25 Facts on Actress Kassie DePaiva (OLTL"s Blair Cramer)
There’s a lot more than meets the eye with the beautiful actress Kassie DePaiva, who has played the role of One Life to Live's Blair Cramer for almost 20 years. This talented beauty is also a singer, gifted painter, and advocate for worthy causes. Here are 25 more facts about her:
- Kassie DePaiva is 5 ft. 9.5 in and has green eyes.
- She currently lives on the Upper West side, along with her husband and their son, James Quentin.
- In 1987, DePaiva played the role of Bobby Jo in the horror film, Evil Dead II, in which she played one of the main character's girlfriend, but the character was later killed in the woods.
- DePaiva started her singing career as a solo artist when she got to perform at the Grand Ole Opry at the age of eighteen.
- Was born on March 21, 1961 in Morganfield, Kentucky. Her full birth name is Katherine Virginia Wesley.
- DePaiva was the host for The Pro Shop, the PBS show Knit and Crochet Today, and has co-hosted on ABC's The View.
- DePaiva enrolled at Indiana University where she studied theatre, and later, went to Los Angeles where she attended UCLA, but dropped out of school before graduating.
- DePaiva left college to perform with the USO, and was able to travel with them around Asia.
- She was raised in a Southern Baptist family and is one of four children.
- As a young child, DePaiva studied dance, and often sang at both her school and church. She was also active in 4-H.
- Kassie married fellow One Life to Live actor James DePaiva in 1996. She was previously married to Richard C. Hankins, but got divorced in 1995.
- DePaiva's husband, James, was previously married to Misty Rowe, but also got a divorce in 1995. James and Misty had a daughter together named Dreama Marie.
- Kassie gave birth to a son, James Quentin DePaiva, on May 12, 1997. Because her son was born deaf, DePaiva is very supportive in raising funds for organizations such as The Center for Hearing and Communication, The Clark School for the Deaf, and the Hearing Health Foundation.
- DePaiva played the character Crystal Harr in an episode of Baywatch in 1994.
- The role of One Life to Live'sBlair Cramer was formerly portrayed by Mia Korf, who is half-Asian, which was jokingly noted on several episode of OLTL in reference to Blair's looks.
- In October, 1996, was DePaiva first acting debut when she got the part of Chelsea Reardon on Guiding Light, which she played until 1991.
- Was in an episode of Melrose Place back in 1994, as the character of Betty Benson-Chappell in the episode entitled Reunion Blues.
- DePaiva's first appeared on One Life to Live was on Friday, December 17, 1993, when the role of Blair Daimler Cramer was recast.
- Along with fellow soap stars Bobbie Eakes (ex-Krystal, AMC) and Kathy Brier (ex-Marcie, OLTL), DePaiva joined "The Divas" in 1999. This trio toured the country performing for the fans.
- DePaiva played the part of OLTL's Blair Cramer for nearly 19 years before ABC cancelled the show. She rejoined the cast with Prospect Park's revival of the show in 2013.
- OLTL's Todd Manning, played by actor Roger Howarth, and later Trevor St. John, along with DePaiva's Blair Manning became one of daytime's hottest supercouples.
- After her stint with the USO, DePaiva became a backup singer for Bobby Womack.
- In 2005, she received the Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
- DePaiva has produced three of her own albums, knits hats for charity, and sells her own paintings.
- Kassie DePaiva's has her own official website, which can be found here.