Friday, May 16, 1986
Dobbs Ferry -VILLAGE PARADE
According to his wife, SALLY, MICHAEL STORM’S job is like being perpetually semi-retired. For more than 17 years he has played the role of Dr. Larry Wolek on the daytime soap opera, “One Life to Live”. During a year he averages about three days a week on the show, but the schedule varies. Some weeks he may not appear at all, while others he works five days. He has developed other interests to fill the gaps, and finds that he has more than enough to do.
Raised in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Michael, a painter, went to the University of California majoring in fine arts. While in college he got his first taste of performing. He played the quitar and sang. With a friend he formed a group that ultimately appeared on the Andy Williams show for three years. Michael bred and sold tropical fish for fun. When he learned of a tropical fish store for sale, he decided to buy it. A year later, Michael received a call from his brother in New York. The brother was playing the role of Dr. Larry Wolek, but was tiring of it. He asked Michael if he was interested. Michael was. He auditioned successfully, and started playing the part in January 1969.
As native Californians, relocated to New York, Michael and Sally missed the availability of fresh vegetables in the winter. Having always been interested in gardening and horticulture, Michael began growing vegetables hydroponically under lights. The high cost of electricity made'it too expensive, so he built a greenhouse. Shortly after it was set up, about eight years ago, Sally looked in and said, “You should have an orchid in here.” Michael liked the idea, and ordered five or six. Like the tropical fish, Michael found them very exotic. He became fascinated with one of the largest families of plants on earth and with the people who grow them. Now the orchid growing takes a lot of Michael’s time, but he has many other activities too. His real interest is acting. He loves the soap opera and feels it is a test of his acting skills—playing the same role through changes of script writers and producers. When he is not in the script he gets restless. He feels that the live theater is “it” and has appeared in off Broadway plays.
When he’s not working he likes to go board sailing. He is an avid golfer, and plays tennis, too. He also donates a lot of his time to charity, travel across the country and Canada, sometimes acting as an emcee, or playing tennis or golf. He is the celebrity chairman of an annual golfing.event in Long Island which raises money for St. Francis Hospital. Currently he is involved in Hands Across America, and the Special Olympics. Semi-retired, indeed. Soqpds more like a very varied full time occupation, to me.
By
Paul Raven ·
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