Lesley Anne Down as Stephanie Rogers

[Carrie Fairchild]

Does anyone know why Lesley Anne Down only hung around for 14 episodes as Stephanie? I know that inclusion in the opening credits isn’t a guarantee of longevity and is usually more of a contractual thing, but I think hers is the shortest run of anyone included in the credits. Did she only sign up for 14 episodes or was the plan to keep her on longer and she then left/was fired? I’ve seen a post on here suggesting that she wasn’t enamoured with the writing.

 

[Monzo]

At the time, I read in magazines that she wasn't happy with her writing. As far as I remember Larry Hagman and she lived in the same neighborhood and he persuaded her to join Dallas. Apparently she hadn't watched the show in years (if at all) and wasn't amused by the scripts. That was what newspapers in Germany wrote at the time, but I don't know if it's true.

What goes against this theory is that a few years later Lesley Anne Down had no problem moving to daytime (Sunset Beach, The Bold & The Beautiful) and were her stories there much better than on Dallas? On B&B she had to act some pretty bad stuff, but she stayed on until she was fired.

What I've often wondered about Stephanie is if Johnny Dancer's story about Liz in season 14 was actually meant for Stephanie. Stephanie was mysterious (or she pretend to be) and it would have suited her to ensnare a man like Johnny in order to rise. Was Liz Adams just Stephanie Rogers' replacement?

 

[southfork88]

At the time, I read in magazines that she wasn't happy with her writing. As far as I remember Larry Hagman and she lived in the same neighborhood and he persuaded her to join Dallas. Apparently she hadn't watched the show in years (if at all) and wasn't amused by the scripts. That was what newspapers in Germany wrote at the time, but I don't know if it's true.

What goes against this theory is that a few years later Lesley Anne Down had no problem moving to daytime (Sunset Beach, The Bold & The Beautiful) and were her stories there much better than on Dallas? On B&B she had to act some pretty bad stuff, but she stayed on until she was fired.

What I've often wondered about Stephanie is if Johnny Dancer's story about Liz in season 14 was actually meant for Stephanie. Stephanie was mysterious (or she pretend to be) and it would have suited her to ensnare a man like Johnny in order to rise. Was Liz Adams just Stephanie Rogers' replacement?

Great theory

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

At the time, I read in magazines that she wasn't happy with her writing. As far as I remember Larry Hagman and she lived in the same neighborhood and he persuaded her to join Dallas. Apparently she hadn't watched the show in years (if at all) and wasn't amused by the scripts. That was what newspapers in Germany wrote at the time, but I don't know if it's true.

Thanks for the detailed response Monzo. She lives in Malibu, as did Larry, so this theory would fit.

What goes against this theory is that a few years later Lesley Anne Down had no problem moving to daytime (Sunset Beach, The Bold & The Beautiful) and were her stories there much better than on Dallas? On B&B she had to act some pretty bad stuff, but she stayed on until she was fired.

In her interviews (with the UK press at least) she did say that Sunset Beach wasn’t exactly Shakespeare and recognised that it was all a bit tongue in cheek. Post-Dallas, her roles were the North and South sequel, a couple of guest spots and a string of TV movies, so I’d say she might have been glad of the offer of regular work by the time the offer to do Sunset Beach came around.

What I've often wondered about Stephanie is if Johnny Dancer's story about Liz in season 14 was actually meant for Stephanie. Stephanie was mysterious (or she pretend to be) and it would have suited her to ensnare a man like Johnny in order to rise. Was Liz Adams just Stephanie Rogers' replacement?

It’s a long long time since I’ve watched the latter years of Dallas, so I can’t recall the transition between Stephanie leaving and Liz arriving but I must keep an eye out for this when I eventually rewatch it.

 

[southfork88]

In North and South she played a character similar to Sue Ellen and was much admired. Her eyes were and always are very beautiful. In Dallas she didn't shine for skill or sympathy, seemed like a new Leslie Stewart ...

 

[Toni]

At the time, I read in magazines that she wasn't happy with her writing. As far as I remember Larry Hagman and she lived in the same neighborhood and he persuaded her to join Dallas. Apparently she hadn't watched the show in years (if at all) and wasn't amused by the scripts. That was what newspapers in Germany wrote at the time, but I don't know if it's true.

What goes against this theory is that a few years later Lesley Anne Down had no problem moving to daytime (Sunset Beach, The Bold & The Beautiful) and were her stories there much better than on Dallas? On B&B she had to act some pretty bad stuff, but she stayed on until she was fired.

What I've often wondered about Stephanie is if Johnny Dancer's story about Liz in season 14 was actually meant for Stephanie. Stephanie was mysterious (or she pretend to be) and it would have suited her to ensnare a man like Johnny in order to rise. Was Liz Adams just Stephanie Rogers' replacement?

Funny you mention that. I have always had the feeling that Down would have made a good Liz Adams instead of the "Spenser for Hire" girl (who can act but is a bore). You may be on the spot. However, I read somewhere that she only signed for that number of episodes and got a half a million dollar check. Did she think "take the money and run"? Down is always watchable but seemed out of her element on "Dallas", not knowing how to play the part.

I am finishing my re-watching of the whole series and, in season 14, the writers did mention Stephanie again, but as someone who "provided" minor girls to a senator, so this may be just another case of the "producer´s revenge" after an actress decides to leave (or doesn´t show too much appreciation for the series). In Barbara Curran´s book, she says that had fun acting with her neighbor Larry and that they used real champagne early in the morning, which surprised her!! Another case of wasted talent in those crappy years...

Here is Miss Down explaining all the truth about it...​

 

[Richard Channing]

What goes against this theory is that a few years later Lesley Anne Down had no problem moving to daytime (Sunset Beach, The Bold & The Beautiful) and were her stories there much better than on Dallas? On B&B she had to act some pretty bad stuff, but she stayed on until she was fired.

I seem to remember a dream sequence on Sunset Beach where they had her dressed as a giant cockroach (I think it was a cockroach). So y'know.....if the price was right she was up for all sorts.

 

[Monzo]

I read somewhere that she only signed for that number of episodes and got a half a million dollar check. Did she think "take the money and run"? Down is always watchable but seemed out of her element on "Dallas", not knowing how to play the part.

Now that you mention it, I also remember reading that information back then. Even then I had wondered how it was possible that she was getting so much money. Four years had passed since North & South and not much had happened in their career since then. She must have had a good agent.

Actually, the mini-series of the 80s were a good demo reel for actresses. North & South's Terri Garber joined Dynasty, The Winds Of War's Ali McGraw also joined Dynasty and The Thon Brids' Barbara Stanwyck became an original cast member of The Colbys. Not to forget North & South's Kirstie Alley joined Cheers and N&S' Wendy Kilbourne was the female lead in Midnight Caller.

Why didn't Lesley Anne Down hit the iron while it was still hot? Or did none of the big soaps want to hire her in the mid-80s? She was available for the 1986-1987 season. Dallas would have had a chance to hire her for characters like April, Kimberly, Kay, Laurel or Tracey, instead her talent was wasted in Season 13.

I could have envisioned Lesley Anne Down as Kimberly, although I really liked Leigh Taylor-Young in the role, but Lesley Anne Down would have had the tv-starpower Dallas needed in season 11 after Victoria Principal had left, so her playing Kimberly could have helped to keep some viewers. Me, I would have been more interested in watching Lesley Anne Down as Laurel Ellis. She would have conveyed the beauty of a living painting in an exciting way.

 

[southfork88]

I remember also this actress suffers from allergies to some cosmetics and has created confusion behind the scenes of the television programs in which she has participated in past years.

 

[Grangehill1]

Lesley Anne down would have hands down been a better Kimberly Cryder and you could actually imagine seeing JR leaving Sue Ellen for her

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Actually, the mini-series of the 80s were a good demo reel for actresses. North & South's Terri Garber joined Dynasty

I read an interview (posted here, no doubt) where Terri Garber said she had had the pick of either doing Dynasty or Dallas after the success of North & South. I’m not sure who she’d have played if she’d ended up at Southfork.

Why didn't Lesley Anne Down hit the iron while it was still hot? Or did none of the big soaps want to hire her in the mid-80s? She was available for the 1986-1987 season.

During the making of North & South, she met and began a relationship with her current husband Don (he was a director on the series I think). Both were married to other people at the time (Lesley-Anne to director William Friedkin). The subsequent fallout from their respective breakups, divorces and custody battles led to both Lesley-Anne and now husband Don, basically having to halt their careers for two years. Lesley-Anne and William’s sounded messy as hell and both reportedly ended up spending $1m each during their court battles.

 

[Monzo]

I read an interview (posted here, no doubt) where Terri Garber said she had had the pick of either doing Dynasty or Dallas after the success of North & South. I’m not sure who she’d have played if she’d ended up at Southfork.

If she had to pick one show and both Leslie and April appeared on tv at the same time, she turned down April and I have to say I'm glad she did. I don't think her version of April would have stayed in Dallas more than two seasons, and I can't picture her and Bobby as a solid couple, but I have to admit Lesley Anne Down playing Kimberly could have kept Kimberly around longer than just one season.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Garber might've been a better fit for DALLAS, although I can't see her as April -- although it might have been nice to get rid of April early before she had a chance to marry Bobby (which should never have happened).