Bryan R. Dattilo

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas, DAYS)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Bryan R. Dattilo may be best known for playing DAYS's Lucas — the character he's portrayed for over a decade — but the Kankakee, IL native got his start in the biz when he was a child. After his parents divorced, his mom, Peggy, moved him and his siblings back and forth between Florida and Beverly Hills, California. During his first stint in CA, Dattilo became interested in acting; he soon signed with an agent, then landed commercials and a recurring role on NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS.

During his family's second run in Beverly Hills, Dattilo resumed acting, starring in movies and making guest appearances on several popular shows, including CALIFORNIA DREAMS, SAVED BY THE BELL, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT and DOOGIE HOWSER, M.D. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Santa Monica Junior College, but left when he began on DAYS.

In Salem, Dattilo was thrust into a front-burner storyline with Alison Sweeney (Sami), Austin Peck (ex-Austin; Brad, ATWT) and Christie Clark (ex-Carrie) and became a fan favorite. In 1999, he wed teacher Jessica Lahm, who soon after gave birth to their son, Gabriel.

Dattilo and Lahm divorced in 2001 — which was the same year that he was fired from DAYS. He quickly bounced back, doing independent movies and putting out a rap CD, Still Gettin' Paid. In 2002, he was rehired at the show.

Back in Salem, Dattilo was again put into a lead story with Sweeney, and as half of "Lumi" (Lucas and Sami), became the subject of fan campaigns and won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite New Couple in 2005. When he's not working, Dattilo enjoys sports, especially baseball and basketball; on set, he has a reputation for being a jokester.

Et Cetera

Five Random Facts
—Accompanied co-star Alison Sweeney to her real-life prom
—His middle name is Ronald; he uses his initial to honor his late grandfather, Ronald
—Studied psychology at Santa Monica Junior College
—Older sister Kristin Dattilo is also an actress whose credits include Intolerable Cruelty and GROUNDED FOR LIFE
—His mother, Peggy, was a reporter for the National Enquirer in Florida, and then became a writer/producer back in California

Career Highlights

TV Roles
CLASS OF '96 (1993)
DOOGIE HOWSER. M.D. (Charlie Morris, 1992)
CALIFORNIA DREAMS (Ted, 1992) IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (Boyd Gardner, 1991) SAVED BY THE BELL (David Miller, 1989)
CHARLES IN CHARGE (Jeff, 1988)
CRAZY LIKE A FOX (Little Boy, 1986)
NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS (Recurring cast member)
Film Roles
Gaydar (Jack, 2002)
Fits And Starts (Brian Ellison, 2002)
Arcade (Greg, 1993)
The Legend Of Grizzly Adams (1990)

Memorable Quotes

"There's no halfway to do it [kiss]; you've just got to, like, suck face. You have to be dedicated to that. She's a cutie, so it wasn't that big of a problem, but it was weird because that had never happened between us before. After it was done, we didn't even look at each other. We went our separate ways and tried to get over it. It was very funny." — On filming a fantasy kiss scene with Sweeney, Soap Opera Digest, 9/2/03

"Going through the changes I've gone through, it's just like starting from scratch, starting with nothing. I dig that; it's a challenge. People are brought down to their lowest point a couple of times in their life, and it's all about whether you can bounce back and improve yourself. I never wanted to be a victim in any of this, I just wanted to come back better. It's been tough, but you have to have a lot of faith, confidence and realistic goals about yourself." — Digest, 3/18/03

"It was hell. I was stripped. I lost the house, my marriage broke up, I went through trials, sold all five cars, liquidated all the assets; it's not easy. You begin to doubt yourself and you've got to hang on. I was amazed at the fact that I was so weak." — On getting divorced shortly after losing his job on DAYS, Digest, 9/18/01

"I play a scenario in my mind that Lucas is actually quite popular — at work — with other women. He gets invitations left and right from other women; he is just suspicious of their motives. He isn't dumb. I think of him as just the opposite. He isn't clueless at all." — Digest, 8/5/97

Official Web Site

www.bryandattiloonline.com

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