Michael Levin obit

Veteran Soap Actor Michael Levin Passes Away At 90

The actor appeared in the first and the last episode of the alphabet network’s Ryan’s Hope.

He was not on the list.

Michael Levin was born on December 8, 1932 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for Ryan's Hope (1975), As the World Turns (1956) and The Equalizer (1985). He was previously married to Elizabeth. He died on January 6, 2023 in Mount Kisco, New York, USA.

Best known for his role as reporter Jack Fenelli on the ABC daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope.

Enjoyed woodworking.

Served with the U.S. Navy for two years.

Took acting classes with Jack Nicholson and Robert Blake in California and improved his craft at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater, starting there when it opened in 1962.

Studied at the University of Minnesota.

 A move to New York landed the actor work at the Repertory Theatre of the Lincoln Center under the tutelage of Jules Irving and the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut. It was a commercial for Alitalia Airlines as an Italian spokesperson that led Levin to his role as an Italian American reporter on Ryan’s Hope.

Levin was a core cast member, appearing in the first episode of the debut of the soap opera. His character’s romance with Mary Ryan (played by the phenomenal Kate Mulgrew) created one of the most beloved couples on daytime at the time and garnered him three consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series starting in 1978.

Levin remained with the show until its climax in 1989, clocking in 1,074 episodes, and ended with his character’s marriage to Leigh Kirkland (Felicity LaFortune). Avid fans may recall that Fenelli’s daughter was played by a young Yasmine Bleeth of Baywatch fame.

After Ryan’s Hope, Levin landed roles on As the World Turns as John Eldridge and All My Children as Dr. Gould. He appeared in primetime on such shows as N.Y.P.D., The Equalizer, Law & Order, and New York News.

When the versatile actor wasn’t appearing on daytime or primetime television, he appeared on Broadway in such shows as The Royal Hunt of the Sun opposite David Carradine, Tennessee Williams’s Camino Real opposite Al Pacino, Sam Shepard’s Operation Sidewinder with Garrett Morris, and Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Woman of Setzuan with the late Colleen Dewhurst.

In recent years, he found joy in woodworking. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, sons Jason and Aaron, and grandchildren, Veronica and Nico. Soap Hub sends its sincere condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Michael Levin during this difficult time.

Actor

Madeline Kahn, Mary Tyler Moore, Gregory Harrison, Melina Kanakaredes, Kelli Williams, and Joe Morton in New York News (1995)

New York News

Leonard Brown

TV Series

1995

1 episode

 

Ice-T, Sam Waterston, Mariska Hargitay, Camryn Manheim, Christopher Meloni, Jeffrey Donovan, Mehcad Brooks, Kelli Giddish, and Danielle Moné Truitt in Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

Dr. Ira ChaikinDr. Reitman

TV Series

1992–1995

2 episodes

 

Susan Lucci, Debbi Morgan, Rebecca Budig, Cameron Mathison, and Darnell Williams in All My Children (1970)

All My Children

Dr. Gould

TV Series

1993

4 episodes

 

Kate Mulgrew, Bernard Barrow, Helen Gallagher, Malcolm Groome, and Michael Hawkins in Ryan's Hope (1975)

Ryan's Hope

Jack FenelliJack Finelli

TV Series

1975–1989

1075 episodes

 

Edward Woodward in The Equalizer (1985)

The Equalizer

Leonard Morgan

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

N.Y.P.D. (1967)

N.Y.P.D.

Atkins

TV Series

1967

1 episode

 

As the World Turns (1956)

As the World Turns

John Eldridge #2 (1991-1992)

TV Series

1956