Michael Easton (6/91 Days of Our Lives)
Excerpt from Soap Opera Digest 6/91: Michael Easton, on ME Corner | Days of Our Lives
Michael Easton (Tanner Scofield, DAYS OF OUR LIVES)
What He and Tanner Have in Common: Everything Tanner wears is out of my own wardrobe because that's what I'm comfortable in and that's what I forsee him in."
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Whom He's Heard From: "A good friend from high school, Michael Brinard, he's on ALL MY CHILDREN [as Joey] called me to say congratulations. We both kind of came a long way for two guys out of the same class in [Laguna Hills] high school. Most of my friends don't care, though. I mean, a lot of my friends are from down here and if you don't surf or play beach volleyball, you're nothing. So they're like, 'Man, a day job. What for? You can't surf.'"
© Soap Opera Digest
Excerpt from DTV Soap Special 8/91: Michael Easton, on ME Corner
New Faces: Days of Our Lives
Michael Easton as Tanner Scofield
Michael is sure to find adulation from fans overwhelming. After all, this is his first TV work. He has appeared in several films and on stage, but that's nothing compared to his daily work on Days. Growing up, Michael lived in Ireland, Australia and the U.S. The one thing he can't get used to is L.A.!
© DTV
Excerpt from Soap Opera Digest 8/20/91: Michael Easton
Born to Be Wild! This Free Spirit Roamed The World Before Settling Down As DAYS's Newest Rebel
By Gene H. Sobczak
Easton's portrayal of Brian Scofield's maverick brother, Tanner, on DAYS OF OUR LIVES is only one of his creative interests, which include theater, music and his greatest passion, writing.
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When he auditioned for Tanner, the character was vague, which allowed Easton some creative input. "I kind of created a history for him," the actor observes. "The fact that he's just been drifting around the country for a couple of years proves he doesn't understand himself. He's not this tough kid that everybody thinks he is. He's trying to find himself."
Sound like someone we know? "I went through a lot of the same things," Easton agrees. "So, in a sense, it's very real to me. But with soap opera, I think you have to draw from yourself to make it work, because a lot of times you're put into a situation where you have to improvise."
Robert Mailhouse, who plays Tanner's brother, Brian, comments, "Mike is a good guy; we hang out a lot, go to hockey games, dinner. Whne you know another actor, it helps so much. It's like playing with athletes on a team -- you can rely on them to follow certain patterns and be there in a clinch."
Easton draws from more than just his experience in giving Tanner an identity. "I only wear my own clothes for the show," he reveals. "I haven't worn one thing from the wardrobe department just because it's more personal. If you watch, you'll see these jeans, this jacket." You'll aslo see a lot of skin peering through the holes of Easton's notorious collection of ripped clothing.
"I used to have this big hole," he says pointing to an area on his pants that's been sewn. "I always had to wear boxer shorts on days I wore them on the show, or else you would just see skin. For a long time, I was getting boxer shorts sent to me. A couple of them were a little funny. I had one with little bears and balloons. I wasn't going to wear those, but I also had a couple of really nice Victoria's Secret paisley ones. That was pretty cool."
Neither the actor nor his character is involved in a serious romance. Easton feels commitment can drain relationships of spontaneity: "I like someone who can just go on the spur of the moment. That's the one problem I have with long-term relationships. It's a fact that somewhere along the way that edge is lost, that real craziness. This is not to knock marriage; it's just that it seems to happen. It's happened to so many of my friends. Like now their big thing is whether they can rent Ghost from the video store on a Saturday night."
© Soap Opera Digest
Daytime TV's Greatest Stories 10/3/91: Michael Easton, on ME Corner *similar article at Daytime Soap Stars 2/92 "The Ambitious One"
Michael Easton May Be the Next Kevin Costner
Michael Easton is a very complex guy. He's a talented actor, and he's more than happy playing Tanner Scofield on Days, but he also knows where he's heading in life.
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How are you enjoying working on Days?
Michael: I like working on Days very much! The best thing about Days is the people. It's funny, when I came on the show, I thought of it as the beginning of moving up the ladder to do other things. And then, I soon started becoming very close to the people, and it makes all the difference in the world. All of a sudden, I don't just think of this as a career step, anymore. Everyone's really close, they make me feel like I'm a part of something. That's a nice feeling.
What do you think of Tanner?
Michael: I have tried very hard not to pin him down to anything right now. I don't want him to be just a punk kid, or a tough guy. I like to think of him as a kid that is not only misunderstood, but who doesn't really understand himself. I really don't think he has been defined yet, and I think that's a good thing, because I don't want him to be a one-dimensional character. I would like him to have lots of underlying levels.
Is there anyone that you haven't gotten to work with yet, that you would like to work with?
Michael: I would like to do some scenes with Michael Sabatino (Lawrence). And I would like to do some stuff with Crystal (Carly), but she's so wrapped up in Bo, I can't see that happening. I did scenes the other day with Charles Shaughnesy (Shane), Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), and Shannon Sturgess (Molly), and they were all wonderful to work with! I like working with the older actors, people that are more established on the show.
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Have people begun to recognize you, yet?
Michael: Yes, it's really weird getting recognized. In the grocery store, people start to look through your groceries to see what you're buying. It's really weird! I had to stop buying generic products. I buy the good stuff, now! Actually, I love meeting fans. I love getting mail, too. I answer all of my mail.
What do you want in your personal life?
Michael: Everybody wants to get married and have children someday, but that someday is a long way off for me. I'm one of those people who have a lot of things that they need to do before they could be [married]. When I get married, I want to do it once, and I want to have it perfect. So I really want that person to have everything that they want before they are married, and the same thing for me. I'm very into someone having their own thing.
What's the biggest difference between you and Tanner?
Michael: The temper thing is not me. He has a very short fuse. I'm more the kind of person who holds stuff in for a long time before it burns out. He really lets it out, and I have a good time with that.
Do you like watching yourself on TV?
Michael: No, I really don't. I find that I'm looking for the wrong thiings. I'll watch the show when I'm not on it, just to see what's going on with other storylines. Usually when I walk out for the day, I know if I did a good job or if it was a little less than what I wanted to do. I usually end up going crazy if I don't look good, or if my hair gets messed up. [But] I trust the direction, I trust the camera man, and I trust the lighting guys...It's pretty rare when I actually sit down and consciously watch it.
© Daytime TV's Greatest Stories
Excerpt from Soap Opera Weekly 11/19/91: Michael Easton, on ME Corner
Taking on Tanner: Days of Our Lives' Michael Easton
-Caelie M. Haines
Character: The Mysterious Tanner Scofield, who may have witnessed Nick Corellis murder and who is also the brother of the policeman (Brian, played by Robert Mailhouse) investigating the crime.
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Life before Days: "....But we had such a good time on that film that I decided I only wanted to do film. This is a big side step, doing the soap."
Immpressions so far: "I came on with the attitude, 'OK, it's a career move and I hope it will lead to bigger things.' But I'm having a really good time here. The people are so unbelievably nice. When I go to work I actually enjoy the people -- going to work with them is really great. It never really matters where you are or what you're doing. If you're with friends or people you enjoy being with, then it makes it a good experience."
Talking Tanner: "I like to think of Tanner as kind of a Jack Kerouac type. He's Brian's younger brother, and Brian, of course, is a good guy, a really respected person, so Tanner never really got along with him. And I like to think he just hopped on his motorcycle one day and took off for a few years. Now he's come back and he's kind of been drawn back into his family by accident. Right now, they (the Days writers) have got him being sort of a tough guy. He's witnessed something about the Corelli murder -- either he saw who did it or he knows something about it -- but he doesn't want to go to his brother because they have threatened to kill Brian if Tanner says anything. And even though he can't stand his brother when he's around him, he loves him and doesn't want anything to happen to him."
Rumors about romance: "There's a lot of rumors going around about what the show's going to do. Brian and Melissa (Camilla Scott) are starting to get involved, and there's the possibility of a love triangle between the brothers. But I don't know. Also, Sarah (Allie Brown) is coming back, and she's like 19 now, so..."
© Soap Opera Weekly
Excerpt from Soap Opera Digest 2/18/92: Michael Easton, on ME Corner
TV's Most Romantic Stories
Romance can flourish under the most unlikely and awkward circumstances. On soaps, extreme differences and seemingly insurmountable conflicts can't stop true love. Here are some couples who've overcome obstacles and have found themselves swept away by unexpected, thrilling romance.
First Love: Tanner and Molly Days of Our Lives
The big "c" -- that's Molly and Tanner's toughest problem. Lots of couples have trouble communicating, but these two kids get their signals crossed on a daily basis. Tanner's not the most talkative guy in the world to begin with, and trying to plead his case with Molly just seems to make him even more tongue-tied. She's hardly a whiz at the dating game, either. Since moving to Salem, Molly's grown up pretty fast, but she's still a bit awkward around the opposite sex. Heck, if it weren't for her surrogate "mom," Julie, constantly pushing them together, this tentative twosome would still just be dreaming about getting to first base.
Most Bungled Move: When she first came to town, Tanner thought he'd help country bumpkin Molly plan her summer wardrobe, so he sent her a bikini. She got angry, and he just got flustered.
What They Really Have in Common: "Dickens novel" style childhoods. Molly grew up in isolation, believing her parents were dead. (She did have a loving granddad.) Tanner's home life was a mess -- his mother killed herself and his father couldn't deal with it. No wonder Tanner bottles up his feelings. Deep down, he thinks a real family is pretty neat. So does Molly.
Most Ridiculous Misunderstanding: When Tanner was trying to track Ginger down -- under her alias, Genevieve Brinker -- Molly overheard his phone conversation with a Las Vegas informant. She jumped to the idiotic conclusion that Tanner was involved with a Vegas cutie.
Most Courageous Gesture: Despite his grudge against Christmas (it's a family holiday), Tanner reluctantly agreed to deck the halls and hang the mistletoe this year -- for Molly's sake. He even escorted her to The Nutcracker ballet and stayed away through the whole performance.
© Soap Opera Digest
NBC's Daydreams 3/92: Michael Easton, on ME Corner | Soap Opera World
Days of Our Lives Molly and Tanner Are Tentative
"Shannon and I weren't a couple at first. They didn't bring Shannon in to be my love interest. They brought this story in and brought us together in these scenes, and saw that it worked.
--Michael Easton (Tanner Scofield, DAYS OF OUR LIVES)
"They're very protective of one another, but there are problems in their future because of the secrets from their past. Trust is key in their relationship. Tanner is going to have to teach Molly to trust."
--Gene Palumbo (DAYS OF OUR LIVES headwriter)
© NBC's Daydreams
Excerpt from Soap Opera Digest 4/14/92: Michael Easton
Salem’s Sexy Men
Who’s the most happy-go-lucky guy in Salem? Which DAYS OF OUR LIVES hero would you feel most comfortable telling your troubles to? Who’s got the edge on charm or sensitivity? To help you make your choices, we asked DAYS OF OUR LIVES’s leading men (or, in some cases, the women who know them well) this intriguing question: “What do you think women find sexy about you?” Here’s what they said:
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Michael Easton (Tanner): “What do women find sexy about me? . . . Do they?”
Jay Pickett (Chip): “I tell them I know Michael Easton.”
© Soap Opera Digest
Excerpt from Gadsen Times 5/3/92: Michael Easton
Michael Easton, a poet too
By John N. Goudas King Features Syndicate
Going on looks, not brains, "Days" went out and hired a 1990 UCLA graduate in English and History, Michael Easton, with Irish blood in his veins, to play a loner called Tanner. Seeing his credentials in the UCLA English department, the writers decided to tap Easton's brain in building the Tanner character. Some respect was being paid, or maybe it's a lark. Tanner might even have a line where words are over two syllables.
© Gadsden Times
Soap Opera Weekly 7/92: Michael Easton, on ME Corner
Sturges & Easton: Why they're leaving Days
As reported in Revolving Door, Vol. 3 Issue 31, Shannon Sturges and Michael Easton (Molly and Tanner) have been added to the group of Days of Our Lives stars heading out of Salem. Both actors were told their final tape day will be Friday, Aug. 28. Sturges and Easton, who have expressed an interest in leaving the show for some time, call the move a "mutual decision" between the Days brass and themselves. "Michael and I were not happy here," says Sturges bluntly. "I spoke to (co-executive producer) Tom Langan twice about getting out of my contract. Michael expressed his dissatisfaction with the show.
"Basically I've felt a lot of frustration," she continues. "Michael and I have never been a favorite, and Days certainly has its favorites, which is nothing against those actors. Although we were very well liked by the network, I don't think we were well liked by the producers. And the producers make all the decisions."
Easton seconds his co-star's opinion, and says he regrets the fact that they never got the chance to bask in the glory of a major storyline. "Shannon and I would have liked the opportunity to carry the show just once," he says. "If it didn't work, they could have just said, 'You're gone.' And you know something? I would have said, 'Thank you for the opportunity.' Instead we lingered for 18 months. We never got that opportunity. We were always the third and fourth storyline...and worse," says Easton. "We did have that two-week period where we went through the Gavin (Daniel Pilon) and Molly story, and I think people responded well to that. But that was it.
"I'm very glad that I got the Gavin storyline, when I did," adds Sturges. "That was nice, but it was kind of late." Despite the pair's lack of airtime and any significant PR, Sturges and Easton still managed to emerge into quite a popular duo. Easton's theory on the subject is short and sweet. "Shannon and I always tried to play very honest," Easton says, explaining their popularity. "We were never overblown. People really cared about our characters."
"Molly and Tanner became popular in spite of everything...in spite of not being given a storyline, in spite of not being given a lot of things other people were," says Sturges.
Fan response to the announcement of Sturges' and Easton's departure has been sadness and uproar. "A lot of fans want to petition to get us back on the show," notes Sturges. "But I've told them Michael and I are ready to go.
"I don't want fans to think we're deserting them, because we're not," she continues. "They've been really great, and I'm thankful for all their support. It's the show that's deserted us. But if I had this to do all over again, I would. I definitely would."
"I have absolutely appreciated all the people who watch the show," says Easton. "I'm the first one to admit I wouldn't have been here as long as I've been if it weren't for them." Sturges and Easton share an optimistic viewpoint regarding heir acting future. "A lot of people worry about getting fired,' he continues. "I never have. I'll just go out and get other work. I'm confident about getting work as an actor."
© Soap Opera Weekly
Excerpt from Chicago Tribune 8/5/92: Michael Easton
On The Front Burner
August 05, 1992|By Marla Hart.
Is it a coup at ``Days of Our Lives``? The soap, known in recent years for frequent purges of familiar characters that make the show nearly unrecognizable, will be making sweeping changes once again. Network representatives announce that the following characters soon will be gone: Heartthrob Michael Easton (Tanner) will be leaving in September and his romantic interest Molly (played by Shannon Sturges) will also be written out.
© Chicago Tribune
Excerpt from Soap Opera Digest 9/10/96: Michael Easton, on ME Fusion
"Michael Easton" (Ex-Tanner Scofield, Days Of Our Lives)
Michael Easton knew he was taking a considerable risk when he quit the role of DAYS OF OUR LIVES's Tanner in 1992. But today, you could say his gamble has paid off TWO fold.
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Quitting DAYS wasn't easy, but Easton now says it was for the best.
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The actor also stays in touch with former DAYS lover Shannon Sturgess (ex-Molly, now SAVANNAH's REESE). "Shannon and Staci [Greason, ex-Isabella] saw me in a play I did in L.A. called The Door. Also, I still talk to Robert {Mailhouse, who played Tanner's big brother, Brian] He and I had a lot of fun working together."
© Soap Opera Digest
Excerpt from Prodigy 9/17/97: Michael Easton, on Synchronicity
Transcript of the Prodigy Chat with Michael Easton
September 17, 1997 22.00 EDT
DJ LOVER (Prodigy Member) Did you like working with all the woman? Who was your favorite?
Michael Easton (Speaker) It had to be Shannon Sturges, from "Days of Our Lives," who went on to do "Savannah." She has a great sense of humor.
FredsHotStuf (Prodigy Member) Did you ever have anything embarrassing happen to you on "Days of Our Lives?"
Michael Easton (Speaker) Being on "Days" was at times a constant source of embarrassment...adapting to sharing yourself on a show every day was embarrassing...the most embarrassing thing? The show is filmed at NBC Studios in Burbank. After the earthquake, I was on the set with an actress, and all the lights started to shake. We ran into the set doorway to hide--which was right under the lights! The crew cracked up pretty good at that one.
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Michael Easton (Speaker) When you're on a soap opera, you get marriage proposals all the time....if you can deal with the soap opera fans and some of the interesting things that happens, you can deal with anything. You get flowers, pictures, books, tapes--everything, in the mail.
NOWTHEN (Prodigy Member) Hi Michael ! My aunt Rosiland Cash was on the "General Hospital" and I am a young actress and would like to know how did you get your start in television ?
Michael Easton (Speaker) The first thing I ever did on TV was "Days of Our Lives." I was doing a play in NY that I wrote. We couldn't afford to pay actors, so we did the parts ourselves. A casting director came backstage and said it was the worst play she'd ever seen, but "you're not a bad actor." A few weeks later, I was on Days.
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FredsHotStuf (Prodigy Member) Did you like doing a soap opera?
Michael Easton (Speaker) Yes I did. I met some nice people. It was a good learning opportunity. Soaps are kind of like a relationship. A lot of times it's just chemical--the attraction. For me, it became kind of difficult after awhile, but it was great while it lasted. The fans have been incredibly supportive over the years. The best fans in the world are soap fans...incredibly loyal.
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XGARG (Prodigy Member) What was your ending script on "Days?" and do you plan on going back?
Michael Easton (Speaker) Last storyline on "Days": all I remember is Shannon ended up getting a job in Hollywood as an actress...I went along with her to be a grip on the set. Grips are the guys who move the equipment.
© Prodigy
Excerpt from Soap Opera News 9/23/97: Michael Easton, on Synchronicity
Easton Exposure: Former DAYS heartthrob Michael Easton puts his career hopes on Hope Street
By Jeffrey Epstein
Nick is also a change from his heart-stealing role as Tanner Scofield on Days of Our Lives, Easton points out, recalling his two-year stint in Salem as a mixed blessing. "The good part was having a regular gig, and the bad part is, you have a regular gig."
"I enjoyed it, I really did, but after a while, it just got tiring," he admits. "With a film, you prepare for your role, you go in, you do it and you go home and relax. Making a soap work day in and day out is very difficult. What those people do on a daily basis mentally and physically is just incredible. I learned that discipline, but I didn't enjoy it."
Discipline, Easton admits, is clearly not his strong suit. In fact, he has the dubious distinction of being expelled from New York University. "I was a 19-year-old bartender at the Palladium, which meant I was working until 5 o'clock every morning and not showing up for school," he remembers. "I never thought they'd throw me out. They eventually said, 'You know what?' and they tossed me!"
It proved to be a blessing in disguise. Once Easton left NYU, he began pursuing his theatrical career in earnest. A casting director spotted him in a play and asked him to audition for DAYS. "I had like four million dollars in student loans, so I decided, 'So much for being a pretentious New York actor. I'm flying to L.A. to do this audition!" he says with a laugh.
Besides making money on DAYS, Easton made several lifelong pals, including Rob Mailhouse, who played Tanner's brother Brian, and Savannah beauty Shannon Sturges, who was his love interest Molly Brinker. "She's one of my best friends," he smiles. "I love them both to death."
© Soap Opera News
Excerpt from Starlog 4/99: Michael Easton, on Synchronicity
Thought Policeman
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Past Recollections
Easton has been showing his own stuff for a while now. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Queens, New York and LA, he attended UCLA and New York University, writing plays all the while. An NBC executive caught a NYC stage show that Easton co-wrote and acted in, and, while hating the play, suggested that Easton might want to give acting a shot. He headed to LA, promptly landed the role of Tanner Scofield on Days of Our Lives and stayed there for two years.
© Starlog
Soap Opera Digest 2/29/00: Michael Easton, on Synchronicity
Where Are They Now?
Feb. 29, 2000
Michael Easton (ex-Tanner, 1990-92)
Since Michael Easton left Salem in 1992, he's had a string of successful and not-so-successful TV gigs, including a memorable stint on "Ally McBeal," the lead in the syndicated series, "Total Recall 2070," and a role in the soon-to-be-released NBC mini-series, "The '70s." But he's still recognized from his "Days" days. "People have long memories," he laughs. "I'll go see some casting director that I'm really nervous about meeting and they say, "'I loved you on 'Days.'" Which is surprising to the actor. "I didn't know what the hell I was doing on that show," he admits candidly. "I try not to think back on it too much; I think I've improved a little bit, maybe learned a few things since then."
Enough to impress the hottest producer on television these days, David E. Kelley. "I was doing a show at the time, "413 Hope St.," which had just been canceled," Easton recalls. "So I was very depressed and [then] I got a call to meet with David Kelley." "Ally" fans know that Easton played a nude model who had everybody asking, "Does size matter?" "the next thing I know, they're actually debating that size does matter on the radio," he laughs. "It was unbelievable." Easton later returned for a few episodes of "Ally" and its sister show, "The Practice."
The actor keeps in touch with Robert Mailhouse, who played his on-screen brother, Brian. "I still see Rob about once a week," he shares. "We always end up flashing back on a scene that we did [on "Days"]." And he wouldn't mind returning to soaps. "I try not to have a medium bias," he reflects. "I have a lot of friends who say they would never do a soap opera. But then again, nobody's called; they probably don't want me back. I know "Days" won't want me back -- maybe I didn't pan out too well on there."
Easton spends a good portion of the year in Toronto, where he films the "total Recall 2070" series. "It's pretty good; it's [like "The] X-files." he explains. Unlike many other syndicated series, Easton laughs, "There's not a big cheese factor, not a lot of naked women running around." When not filming, the still-single actor concentrates on writing and has penned celebrity biographies on Montgomery Clift and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as a poetry book, "Eighteen Straight Whiskeys." All in all, "I'm happy with the way my career turned out," he smiles.
© Soap Opera Digest
Excerpt from The Free Lance-Star 5/13/01: Michael Easton
Easton finds satisfaction in diverse creative outlets
By Candace Havens
Easton's role on "PC" marks his return to daytime. One of his first TV roles was as Tanner Scofield in 1991 on "Days of Our Lives." During his two years on the show, Easton garnered legions of fans and was voted one of "People" magazine's 50 Most Beautiful.
© The Free Lance Star
Excerpt from Soap Central 8/14/06: Michael Easton
Contract Inked, Easton Won't be "Killed Off"
Posted Sunday, August 13, 2006 12:23:52 PM
As talk of his possible One Life to Live exit heated up on Internet message boards, some fans whispered that Easton's on-screen persona might be shipped off to the join the fictional Port Charles Police Department on ABC's General Hospital. Other rumors had Easton rejoining the cast of Days of our Lives, where he portrayed Tanner Scofield in the early '90s.
© Soap Central