A Biography Of Louise Sorel

Born in Los Angeles on August 6, to Jeanne and Albert Cohen, Louise and her younger sister Mishka were raised in an artistic environment. Her mother was a concert pianist and a painter; her father produced several successful films, among them, "East of Sumatra," "Fighting Seabees," "Sign of the Pagan," "Horizons West" and "Never Say Goodbye."

Louise was interested in the theater right from the start. At 14, she was doing the plays of Euripides and Maxwell Anderson at Hollywood High School. Continuing her studies at Los Angeles City College, Louise starred in "Caesar and Cleopatra," followed by "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," "Right You Are if You Think You Are" and "The Desk Set." Richmond Shepherd saw her work and asked her to join his mime company. One of Louise's favorite moments was working as a mime with Jonathan Winters at the Hungry I in San Francisco.

Louise decided to give New York a try so she relocated and auditioned for the famed Neighborhood Playhouse. Instead of a prepared scene, she did a pantomime story. Not only was she accepted, they offered her a two-year scholarship.

After graduation, Louise and 40 other brand new actors went in search of an agent. Fortunately, an old friend of the family sent her to see Phyllis Rab at the William Morris office and her first reading was for none other than George Abbott and Hal Prince. A week later, she was cast in "Take Her, She's Mine," playing the role of 'Sarah' with Art Carney and Elizabeth Ashley starring. A meeting was set up with Jack Hawkins, Peter O'Toole and Guy Hamilton concerning a role in their new film, "The Party's Over" with Oliver Reed and Eddie Albert. She landed the role. Everything was happening so fast but Louise was ready for it! The film shot in London, which was the beginning of her passion for traveling.

Upon returning to New York, she starred on Broadway in "Lorenzo" and, then, "The Dragon" directed by Joseph Anthony. This was followed by a television pilot for Woody Allen, "The Laugh Makers," which starred Alan Alda, David Burns, Louise Lasser, Sandy Baron and Michael J. Pollard. With such a cast, it's hard to believe that the show didn't make it. In retrospect, Louise feels the show was way ahead of its time.

Offered the Elizabeth Ashley role in a summer tour of "Take Her, She's Mine" with Walter Pidgeon, Louise again hit the road. She returned to Broadway as Rita Moreno's sister in "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" by Lorraine Hansberry. She followed that with co-starring role in "Philadelphia, Here I Come" with the famed Dublin Gate Theater Players.

Sorel married actor Herb Edelman and they became Broadway/Hollywood commuters. Her career began to rise. Guest shots on "Rat Patrol," "The Virginian," "Run for Your Life," "Big Valley," "Medical Center," etc. were frequent. Louise was then signed for a new concept in television the first hour-long nighttime soap opera called "The Survivors," starred Lana Turner, George Hamilton, Kevin McCarthy, Ralph Bellamy and Jan Michael Vincent.

Next came the feature film, "River of Diamonds" with Vic Morrow and Claude Akins, which was followed by "Happiness is Just a Little Thing Called Rolls Royce" on Broadway with John McGiver and Pat Harrington.

Louise next tackled the role of Don Rickles' wife on "The Don Rickles Show" with Bob Newhart playing her brother in several guest appearances. Her marriage had ended so she went to Philadelphia to star in "Volpone" with Ken Howard as her leading man. Soon he became her leading man in real life and they were married. The union lasted two and a half years and they are now divorced.

A starring role in "Ladies Man" with ex-hubby Herb Edelman, Karen Morrow, Larry Pressman and Alison Argo was her next TV venture and appearances in several films, "Plaza Suite," "Airplane II," "Where the Boys Are 1984" and "Crimes of Passion" added to her resume.

When she was first offered the role of "August Lockridge" on a new soap, "Santa Barbara," she hesitated but thought it to be a challenge and took it. Her storyline, great in the beginning, soon began to slow down, so when she was offered the role of "Judith" on "One Life to Live," she moved back to New York and stayed there for a few years. She returned to "Santa Barbara," only to leave again. Now, as the devilishly conniving villainess "Vivian" on NBC-TV's "Days of Our Lives," daytime fans are enjoying villainy as they have never seen it before. Proof of this was shown by fans voting Sorel Outstanding Villainess at the Soap Opera Awards in 1994, and in 1995 fans again showed their love of her work by voting Louise Outstanding Female Scene Stealer.
Unfortunately for fans Louise's contract was never renewed and in May 2000, Louise left Days for good. She now is on Port Charles.

Her Primetime credits include Knots Landing, Star Trek, Bonanza, Ladies' Man, Sunset Limousine and Zorro. And her recent films include Plaza Suite, Airplane II, Where the Boys Are '84, Every Little Crook and Nanny, P.S. I Love You and Ken Russell's Crimes of Passion.

Louise is now single and lives with her adorable dog Jiggs in a lovely home in Westwood. Someday, when she has the time, Louise plans to write a book on her gypsy life called "Travels with Lulu." If signs of Louise's past efforts are any barometer, it will be a best seller!

Courtesy Of www.louise-sorel.net