Ben Masters obit

 

Ben Masters Dies: ‘Passions’ Soap Star Was 75

 

He was not on the list.

Ben Masters, the actor best known for his role as Julian Crane on the old NBC soap Passions, died January 11 at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs. He was 75.

Masters battled dementia for several years and succumbed to Covid.

His biggest role was also his last — portraying the rich and powerful Julian from 1999 to 2008 on the NBC sudser.

Born on May 6, 1947, in Corvallis, Oregon, Masters graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. degree in theater in 1969. He moved to New York City, where he starred in on and off-Broadway productions such as Captain Brassbound’s Conversion with Ingrid Bergman, The Cherry Orchard with Meryl Streep, and Boys in the Band.

Masters segued into film, starring in Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz with Roy Schneider, Key Exchange with Brooke Adams and Danny Aiello, Making Mr. Right with John Malkovich, and Dream Lover with Kristy McNichol.  Throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Masters starred in miniseries like Noble House with Pierce Brosnan, Celebrity with Ned Beatty and Tess Harper, and guest starred in numerous television series, including Kojak, Petrocelli, Touched by an Angel, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Barnaby Jones, Murder She Wrote, Heartbeat, Walker: Texas Ranger, Diagnosis Murder, Sisters, and Pensacola Wings of Gold.

Masters is survived by his sister Cheryl Lerner and nieces Hannah and Clea Lerner of Los Angeles. At his request, there will be no memorial service or funeral.

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1975      Mandingo            Charles

1979      All That Jazz        Dr. Garry             

1985      Key Exchange     Philip    

1986      Dream Lover      Michael Hansen               

1987      Making Mr. Right             Steve Marcus    

1994      Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion                 Senator Julian Knox        

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1976–1977          Muggsy                Nick Malloy         13 episodes

1980      The Shadow Box               Mark     TV movie

1984      Celebrity              Kleber Cantrell Miniseries

1986      Kate's Secret      Jack Stark            TV movie

1986      The Deliberate Stranger                Det. Mike Fisher               TV movie

1988      Noble House      Linc Bartlett        4 episode

1988      Street of Dreams              Kyd Thomas        TV movie

1988–1989          HeartBeat            Dr. Leo Rosetti   18 episodes

1992      Cruel Doubt        Frank Johnston 2 episodes

1993      A Twist of the Knife         Prosecutor Dennis Chapin            TV movie

1995      Lady Killer           Ross Mitchell    

1997      The Second Civil War      Matthew Langford           TV movie

1997      Spy Game            General Sam Wellish      

1999–2008          Passions               Julian Crane        749 episodes