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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990                   TAG: 9005230302
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY M. REICHARDT
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

Count Stovall, who has joined "All My Children" as sexy Cal Cummings, has done it all. His credits include nighttime, theater and film roles, as well as two previous soap stints as Hank Chambers on "The Doctors" and Detective Roy Franklin on "As the World Turns." Stovall is also a produced playwright, a poet and a freelance writer, and he has taught mentally disabled adolescents. In his spare time, he lectures in prisons, schools and organizations.

Stovall has taken on yet another project. Determined to help black actors on daytime increase their visibility, he has formed a group called Celebrity Endorsement Collective. The purpose of the group, which has the support of more than 20 black contract players on soaps, is to encourage ad agencies to hire black daytime stars to endorse products. Stovall also hopes to open the doors for black soap performers to do more personal appearances.

"Blacks comprise a large percentage of the soap viewing audience and spend billions of dollars on consumer goods," says Stovall. "Yet very few of us are out there endorsing products and doing personal appearances in the black community. Blacks have status in their communities, and we'd make the best spokespersons to represent products. It would make sense for advertisers to use the soap actors who are in the homes of black people five days a week. Even though I've had roles on all three networks, I've never been able to capitalize on it. Blacks on daytime are starting to work together to open doors. We have the potential to have an enormous impact on the black community."

While many would agree that blacks have not been fully represented in the soaps and in ads, Stovall doesn't believe it has anything to do with racial bias.

"I think the lack of minority representation on daytime and in ads is inadvertent," says Stovall. "They haven't had to balance things out in any way because blacks don't write in and demand better representation. Things are the way they are because of tradition and aesthetics, not racism. Soaps have always had a certain `look.' But I think things will continue to improve for blacks every year. And once we have stronger story lines, we'll be able to better exploit our daytime roles."

At this time, Stovall is delighted to be on "All My Children."

"I love the show and my role," he says. "I'm finally being utilized for my talent, my attractiveness and my sexuality. On other shows, I had to check my manhood at the door. Cal is a fuller, more successful and focused character than Roy Franklin on `As the World Turns.' He's more a part of the whole community than Roy was, and his life touches the other characters' lives."

Stovall is looking forward to playing opposite the new Angie Hubbard on "AMC," recent Juilliard graduate Saundra Quarterman.

"I feel very challenged by Saundra because she's a strong and exciting actress," says Stovall. "I've been in the gym running laps and trying to get Cal thin because I've got to be in shape to juggle both Angie and her mother, Pat (played by Lee Chamberlin). Things are really going to heat up."

Unfortunately, romance in Stovall's life has cooled down since his separation and impending divorce from his physician wife of four years.

"When I lost my job at `As the World Turns' and headed out to California for pilot season, the financial stress and physical separation were too much for my wife to bear," says Stovall. "She got sick and also could not handle two teen-age boys on her own (both Stovall and his wife have a son from a previous marriage). I love my wife very, very much and tried to reconcile with her, but she told me she just had to be alone."

The actor still hopes to reunite with his estranged spouse. But if that doesn't happen, he's open to giving love another try.

"I don't intend to spend the rest of my life alone," declares Stovall. "I'm a romantic, and I hope to fall madly in love and marry again. I believe God will send me the right life partner."

by CNB