boston, opening in February 2006.[18] He starred as Garry Lejeune in Noises Off at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. from December 2006 to 2007.[19][20][21] He co-starred with his son, Ben Schnetzer, in the 2007 film Ben's Plan.[22]

From 2008 to 2013, he had guest-starring roles on The Wire, Fringe, Damages, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Person of Interest.[6][8] He appeared on Homeland, playing a character named Dr. Cass Winthrop.[15]

From May to June 2009, Schnetzer played Voltaire in Legacy of Light at Arena Stage in Crystal City, Virginia.[23] He returned to the same venue in September 2009, appearing in The Quality of Life, co-starring with Annette O'Toole and Kevin O'Rourke.[24][25] In October 2015, he starred in Arthur Miller's Broken Glass at the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut.[4]

Schnetzer became a prolific voiceover talent in English and French, advertising for many companies, such as Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.[4] He continued to land guest-starring roles, appearing from 2014 to 2018 on Forever, The Blacklist, Flesh and Bone, Blue Bloods, Billions, and Elementary.[6][8][26] Schnetzer appeared in the 2017 film Aardvark.[27] He starred as Richard in the independent film A Case of Blue.[26] Since 2022, Schnetzer has appeared on the web series The Bay.[28]

In 2024, it was announced that he would be returning to Days of Our Lives as Steven Olson.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Schnetzer married Amy Ingersoll at the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco, on November 24, 1976.[2] They later divorced.[3]

He met actress Nancy Snyder while they were both on One Life to Live (she played Katrina Karr). They were married on March 18, 1982 and had two sons.[1][3][29] They are now divorced.[26] Their younger son, Ben Schnetzer, is also an actor.[30]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1972 Hail The People Also known as Hail to the Chief, Mr. President,
and Washington, B.C
Credited as Steven Schnetzer
2005 Brooklyn Lobster Mr. Hammon
2007 Ben's Plan Carl Stephens
2011 Keys. Wallet. Phone Handsome Man Short film
2017 Aardvark Don Herremans
2020 A Case of Blue Richard
2022 Laurina Dr. Porter Short film
2023 Nyad Commentator

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1976 The Taming of the Shrew Lucentio Television film
Credited as Steve St. Paul
Hawaii Five-O Officer Blankenship Episode: "Target - A Cop"
Credited as Stephen St. Paul
1978 Fantasy Island Cebee Singh Episode: "Return/The Toughest Man Alive"
1978–1980; 2024 Days of Our Lives Steven Olson Series regular (1978–1980); guest (2024)
1979 The Love Boat Francois Episode: "April's Return/Super Mom/I'll See You Again"
1980–1982 One Life to Live Marcello Salta Contract role
1982–1999 Another World Cass Winthrop / Rex Allingham Contract role

1,123 episodes

1983 Rage of Angels Lawyer Miniseries
1984 Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour Himself Panelist
10 episodes
1988 Shattered Innocence Danny Calloway Television film
1994 The Cosby Mysteries Marty Brackett / Howard Brackett Episode: "Mirror, Mirror"
1997 Prince Street Episode: "God Bless America"
1999–2006 As the World Turns Cass Winthrop Recurring role

28 episodes

2002 Guiding Light Cass Winthrop Recurring role
2003; 2006 Law & Order Mitchell Lowell / Dr. Freeman 2 episodes
2003; 2004; 2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Engles / Rabbi Birnbaum 4 episodes
2008 New Amsterdam Toby Hardwick's Lawyer Episode: "Pilot"
The Wire Robert Ruby 2 episodes
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ajay Khan Episode: "Assassin"
2009 Fringe Professor Miles Kinberg Episode: "Bound"
Damages ADA Carl Deevers Episode: "Hey! Mr. Pibb!"
2010 Rubicon Arnold Hopper 2 episodes
The Good Wife Glenn Childs' Lead Attorney Uncredited
Episode: "Infamy"
2013 Person of Interest Tug Brantley Episode: "Booked Solid"
Homeland Dr. Cass Winthrop 2 episodes
2014 Forever Lawrence Forester Episode: "New York Kids"
2015 The Blacklist Lester Charles Conway Episode: "Vanessa Cruz (No. 117)"
The Following Malcolm Tower Episode: "Flesh & Blood"
Flesh and Bone LeRan Brousseau 2 episodes
2016 The Path Dr. Alan Rothstein Originally titled The Way
Episode: "Breaking and Entering"
2017 Blue Bloods Hassan Nejari Episode: "The One That Got Away"
Billions Antoine Casson Episode: "With or Without You"
2018 Elementary Adam Braun Episode: "The Geek Interpreter"
2020 The Show Must Go Online Brabantio / Julius Caesar 2 episodes
2022 The Endgame Moustakas Episode: "#1 with a Bullet"
2022–2024 The Bay Richard Kaufman 15 episodes

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Red Dead Revolver Sheriff O'Grady / Charger / Union Soldier Voice
Conflict: Vietnam Voice

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actor: Daytime Another World Won [12]
1990 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Another World Nominated [14]
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime Another World Nominated [13]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Stephen Schnetzer (born June 11, 1948) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of attorney Cass Winthrop on the Another World from 1982 to 1999, with intermittent returns following an initial run from 1982 to 1986. He began his career in 1978 as Steve Olson on , a role he reprised in December 2024 after a 45-year absence for the character's appearance at Doug Williams' memorial and again in November 2025 for the show's 60th anniversary. Prior to his soap opera success, Schnetzer spent eight years performing in classical repertory theater before transitioning to television, where he also played Marcello Salta on from 1980 to 1982. His stage career includes Broadway performances in productions such as A Talent for Murder (1981) as Mark Harrison and Filumena (1980) as Riccardo, alongside more recent understudy roles in shows like Prayer for the French Republic (2024). In addition to television, Schnetzer has appeared in film, notably as a commentator in the biographical sports drama Nyad (2023), and reprised his Another World character on Guiding Light. Born in Canton, Massachusetts, he continues to be active in the industry, residing in Florida.

Early life

Childhood and family

Stephen Paul Schnetzer was born on June 11, 1948, in . He was the son of Thomas A. Schnetzer, a with the U.S. Postal Service in , and his wife Josephine Hatchouel, who served as secretary to the superintendent of schools in Canton and had immigrated to the as a war bride from following . Schnetzer's father was of German and Irish descent, while his mother's Sephardi Jewish and Spanish-Algerian heritage introduced French and Spanish languages into the household from an early age, fostering his interest in multicultural influences and linguistics. Schnetzer grew up in a working-class environment in Canton, shaped by his family's modest circumstances and the close-knit community dynamics of the area. This upbringing, combined with his mother's immigrant background, exposed him to diverse cultural narratives and languages during his formative years, influencing his later academic pursuits in French and Spanish. He attended local Catholic schools, including Catholic Memorial High School in .

Education and early training

Schnetzer attended Catholic Memorial High School in , . He pursued undergraduate studies at the , where he earned a B.A. in French with a minor in Spanish, influenced by his exposure to those languages at home due to his mother's Algerian heritage as a war bride. During this period, his interest in acting was sparked by seeing a production of , leading him toward a career in performance. He also studied abroad at the University of Caen in . For graduate training, Schnetzer obtained a BFA in Drama from the Juilliard School's drama division, where he focused on technique, speech, voice production, and even took circus classes to learn juggling. He further honed his skills as a member of the repertory company at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Additionally, he trained with acting coach William Esper at the William Esper Studio, employing the Meisner technique, which emphasizes authentic behavior in imaginary circumstances.

Career

Television roles

Schnetzer began his television career in daytime soap operas, debuting as Steve Olson on from 1978 to 1980, where he portrayed the brother of Julie Williams in storylines involving family dynamics and personal struggles in Salem. After a 45-year absence, he returned to the role on December 2, 2024, for a brief arc exploring suspicions about Steve's character and his ties to the Horton family legacy. Schnetzer reprised the character again in November 2025 for the show's 60th anniversary celebration, appearing in one episode amid a gala event honoring original cast members and longstanding narratives. He transitioned to One Life to Live in 1980, playing Marcello Salta through 1982 as a fitness expert entangled in dramatic interpersonal plots within the Llanview community. Schnetzer's portrayal contributed to the show's exploration of character-driven conflicts during his contract run, which involved roughly a day-and-a-half of filming per week. Schnetzer achieved his breakthrough in as Cass Winthrop on Another World, a role he originated in 1982 and played until 1986, then reprised from 1991 to 1999, amassing 1,270 episodes. Introduced as a scheming yet good-natured attorney and casanova working at Cory Publishing, the character evolved into a more mature figure, including a stint as mayor of Bay City, while navigating key storylines such as tumultuous romances with Gallant and Kathleen McKinnon, as well as family rivalries and legal battles that highlighted themes of redemption and loyalty. His long tenure as Cass solidified Schnetzer's status as a staple of the genre, influencing the portrayal of witty, multifaceted leading men in soap operas. Following Another World's cancellation, Schnetzer continued embodying Cass Winthrop on sister soaps, appearing on As the World Turns from 1999 to 2002 and briefly in 2005–2006, where the character integrated into Oakdale's legal and social circles. He also guest-starred as Cass on Guiding Light in 2002 for a short crossover arc involving Springfield's interconnected dramas. In primetime, Schnetzer made notable guest appearances, including multiple roles across the Law & Order franchise, such as a doctor in the original series and various supporting characters in Criminal Intent and SVU. He portrayed foreign correspondent Robert Ruby in The Wire's fifth season (2008), contributing to the show's examination of media and politics in Baltimore. On Homeland, Schnetzer played Dr. Cass Winthrop in the 2013 episode "Tower of David," adding depth to a tense medical consultation scene. More recently, he recurred as Richard Kaufman on the web series The Bay from 2022 to 2024, portraying a key figure in the show's ensemble-driven mysteries.

Film roles

Stephen Schnetzer made his screen debut in the 1972 political satire , directed by Fred Levinson, where he portrayed a supporting role as one of "The People" in a story critiquing presidential paranoia and power abuse. In this early film credit, credited as Steven Schnetzer, he contributed to the highlighting societal amid a Nixon-era-inspired narrative. Schnetzer's mid-career film work included the 2005 independent dramedy Brooklyn Lobster, written and directed by Kevin Jordan, in which he played Mr. Hammon, a family man navigating reconciliation amid business and personal turmoil in a Brooklyn lobster-packing family. The film, presented by Martin Scorsese, explores themes of familial bonds and economic pressures through character-driven storytelling. He later appeared in the 2017 dark comedy Aardvark, directed by Brian Shoaf and starring Zachary Quinto, as Don Herremans, a therapist figure aiding in the psychological unraveling of sibling rivalries and hallucinations. This role underscored Schnetzer's affinity for nuanced supporting parts in indie productions examining mental health and interpersonal dynamics. More recently, Schnetzer featured in the 2023 biographical sports drama Nyad, directed by and , portraying a commentator in the story of swimmer Diana Nyad's Cuba-to-Florida challenge, alongside leads and . The release earned critical acclaim for its portrayal of perseverance, with Schnetzer's brief appearance adding to the event's broadcast authenticity. Throughout his career, Schnetzer's film roles have been sporadic, often interspersed with extensive television commitments, yet consistently emphasize character-driven supporting performances in independent and biographical cinema that prioritize emotional depth over lead prominence. This pattern reflects a selective approach to film, favoring projects with intimate, narrative-focused scopes following his transition from early roles to broader cinematic opportunities.

Theater work

Following his graduation from Juilliard, Stephen Schnetzer dedicated the early years of his career to classical repertory theater, performing in regional productions across the for approximately eight years. He served as a company member of the (ACT) in for four seasons, where he honed his skills in ensemble-based live performances of Shakespearean and classical works. This period emphasized his foundation in rigorous, text-driven acting, contributing to his versatility in portraying complex characters on stage. Schnetzer's Broadway debut came in 1980 with the role of Riccardo in Filumena, an Italian comedy-drama directed by and starring as the titular character. He followed this in 1981 with the part of Mark Harrison in the thriller A Talent for Murder. In 2002, he took on a replacement role as Martin in the Broadway revival of Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, stepping in for and delivering a performance noted for its emotional depth in exploring themes of and family fracture. Earlier in his career, Schnetzer also worked as assistant stage manager for the 1971 production of The Incomparable Max, while understudying roles such as Lewis and Frenchman. Schnetzer continued to build his stage resume with notable regional theater appearances, including the role of Garry Lejeune in the 2006–2007 revival of Michael Frayn's farce Noises Off at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where he contributed to the ensemble's chaotic comedic timing as an inarticulate actor-director. His work in live theater has underscored his strengths in improvisation, audience interaction, and character-driven narratives, extending his impact on American theater far beyond television. In 2024, Schnetzer served as understudy for Charles Benhamou and Patrick Salomon in the Broadway production of Prayer for the French Republic. In late 2025, Schnetzer is scheduled to appear as Peter in the regional premiere of Delia Ephron's Left on Tenth at GableStage in Miami, marking a return to intimate, memoir-based drama.

Personal life

Marriages

Stephen Schnetzer's first marriage was to actress Amy Ingersoll, whom he wed on November 24, 1976, at the Swedenborgian Church in . The couple, both members of the repertory company at the time, divorced in 1981. Schnetzer's second marriage was to actress , whom he met on the set of the One Life to Live, where she portrayed Katrina Karr. They married on March 18, 1982, and the union lasted until their divorce in 2015. As of 2025, no further marriages have been publicly reported for Schnetzer.

Family and children

Stephen Schnetzer has two sons from his second marriage to actress : Max, born in the mid-1980s, and Ben, born in 1990. Schnetzer long resided in , where he raised his family amid his extensive career in soap operas and theater during the 1980s and 1990s. His demanding schedules, including out-of-town theater commitments, occasionally disrupted family routines, such as limiting holiday time together, though he prioritized visits and maintained close bonds with his sons. In a 1999 interview, Schnetzer expressed deep affection for his then-young sons, describing them as a source of joy while balancing professional travel with family holidays. His younger son, , has followed in his father's footsteps as an established actor, with notable roles in films including (2013), (2014), and (2016). This familial connection to the entertainment industry highlights a legacy of within the Schnetzer household, with Ben pursuing an international career based in .

Filmography

Film

  • 1972: Hail
    Directed by Fred Levinson; supporting role as one of The People.
  • 2005: Brooklyn Lobster
    Directed by Kevin Corrigan; role of Mr. Hammon.
  • 2007: Ben's Plan
    Directed by Jenna Ricker; role of Carl Stephens.
  • 2011: Keys. Wallet. Phone. (short film)
    Directed by Juliet Lashinsky-Revene; role of Handsome Man.
  • 2017:
    Directed by Brian Shoaf; role of psychiatrist Don Herremans.
  • 2020: A Case of
    Directed by Dana H. Glazer; lead role of retired accountant Richard Flicker.
  • 2022: Laurina ()
    Directed by Sylvia Caminer; role of Dr. Porter.
  • 2023: Nyad
    Directed by and ; minor role as Commentator.

Television

Stephen Schnetzer began his television in the late 1970s with roles in daytime operas, transitioning to prominent series regular positions in the 1980s and 1990s, before taking on recurring and guest spots in primetime series from the 2000s onward. His credits span both soap operas and scripted dramas, with a total of over 1,300 documented television appearances, primarily as series regulars in soaps and guest roles in procedural and prestige dramas.
Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
1978–1980, 2024Days of Our LivesSteven OlsonSeries regular (third actor in the role); 118 episodes. Returned as Steve Olson in a guest capacity starting December 2, 2024.
1980–1982One Life to LiveMarcello SaltaRecurring role.
1982–1986, 1987–1999Another WorldCass Winthrop / Rex AllinghamSeries regular; 1,263 episodes total.
1999–2002, 2005–2006As the World TurnsCass WinthropRecurring guest appearances post-Another World crossover storyline.
2002Guiding LightCass WinthropRecurring guest (five episodes in April).
2003–2008Law & Order (franchise)Various (e.g., Mitchell Lowell, Dr. Freeman, Dr. Engles, Rabbi Birnbaum)Guest star; five episodes across Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
2008The WireRobert RubyGuest star; two episodes in season 5.
2013HomelandDr. Cass WinthropGuest star; one episode ("Tower of David").
2022–2024The BayRichardRecurring role in the web series (Peacock streaming).

Awards and nominations

Awards

Stephen Schnetzer received the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Actor in the daytime category at the fifth annual ceremony, which was broadcast on NBC, for his portrayal of Cass Winthrop on Another World. The event, hosted by John Loprieno and Andrea Evans from One Life to Live, was held on January 14, 1989, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, where Schnetzer was recognized among nominees including Louis Edmonds for All My Children and Stuart Damon for General Hospital. This victory underscored his ability to blend humor with dramatic depth in the role, which he had played since 1982, and contributed to his sustained prominence in daytime television during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Nominations

Schnetzer received significant recognition for his portrayal of Cass Winthrop on Another World, earning multiple nominations from prominent awards during the late and . In 1990, he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Another World. Schnetzer garnered several Award nominations for his performances on Another World. In 1986, he was nominated for Outstanding Role on a Daytime Serial. He received a for Outstanding in a Daytime Drama in 1991, followed by a for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1992, and a for Outstanding Male Scene Stealer in 1999.

References

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