Eric Martsolf
ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE
SOAP STAR STATS
Eric Martsolf (Ethan, PASSIONS)
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— NBC
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Vital Statistics
- Birthdate:
- July 27
- Birthplace:
- Harrisburg, PA
- Years on Show:
- 2002-present
- Marital Status:
- Wed wife Lisa in 2003
- Children:
- twin sons Mason and Chase in April 2006
- Former Soap Roles:
- Demon on PASSIONS
THE 411
Eric Martsolf grew up with brother Justin, mom Nancy (a teacher) and dad Rick (a lawyer) in Harrisburg, PA. In the early '90s, during his breaks from Dickinson College, he showed off his singing and dancing chops during a sweet gig at Hershey Park, a chocolate-theme park nearby.
After receiving a political science degree, he chucked his plans to become an attorney and embarked on a career as a performer. That road let him to the sea, where he sang on a cruise ship. Afterward, he landed in Dollywood, Dolly Parton's amusement park, located in Pigeon Forge, TN. After two years performing there, Martsolf signed a four-year contract playing Pharaoh in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on a national tour.
With about 40 musicals and plays on his resumé, Martsolf landed a role on PASSIONS in 2002. He played a demon in hell when Theresa attempted to commit suicide. Later that year, he returned for a much bigger role— Ethan (replacing original portrayer Travis Schuldt). In December 2002, the actor proposed to girlfriend Lisa, a professional dancer and choreographer. They married the following year and welcomed fraternal twin boys, Mason and Chase, on April 7, 2006.
Though his family and life in Harmony take up most of his time, Martsolf continues to pursue a singing career. His self-titled album was released in summer 2007, which can be heard at www.myspace.com/ericmartsolfmusic.
ET CETERA
Five Random Facts
— Sang a duet with Dolly Parton
— Once worked at Universal Studios as Spider-man, the Green Goblin, the Scorpion King and Elwood Blues
— In sixth grade, he was bit on the right cheek by a brown recluse spider in the Poconos Mountains
— Knows how to speak French
— Plays drums
HELLO DOLLY!
"She is probably the most down-to-earth celebrity I've ever met." — On meeting Dolly Parton, Soap Opera Digest, 10/15/02
INTO THE REAL WORLD
"Liza [Huber] and I went to the mall during our first week together and we were concerned about it. We were like, ‘Isn't this going to be strange, Ethan and Gwen walking around?' But we managed to make it through the mall with a few double takes here and there." — Digest, 4/8/02
GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS
"I like to pick things off of Liza when she has an article of food on her face from lunch or a stain on her shirt. And she'll be the first to admit that she is always a mess; she always has something on her and I'm always the one to pick the piece of bread off her lip or something like that." — Digest, 2/3/04
"[I admire] Eric for coming into a big, established character and just going for it without fear. [To Martsolf] You changed a lot of the ways Travis [Schuldt, ex-Ethan] played it and you are a totally different Ethan.... You went full-steam ahead and I really admire that about you." — Lindsay Hartley (Theresa, PASSIONS), Digest, 4/8/02
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.ericmartsolf.com
