Al Corley
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Alford Corley (born May 22, 1956) is an American actor, singer and producer. Corley is best known as the first actor to play
Steven Carrington Steven Daniel Carrington is a fictional character on the American prime time soap opera ''Dynasty''. Steven is noteworthy as one of the earliest gay main characters on American television. Despite identifying as homosexual, Steven has relationship ...
in the 1980s soap opera ''
Dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
'' and for his 1984 hit single " Square Rooms".


Career

In the late 1970s, he worked as a doorman at
Studio 54 Studio 54 is a Broadway theater and a former disco nightclub at 254 West 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54 has 1,006 seats on two levels. The theater was ...
to pay for his comedy lessons at the Actors Studio. He would later appear in a VH1 ''
Behind the Music ''Behind the Music'' is a documentary television series on VH1. Each episode profiles and interviews a popular musical artist or group. The program examines the beginning of their career, their road to success, and the hardships they may have ...
'' special on Studio 54 to recount his experiences. Al Corley was the first actor to play
Steven Carrington Steven Daniel Carrington is a fictional character on the American prime time soap opera ''Dynasty''. Steven is noteworthy as one of the earliest gay main characters on American television. Despite identifying as homosexual, Steven has relationship ...
on the 1980s soap opera ''
Dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
''. After that, Al Corley acted in fourteen movies, then produced five. Al Corley left ''Dynasty'' at the end of the second season in 1982 after complaining publicly in ''
Interview An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...
'' that "Steven doesn't have any fun... He doesn't laugh; he has no humor". He also lamented Steven's "ever-shifting sexual preferences", and stated that he wanted "to do other things". The character was recast in 1983 with Jack Coleman; the change in appearance attributed to plastic surgery after an oil rig explosion. Coleman remained on the show until 1988, but Corley returned to the role of Steven for the 1991
miniseries A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...
'' Dynasty: The Reunion'' when Coleman was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. Corley later appeared in the short-lived soap opera ''
Bare Essence ''Bare Essence'' is an American prime time soap opera television series which aired on NBC from February 15 to June 13, 1983, during the 1982–83 season. It starred Genie Francis as Tyger Hayes, and explored the intrigues of the perfume industry ...
'' in 1983, playing
Genie Francis Eugenie Ann Francis (born May 26, 1962) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Laura Spencer (General Hospital), Laura Spencer on the television soap opera ''General Hospital'' from 1977 to present, for which she won a ...
' love interest, and co-starred opposite his former ''Dynasty'' co-star
Pamela Sue Martin Pamela Sue Martin (born January 5, 1953) is an American actress, who is best known for starring as Nancy Drew on the television series ''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'' and as socialite Fallon Carrington Colby on the ABC soap opera ''Dynas ...
in the film ''
Torchlight ''Torchlight'' is an action role-playing hack and slash dungeon crawler video game developed by Runic Games and published by Perfect World, released for Windows in October 2009. The fantasy-themed game is set in the fictional town of Torchlight ...
'' (1985). He was also known as a singer in the 1980s. His 1984 single " Square Rooms", from his debut album of the same name became a number one hit in France (in 1985), also reaching No. 6 in
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, No. 12 in Italy (in 1985), No. 13 in Germany, No. 15 in
Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and No. 80 in the
U.S The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
. The same year, he released "Cold Dresses", which was also a big hit in France, reaching No. 5. His second album, ''Riot of Color'' was released in 1986, and a third album, ''Big Picture'' followed in 1988.


Personal life

He was married in 1989 to German actress
Jessika Cardinahl Jessika Cardinahl (born 1965) is a German actress, painter and sculptor. Biography Cardinahl began her career as a model at the age of 16 at the Parkersed modeling agency. She came into contact with acting through film producer Horst Wendlandt ...
. They have three children. Before his marriage, he had a brief romance with pop star
Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...
. It was Corley (with his back to the camera) who appeared with Simon on the cover art shot for her 1981 album ''
Torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end, which is ignited and used as a light source. Torches have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggling entertainment. In ...
''. He resides in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.


Filmography


Television

*''Women at West Point'' (1979; television movie) *''And Baby Makes Six'' (1979; television movie) *''
ABC Afterschool Specials ''ABC Afterschool Special'' is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from October 4, 1972, to January 23, 1997, usually in the late afternoon on weekdays. Most episodes were dramatically presented situations, often controver ...
'' (1979; 1 episode) *'' The Women's Room'' (1980; television movie) *''
The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pac ...
'' (1980; 1 episode) *''
Dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
'' (1981–82; 35 episodes) *''
Bare Essence ''Bare Essence'' is an American prime time soap opera television series which aired on NBC from February 15 to June 13, 1983, during the 1982–83 season. It starred Genie Francis as Tyger Hayes, and explored the intrigues of the perfume industry ...
'' (1983; 2 episodes) *'' Dynasty: The Reunion'' (1991; mini-series) *''Hamburger Gift'' (1992; television movie) *''A Kiss Goodnight'' (1994; television movie)


Film

*''
Squeeze Play! ''Squeeze Play!'' is a 1979 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Kaufman. Plot A group of New Jersey women, upset over their boyfriends' tendency to pay more attention to softball than their love lives, decide to beat them at their own game. ...
'' (1979) (billed as "Alford Corley") *''
Honky Tonk Freeway ''Honky Tonk Freeway'' is a 1981 American-British comedy film directed by John Schlesinger. The film, conceived and co-produced by Don Boyd, was one of the most expensive box office bombs in history, losing its British backers Thorn EMI between ...
'' (1981) *''
Torchlight ''Torchlight'' is an action role-playing hack and slash dungeon crawler video game developed by Runic Games and published by Perfect World, released for Windows in October 2009. The fantasy-themed game is set in the fictional town of Torchlight ...
'' (1985) *' (1985) *''Incident at Q'' (1986) *''
Hard Days, Hard Nights ''Hard Days, Hard Nights'' (known as ''Beat Boys'' in West Germany) is a 1989 film. Plot A British rock and roll band from Liverpool descends on Hamburg, c. 1960. They form romantic liaisons with several townspeople. Cast * Al Corley as Chris ...
'' (1989) *''
Don Juan DeMarco ''Don Juan DeMarco'' is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Johnny Depp as John Arnold DeMarco, a man who believes himself to be Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world. Clad in a cape and domino mask, DeMarco undergoes psychiat ...
'' (1994) *''
Cowboy Up ''Cowboy Up'' (also known as ''Ring of Fire'') is a 2001 American Western film directed by Xavier Koller. It stars Kiefer Sutherland, Marcus Thomas, Molly Ringwald, and Daryl Hannah. It won the Crystal Heart Award at the 2001 Heartland Film Fe ...
'' (2001) *'' Scorched'' (2001) *''
Bigger Than the Sky ''Bigger Than the Sky'' is a 2005 American drama film directed by Al Corley, written by Rodney Patrick Vaccaro, and starring Marcus Thomas, John Corbett, Amy Smart, Sean Astin, Clare Higgins, and Patty Duke. Its plot follows a man, who after br ...
'' (2005) (also director) *''
You Kill Me ''You Kill Me'' is 2007 crime comedy film directed by John Dahl and starring Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni, Luke Wilson, and Dennis Farina. Plot Frank Falenczyk is a hit man for his Polish mob family in Buffalo, New York. He has a drinking problem, ...
'' (2007) *''
Stolen Stolen may refer to: * ''Stolen'' (2009 Australian film), a 2009 Australian film * ''Stolen'' (2009 American film), a 2009 American film * ''Stolen: The Baby Kahu Story'' (2010 film), a film based on the real life kidnapping of baby Kahu Durie ...
'' (2009) (also producer) *''
Kill the Irishman ''Kill the Irishman'' is a 2011 American biographical crime film directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, and starring Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Christopher Walken, and Val Kilmer. Written by Hensleigh and Jeremy Walters, it is based on the lif ...
'' (2011) *''
The Ice Road ''The Ice Road'' is a 2021 American action thriller film written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. The film stars Liam Neeson as a brooding Mike McCann, and Laurence Fishburne as a wiley Jim Goldenrod with Benjamin Walker, Amber Midthunder, ...
'' (2021)


Discography


Studio albums

*'' Square Rooms'' (1984) *'' Riot of Color'' (1986) *''The Big Picture'' (1988)


Singles

*1984: "Over Me" *1984: "Remember"/"Thought I'd Ring You" (with
Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Best known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three James Bond films, Bassey is widely regarded as one of the most popular vocalists ...
) *1984: " Square Rooms" – #1 FRA, #6 SWI, #12 ITA, #13 GER, #15 Ö3AUS, #80 US *1984: "Cold Dresses" – #5 FRA *1986: "Face to Face" *1988: "Land of the Giants" *1989: "Where Are the Children"


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Corley, Al 1956 births Living people American male film actors American male singers American male television actors American film producers Actors from Wichita, Kansas Male actors from Kansas Musicians from Wichita, Kansas Singers from Kansas