Tuesday Talent: Chris Bruno

We are once again remembering All My Children's Michael Delaney as portrayed by Chris Bruno. They don't come much sexier than Chris Bruno and the show did well casting him as the gay school teacher. The gay television gods provided a handsome hero for the community. A credible source once stated that Mr. Bruno was somewhat uncomfortable in the role. Whether there is validity in that opinion. The fact of the matter is that Mr. Bruno did it from 1995-1997, after Hank on As The World Turns, well before Luke, Noah, Oliver and Kyle. Thank you, Mr Bruno.



From Soap Central:

Michael Delaney was a respected veteran of the Marines, a basketball coach, and high school history teacher. He was loved by nearly everyone in town, until they found out more about his sexual preference. Michael came out about being gay to his history class and found that the citizens of Pine Valley were not as accepting as he thought they would be. With the help of his brother-in-law, Trevor Dillon, Michael successfully won a court case against the Pine Valley School Board, who wanted him off the job because they feared that he would "teach" his lifestyle to his students.

The furor over Michael's sexual orientation heightened when one of Michael's student, Kevin Sheffield, also came out. During a taping of
The Cutting Edge talk show, a drunken Jason Sheffield, Kevin's older brother, aimed a gun at Michael and attempted to kill him. Jason believed that Michael had 'made' Kevin gay. Sadly, when Jason's gun discharged it took a life, the life of Michael's sister, Laurel Dillon.

At last reference, Michael was currently living happily with his boyfriend, Brad Phillips, and remained on staff as a teacher at Pine Valley High School.



All My Children may have been the very first Soap to have a gay character as interpreted by Donna Pescow as lesbian psychotherapist Dr. Lynn Carson and, of course, Bianca Montgomery. In both cases it seems they dropped the ball, especially in Bianca's case. Without belaboring the point, while Bianca is a beloved family member of a core character the writers have yet to get a handle on her relationship status not to mention the rape story line.



Perhaps there was better focus on Michael Delaney because the character was drawn from real life. Go here. When Lily Montgomery was all over the place in recent years, Michael might have very well re-surfaced: her only living blood relative. Kevin Sheffield simply disappeared. He didn't even go up to the attic to get his skates. Perhaps he and Brook are off looking for some good writers.



Still it's good to remember when Chris as Michael graced the Soap opera airwaves. He is on the West Coast. Perhaps ... well, first, let's see if Brook and Kevin find those writers first.