
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994                   TAG: 9403230039
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Nancy Reichardt
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

IT'S NO JOKE; HE REALLY DID GET MARRIED

Jason Brooks, who plays Peter Blake on "Days of Our Lives," surprised his castmates and the show's crew members when he reported for work on Feb. 22 and made an announcement: He had just married Corinne Olivo, his girlfriend of years.

"I walked into the studio, went straight to the P.A. system, and said, `Good morning, everyone. This is Jason Brooks, and I have a little announcement,'" said the actor. "`This past weekend, while returning from a personal appearance in Wichita Falls, Texas, my girlfriend, Corinne, and I stopped in Las Vegas and got married. Thank you very much; have a wonderful day.'

"I'm known as being a joker, so it took quite a bit of reassuring for people to believe me," adds Brooks.

According to Brooks, the nuptials were totally spur-of-the-moment. "I proposed on Saturday night, Corinne accepted, and within 24 hours we were married," he said. "The whole thing was very romantic." Later, his "Days of Our Lives" co-stars, Eileen Davidson (who plays Kristen DiMera) and Melissa Reeves (who plays Jennifer Deveraux) surprised the actor with a congratulatory cake during that day's lunch break.

Famed television and theater actress Claire Bloom has joined the cast of "As the World Turns" in the role of Orlena Grimaldi, the mother of Damian Grimaldi, played by Paolo Seganti. In the current story line, Damian was shot and gravely wounded when he attempted to save his wife, Lily (played by Martha Byrne), who was being held for ransom. The role marks Bloom's first daytime television role.

Bloom has appeared in the films "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Limelight" and "Richard III." Her theater credits include "Hamlet" at The Royal Shakespeare Company, "The Lady's Not For Burning" and "Ring Around The Moon" at the Globe Theatre, and "A Streetcar Named Desire," which earned her three English Acting Awards. Bloom is starring in "Medea" with the Brooklyn Symphony in New York and traveling with a one-woman show.

On British television, Bloom had roles in "Shadowlands," "Time and the Conways," "Oedipus The King" and the series "Brideshead Revisited." She has received an International Emmy Award as Best Actress and a 1984 award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Also from "ATWT," John Hillner recently stepped into the role of Hal Munson, which is regularly played by Ben Hendrickson. Hendrickson has been granted an open-ended leave of absence because of a family emergency.

Thom Christopher had his last air date on "Loving" on Friday when his character, the dastardly Dante Parlou, was written out. In the meantime, three actors will return to "Loving" for short stints when they come to Corinth to visit a hospitalized Ava Rescott (played by Lisa Peluso). Colleen Quinn resurrects her former role of Carly on March 28 only, Shelly Rogers returns as Ava's sister Sherrie today for several episodes, and Ed Moore will be back as Harry beginning Monday.

Send your questions about soap operas to Nancy Reichardt, "Tune in Tomorrow," in care of the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491. Questions cannot be answered personally, but those of general interest will be answered in future columns.

United Feature Syndicate

by CNB