Tuc Watkins

Tuc Watkins Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: September 2, 1966

Age: 57 years old

Birth Place: Kansas City, Missouri

A tall, dark-haired actor with chiseled features and an athletic build, Tuc Watkins made his breakthrough on ABC's "One Life to Live" and stood out as the rare soap opera hunk with a comic sensibility. Born in Kansas City, Kansas and raised in Missouri, the actor moved to Los Angeles in 1989 to pursue an acting career. Commercial work sporadically followed, and before long he landed an early TV role as Sapphire, a male model who clashes with aspiring Chris Elliot, on the zany sitcom "Get a Life!" (Fox, 1990). Guest stints on "Growing Pains" (ABC) and "Baywatch" (syndicated) followed, before Watkins landed a small recurring role on the NBC drama "Sisters" (NBC). Similarly forgettable was his stint as a nondescript friend of Andrew Shue's Billy on Fox's "Melrose Place" (1993), but in 1994, he would begin his role as suave schemer David Vickers on "One Life to Live." Starting out as a mysterious manipulator posing as heir to the Lord fortune, Vickers seemed the average soap villain. Soon he emerged as a humorous character whose desperate and often bumbling plots had him playing the fool. Watkins added a much-needed infusion of comedy to the often dour soap, and proved a winning match for Robin Strasser (Dorian) and Krista Tesreau (Tina), both actresses able to similarly evince the funny side of the high drama.

David Vickers' reign of disturbance lasted through 1996, and that year Watkins began his stint on "General Hospital" as Dr. Pierce Dorman. While his role on this soap was smaller than that of David Vickers, the character was no less of a troublemaker and offered Watkins the chance to play a deliciously devious bad guy. Dorman racked up villain points galore as the dashing man who seduced upstanding Dr. Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) and proceeded to accuse her of sexual harassment when the relationship ended. This uniquely memorable character also helped to corrupt the youth of Port Charles as a drug dealer, and came to his end via a violent stabbing death.

Watkins was affectionately typecast as a soap hunk in "I Think I Do" (1997), a gay-themed film centering around Bob (Alexis Arquette), a man in love with his seemingly straight best friend (Christian Maelan). Watkins gave a charming performance as Sterling Scott, Bob's sweet and sexy but simple love interest. More film work followed with cameos in the features "The Thin Pink Line" (lensed 1998) and "Can't Stop Dancing" (1999), and he made his major studio feature debut as the very first victim of "The Mummy" in the 1999 hit adventure thriller.

Watkins continued to be a familiar presence on television, and could count among his credits guest roles on the series "C-16" (ABC, 1996), "Silk Stalkings" (USA Network, 1997) and "NYPD Blue" (ABC, 2000) as well as playing God in the 2000 Disney Channel TV-movie "Miracle in Lane 2." More memorable was his regular part on Showtime's "Beggars and Choosers" (1999-2000), playing Malcolm Laffley the VP of talent for the failing fictional LGT Network. Apart from his challenging work life and machinations to climb the corporate ladder, Laffley had to deal with the realities of living as a closeted homosexual in the entertainment industry. Watkins handled his role gracefully, pointing out his character's backstabbing tactics while also making audiences somewhat sympathetic to his means.

A prolific stage actor in addition to screen performer, Watkins has appeared extensively in regional theater, with work in productions ranging from "Julius Caesar" to "Sexual Perversity in Chicago." He won a 1992 Drama-Logue award for his contributions to the play "Boys' Life," and was singled out by theater critics as the only shining part of the 1995 Off-Broadway production "Fortune's Fools," in which he played a man who inevitably becomes involved with a woman he despised.

Credits

Every Breath She TakesStream

Actor
Ron Winslow
Movie
2023

UncoupledStream

Actor
Colin McKenna
Series
2022
73%

The Great NorthStream

Guest Voice
Series
2021

The Boys in the BandStream

Actor
Hank
Movie
2020
84%

Retake

Actor
Jonathan
Movie
2016

TelenovelaStream

Guest Star
Guy Ana dates
Series
2015
64%

BallersStream

Guest Star
Jim
Series
2015
72%

Major CrimesStream

Guest Star
Series
2012

Larry King NowStream

Guest
Talk
2012

Baby DaddyStream

Guest Star
Hank
Series
2012

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

Franklin & BashStream

Guest Star
Lance Dillon
Series
2011
61%

Everyday Heroes

Guest
Show
2010

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Contestant
Show
2009

Parks and RecreationStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
93%

CastleStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
82%

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Are You Smarter Than a 5th GraderStream

Contestant
Game Show
2007

SOAPnet Selects: The Best of '06

Actor
Show
2006

Desperate HousewivesStream

Actor
Bob Hunter
Series
2004
72%

Desperate HousewivesStream

Guest Star
Bob Hunter
Series
2004
72%

Cold CaseStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

Infested

Actor
Carl
Movie
2002

Six Feet UnderStream

Guest Star
Trevor
Series
2001
81%

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Marcus Remmick
Series
2000

One Life to Live Friday

Actor
Show
2000

One Life to Live Monday

Actor
Show
2000

One Life to Live Thursday

Actor
Show
2000

One Life to Live Today

Actor
Show
2000

One Life to Live Tuesday

Actor
Show
2000

One Life to Live Wednesday

Actor
Show
2000

One Life to Live Yesterday

Actor
Show
2000

Miracle in Lane 2

Actor
God/Bobby Wade
Movie
2000

Family LawStream

Guest Star
Series
1999

Beggars and Choosers

Actor
Malcolm Laffley
Show
1999

The MummyStream

Actor
Mr. Burns
Movie
1999
60%

The Thin Pink Line

Actor
Ted
Movie
1998

C-16

Guest Star
Jimmy Rooney
Show
1997

I Think I Do

Actor
Sterling Scott
Movie
1997

High TideStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Derrick
Series
1993
83%

BaywatchStream

Guest Star
Gary
Series
1989

One Life to LiveStream

Actor
David Buchanan
Soap
1968

News aboutTuc Watkins