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Veleka Gray (born March 22, 1951), sometimes credited as Velekka Gray, is an American actress, best known for her roles as department store executive Vicki Paisley Cannell on ''
Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...
'', and as Mia Marriott on ''
Love of Life ''Love of Life'' is an American soap opera televised on CBS from September 24, 1951, to February 1, 1980. It was created by Roy Winsor, whose previous creation ''Search for Tomorrow'' premiered three weeks before ''Love of Life''; he created ''Th ...
'' from 1977 to 1980.


Life and career

Gray was born and raised in
New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster.
; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...
, Louisiana. In 1970, she landed her first soap role, replacing
Donna Mills Donna Mills (born Donna Jean Miller on December 11, 1940) is an American actress. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on ''The Secret Storm'', and in the same year appeared on Broadway in the Woody Allen comedy '' Don ...
in the role of Laura Donnelly Elliott on '' Love is a Many Splendored Thing''. In 1974 she was cast as vixen Susan Pritchett on ''How To Survive A Marriage''. In 1975 Gray joined the cast of ''
Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...
'' as Victoria Paisley. Her screen partner in that role was
Joel Crothers Joel Anthony Crothers (January 28, 1941 – November 6, 1985) was an American actor. His credits primarily included stage and television work, including a number of soap opera roles, the best known being Miles Cavanaugh on ''The Edge of Night'', ...
, who played Julian Cannell. Gray and Crothers were engaged to be married when he died in 1985. In 1977, she was cast in the role of Mia Marriott on ''
Love of Life ''Love of Life'' is an American soap opera televised on CBS from September 24, 1951, to February 1, 1980. It was created by Roy Winsor, whose previous creation ''Search for Tomorrow'' premiered three weeks before ''Love of Life''; he created ''Th ...
.'' In April 1980, she originated the role of nurse Lyla Montgomery on ''
As the World Turns ''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other soa ...
''. In February 1983, Gray appeared on ''
The Young and the Restless ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in fictional Genoa City (not the real-life similarly-named Genoa City, Wi ...
'' as sassy hotel
manicurist A manicurist or nail technician is a person whose occupation is to style and shape a person's nails. This is achieved using a combination of decorating nails with coloured varnish, transfers, gems or glitter. Basic treatments include manicures a ...
Ruby Collins. Two months later, in April, she began a contract role as a different character in the same series, Dr. Sharon Reaves,
Patty Williams Patty Williams is a fictional character from the American CBS soap opera ''The Young and the Restless''. The character made her debut in 1980 and, after a brief portrayal by Tammy Taylor, Lilibet Stern took over for three years, followed by Andre ...
' demure and earnest psychiatrist. This dual role made her the only actor in soap history to play two roles simultaneously on the same series that were neither related nor
lookalike A look-alike, double, or doppelgänger is a person who bears a strong physical resemblance to another person, excluding cases like twins and other instances of family resemblance. Some look-alikes have been notable individuals in their own right, ...
s. Back in New York City in 1986, Gray became a regular cast member of the "CBS Radio Mystery Show" for
Himan Brown Himan Brown (July 21, 1910 – June 4, 2010Himan Brown obituary.< ...
. Gray has taught acting, speech and business classes and worked with prisoners on public speaking skills. Her recent work includes commercials and voice work.


Filmography


References


External links

*
Personal Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Veleka 1951 births Living people American soap opera actresses American film actresses Actresses from New Orleans 21st-century American women