Jacklyn Zeman does it all! Wife, mother, actress, author. After 22 years and more than 4,000 episodes as nurse Bobbie Spencer (Chief Surgical RN on General Hospital), Jacklyn has become to millions of daytime viewers a true contemporary, a role model. She is one of the most visible and likable actresses on network television.
Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Jacklyn completed her high school studies at 15 and studied dance on a scholarship at New York University. Soon she was dancing and modeling professionally while continuing her studies. A desire to act on daytime television led Jacklyn to her debut on One Life to Live. After her character's untimely demise, Jacklyn was asked to go to Los Angeles to create the role of Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital.
In addition to television work, she has performed in off-Broadway and community productions, including Come Blow Your Horn, Barefoot in the Park and The Boyfriend. Over the years, she has appeared in numerous feature films, such as Gary Marshall's Young Doctors in Love, John Hughes' National Lampoon's Class Reunion, and The Day the Music Died, to name a few. She has also appeared in episodic primetime dramas and situation comedies such as Chicago Hope, Mike Hammer, Love American Style, Fantasy and Sledge Hammer.
Jacklyn received critical acclaim for her starring role in Montana Crossroads, an ABC Afterschool Special; and took a break from her busy General Hospital schedule to co-star as a lawyer in the ABC comedy movie for television, Jury Duty. Under her own production banner she co-produced and co-starred in an original stage play, Seacliff California.
Jacklyn is a frequent guest on some of television's top talk and game shows. Her appearances include Good Morning America, Oprah, Donahue, Live With Regis & Kathie Lee, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Hollywood Squares, Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune. Jacklyn hosted a popular cable special profiling the Men of Daytime and co-hosted a series of specials for EPCOT Magazine, on location in Florida with Michael Young, for the Disney Channel.
Jacklyn co-hosts ABC-TV affiliate morning shows throughout the country and was a family member and occasional co-host of ABC's Home Show, doing special segments on beauty, health, fitness and fashion. Jacklyn's philosophy is simple. "I try to take good care of my family and myself without spending a lot of time on a beauty routine. We lead a very healthy lifestyle." She adds, "Beauty really does come from within."
Add author to Jacklyn's list of achievements. Her first book, Beauty on the Go, was published by Simon and Schuster in 1986. She has written beauty and fitness feature articles for major consumer magazines and columns for daytime television publications. She has also contributed recipes to more cookbooks than she can count in order to help raise money for various charitable organizations.
Travel, a favorite pastime, has been incorporated into appearances on Runaway and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Jacklyn was featured on Jamie Jamison's "Home Tips," a syndicated radio show airing in over 300 markets nationally, and hosted "Soap Talk" for the ABC Radio Network.
Jacklyn is the national spokesperson for the International Correspondence Schools. She appears in the on-air and print ads. As the mother of two young daughters, she is now even more of an advocate of education than ever before. She strongly believes that education is the key to unlocking the door to one's goals.
Jacklyn spearheaded the Beauty Logics sales run on the Home Shopping Network and was the spokeswoman for the Metabolic Trim Plan, a healthy way to stay trim and fit. She guested with Jerry Lewis in a cooking video and has starred in the Beauty on the Go and Soap Star Workout videos and was the sole representative of the network for its television advertising campaign. Jacklyn is currently featured in the Excedrin migraine commercials and print advertisements.
Jacklyn has also given her time and energies to help support public awareness programs for organ donors, and filmed a video used in hospitals nationally to promote Hepatitis B vaccines to medical workers. She has co-hosted the first and second annual Dolphin Ball with former co-star Rick Springfield to raise money for cystic fibrosis.
Honors and awards over the years include four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, including one for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1998, a Soap Opera Digest Award and the Les Etoiles de Coeur Award from the American Heart Association, the Charolette Meyers Volunteer Recognition Award from the Leukemia Soceity of America, the Left-handers Society's Outstanding Left-hander of the Year award, and the Hollywood International Favorite Actress Award.
Jacklyn lives in Malibu with her husband, Glenn Gorden, and two daughters � Cassidy Zee, born September 16, 1990, and Lacey Rose, born July 15, 1992. A Brittany spaniel, Goldie; two cats, Rex and Lily; bunnies Vanilla Pearl and Sunflower and various types of fish too numerous to mention round out the family. As a role model with great visibility and likability, Jacklyn dedicates herself to maintaining a balance between family and work.
