Justin Deas

Justin Deas (born March 30, 1948, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania) is an American actor best known for his extensive work on daytime television, particularly soap operas. His career spans over three decades, beginning in the mid‑1970s when he originated the role of Dr. Bucky Carter on the NBC serial Ryan’s Hope, a part he inhabited for more than 250 episodes. After leaving that series, De as quickly moved to As the World Turns, where he became the tenth actor to portray the long‑running character Tom Hughes, a role that earned him his first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor. Santa Barbara proved another pivotal chapter; from 1986 to 1988 he played the charismatic Keith Timmons, a performance that garnered two additional Emmys and solidified his reputation as a versatile leading man. In 1993 he joined the cast of Guiding Light as the affable Buzz Cooper, a part he would sustain for sixteen years, winning three more Emmy trophies and setting a record for the most acting awards in the category at the time. Aside from his soap‑opera dominance, De as appeared in a variety of prime‑time and film projects, including an episode of Tales from the Darkside (“False Prophet”), the cult‑classic Dream Lover, and a cameo in Cameo by Night. He also provided narration for the historical drama The Loves of Emma Bardac and took on a gubernatorial role in the short‑film An Affirmative Act in 2010. Off‑screen, De as earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William & Mary and has been married twice—first to Jody Catlin, with whom he shares a daughter, and later to actress Margaret Colin, his As the World Turns co‑star, with whom he has two sons. Throughout his career, Justin Deas has been celebrated not only for his award‑winning performances but also for his professionalism, longevity, and the lasting impact he has made on the daytime drama community.