Mark Dobies, Beloved Soap Opera Star, Dies at 65

DUNELLEN, N.J. — Veteran soap opera actor Mark Dobies has died at the age of 65. Dobies passed away on March 11 in Dunellen, New Jersey. The cause of death has not yet been released.

Born on April 3, 1959, in Philadelphia, Dobies began his career as a college football player before transitioning to acting. He entered the entertainment industry with his first on-screen role in the drama series Fame L.A. in 1997.

In 2000, he gained prominence for his role as Dr. Noah Chase on CBS’s Guiding Light, where he portrayed a romantic interest for Reva Shayne, played by Kim Zimmer. He remained with the show for 14 episodes, leaving a lasting impression on fans with his engaging performance.

In 2003, Dobies joined the cast of ABC’s One Life to Live as District Attorney Daniel Colson. His character, who was married to Hillary B. Smith’s Nora Buchanan, became embroiled in scandal and controversy when he was revealed to have had an affair with a man and to have committed murder, leading to protests from GLAAD over the portrayal of a gay man as a killer.

Frank Valentini, the show’s executive producer, defended the storyline, stating, “This is a story about the harsher side of intolerance and about one man not being true to himself.” The storyline sparked conversations about representation and stereotypes in the LGBTQ community.

Apart from his daytime soap roles, Dobies made guest appearances on popular TV series such as Home Improvement, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Gossip Girl. He also graced the stage in the 2004 off-Broadway revival of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart, where he played Bruce Niles.

Mark’s obituary characterized him as “a loving father, accomplished athlete, and talented actor,” emphasizing his warmth and generosity. He is survived by his three children: Francesca (27), Olivia (24), and Robert (21), who were described as “the center of his universe.”

His mother, Suzanne, brother, Paul, and sister, Sandy also survive him. In a touching tribute, his obituary noted, “Mark’s warmth, generosity, and adventurous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the love he gave so freely. May he fly high like his Birds off to heaven.”

Alan Locher, former publicist for Guiding Light, expressed his condolences on social media, describing Dobies’s passing as “really sad and unexpected.” He remembered his colleague as a genuinely good person and urged fans to keep his family in their thoughts during this difficult time.