Frank Dicopoulos

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Frank Dicopoulos (Frank Cooper, GL)

Vital Statistics

Biography

Frank Dicopoulos never imagined he'd be celebrating 20 years on daytime. In fact, he never thought he'd become an actor at all. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, in a large, close-knit Greek family, Frank was an all-star athlete. His passion for sports evolved into a desire to study sports medicine (orthopedic surgery, to be exact), so he wound up at his hometown university, Kenyon College, in Gambier, OH and enrolled in premed. Dicopoulos eventually switched to a psychology major, but after taking a drama course, his path changed, though he didn't know it at the time.

After he graduated, Dicopoulos migrated to Texas, where he picked up a job as a tire salesman for a few years. Then, when he was introduced to a professional photographer, he began modeling and everything snowballed from there. He moved out to Los Angeles in 1984, screen-tested for DALLAS and CHiPS, made several small television appearances, posed for Playgirl and even became runner-up for GQ magazine's Male Model of the Year.

Eventually, soaps came calling. Dicopoulos relocated to New York, made brief appearances on GENERAL HOSPITAL and YOUNG AND RESTLESS, and then landed his GL role — one specifically created for him — in 1987. He's been in Springfield ever since.

Frank Dicopoulos's Photo Gallery>>

Trivia

— Dicopoulos sold dental instruments on the side during his modeling days.
— He began his own pool-cleaning service after moving to Los Angeles.
— He set an NCAA track record for high hurdles in high school.
— Dicopoulos is a founding member of Kenyon College's Archon Society coed fraternity.
— He was a stage manager for his college's production of C.C. Pyle and the Bunion Derby, which was directed by famous alumnus Paul Newman.
— Dicopoulos became one of four finalists out of 770 candidates to screen-test for the replacement role of Larry Wilcox (Jon) on CHiPS.
—In 1994, Dicopoulos was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, which he overcame. He is now a national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.
— Dicopoulos's daughter, Olivia, makes her debut on GL as Matt and Vanessa's daughter, Maureen, on October 16.

Career Highlights

Other Soap Appearances
YOUNG AND RESTLESS
GENERAL HOSPITAL—DYNASTY (Masseur, 1985)
FALCON CREST (David, 1985)

TV Appearances
WHO'S THE BOSS? (Lifeguard, 1985)
HOTEL (Ted, 1986)
MURDER IN BLACK AND WHITE (Bruno, 1990)

Movies
The Man Who Loved Women (uncredited, 1983)
Surrender (Thug, 1987)

Memorable Quotes

"I've always been accused of being a dreamer, of living in a fantasy world. I think you have to be in that to a certain extent if you want to achieve a goal."
— Soap Opera Digest, 6/4/88

"There are probably a dozen people I have gone through with on this show who begged to be fired. Begged! I look at them and say, 'What are you doing? You have the greatest job on the face of this Earth.'"
— Digest, 4/6/04

"If seeing two people really happy together and in love makes you sick, then I guess I feel real sorry for you."
— Soap Opera Weekly, 4/4/06

"You think happiness is elsewhere. That's not where it is. It's always been at home."
— Digest, 4/6/06

Frank Dicopoulos's Actor's Page>>

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