When interviewing GENERAL HOSPITAL's
Wally Kurth (NED) about his career these days, it'd difficult
to know which topic to address first. There is, of course, that
the engaging actor is coming up on his 13th year in daytime--
close to nine of which have been spent portraying GH's audacious
Mr. Ashton. Then there's the new CD, Freedom, that he and
his Kurth & Taylor bandmates released late last year(which
is available on their Web site, http://www.kurthandtaylor.com
). And let's not forget the Kurth & Taylor Foundation,
a nonprofit organization that raises money for children' s charities.
But it's Man On Fire-- Kurth's first screenplay-- that
truly has him, well, fired up. Man follows a rock star named Jimmy
Treeborn ( played by Kurth), who ditches his career and takes
to the back roads of Montana to face down a painful memory from
his past-- finding romance and seeking redemption amidst the sumptuous
Big Sky landscape. The film is loosely based on a chapter from
Kurth's own childhood. "When my brother [Kevin] was 5 years
old, he accidentally started a fire that burned down our house,
" shares Kurth. "But he never told anyone. It was a
secret he held on to for 20 years. My parents never really talked
about it and sort of wrote it off as an electric blanket causing
fire."
While the screenplay (which Kurth is co-producing with brothers
Kevin and Brian) differs on several levels from Kevin's experience,
the common thread of burning secrets remains. "My first draft
was about secrets and lies," he notes. "But this [latest]
draft is more about a repressed memory and owning who you are.
That was the intriguing part: What you've done in the past is
who you are in the present."
Ironically, it was the death of Kurth's brother-in-law, Skip,
two years ago that galvanized the actor to start writing the screenplay
in the first place. "My sister's husband was really close
with me and all of us boys in the family," sighs Kurth. "He
died of cancer, and it made me realize just how short life is
and how I really needed to start pursuing these dreams I'd had
for a long time. I wanted to write it for him."
Though at this point, the closest Man On Fire has come to being
realized is the screenplay itself and a stunning eight and a half
minute promotional trailer that Kurth shot to sell the project
(part of which can be viewed at http://www.evolutionpictures.com
), the actor plans to begin filming this summer in Montana. As
a result, he'll need to take some time away from GH. "I want
to do this movie this summer, " he says. "So, I'll take
time off to do that. I've only been off six months in the last
13 years. I need to take a break and do something. You know, get
dirty, ride a horse, take off all my clothes, get crazy and go
to Montana. It's low- budget enough that we'll be on step away
from guerrilla film making [laughs]. It'll be a good time."
Kurth's potential leave, of course, comes at a crucial time:
The actor's contact is set to expire in July. "I haven't
made a decision yet," admits Kurth of whether he plans to
resign. "I do have a family to support; I've got children
[daughters Meghann, 14 and Rosabel, 3 1/2], so that is a big consideration.
Plus, I love my job. I love the family that it is and the work.
I also love the fact that I don't have to look for a job like
most actors do. It's a beautiful thing to have a job like this.
A long as I'm artistically satisfied with the movie, the music,
the acting..."
As for the acting that involves music, Kurth reveals that he
couldn't be more thrilled about the re- introduction of Ned's
rocker alter ego, Eddie Maine. "I love that they're bringing
back Eddie Maine," he raves. "My favorite time [on GH]
was when [former head Writer] Claire Labine turned Ned into Eddie
Maine, brought in the Lois character and brought in the music
element. I really think it turned my character around in the sense
that he was such a stuffed shirt in a suit. He got to express
more passion. That was the most entertaining for me because I
was able to reveal a different part of my personality as well
as Ned's. Plus, having [Kurth & Taylor] on the show [as Eddie's
backup band, the Idle Rich] and, of course, meeting Rena [Sofer,
ex-Lois, whom Kurth wed in 1996]. All of that was amazing."
Despite the fact that Kurth and Sofer recently announced that
they have separated, the actor continues to speak affectionately
about her and reports that he spilt was amicable. "I really
want to respect Rena's privacy." he relates. "She's
very protective of it and I want to honor that. We've also made
an effort to keep the children out of the press and protect their
privacy. We are separated, but we're not planning on getting divorced
at this moment. I think we're both hopeful, but we're also realistic.
We want to make sure that both of us are happy. That's what we
want more than anything else."
With all that's going on in his life, Kurth naturally has little
free time ("If I'm not working, I'm playing with my children,"
he shares). Not that he's complaining. "I feel like I'm stepping
into my passion," he smiles. "I think that my work on
GENERAL HOSPITAL has gotten better because I've gotten this passionate
outlet. I'm more passionate about my life now than I've ever been,
so I have more energy. When I think back to the time I started
[on GH], I feel like I've really grown up. That has to do with
GENERAL HOSPITAL, and it also has to do with my relationships
with people and with Rena and my children. The last nine years
have been pretty powerful for me."