Vincent Irizarry of ABC's All My Children Named Gladys Magazine's Most Inspiring Person of the Year

Oct. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Emmy-award winning actor, Vincent Irizarry, starred as Dr. David Hayward on the daytime drama "All My Children" which recently completed its 41-year run on ABC Television. Vincent garnered the Emmy award for "Most Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series" in August 2009. Prior to returning to AMC's Pine Valley, in late 2008, Vincent concluded a contract role, portraying savvy political operative, David Chow, on "The Young and the Restless".

Vincent is also well-known for his role as Lujack on CBS's "Guiding Light" as well as his other primetime and film roles.  Vincent, who grew up in Long Island, NY, began studying both photography and classical piano at the age of 11. He later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he fell in love with acting while performing in numerous productions with a regional theater company. He moved to New York City to pursue a career as a professional actor, and soon won a full-time scholarship with the late Lee Strasberg at his Theater Institute.

His first professional acting job was at the New York Shakespeare Festival, where he was directed by Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff in The Death of Von Richtoven. Irizarry's other theater credits include Lennon (in which he portrayed Paul McCartney), the title role in Modigliani, The Taming of the Shrew and Tennessee Williams' The Long Goodbye.

In 1984, Vincent landed the role of anti-hero Lujack on the daytime drama Guiding Light, for which he received a Daytime Emmy nomination.Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked opposite Nancy McKeon in the telefilm Firefighter, and with Treat Williams and Peter Coyote in Joseph Wambaugh's Echoes of Darkness. He appeared in guest-starring roles in series such as L.A. Law and won critical acclaim in a starring role as Gino Santangelo in Jackie Collins' miniseries Lucky Chances opposite Sandra Bullock and Nicolette Sheridan. In feature films, he played Sissy Spacek's husband in Marie: A True Story and starred in Clint Eastwood's Heartbreak Ridge.

Vincent moved back to the east coast when the producers of Guiding Light approached him to return to the show in the newly created role of Nick. While in New York, he returned to his musical roots and studied with premier vocal coach Tad Motyka to develop his voice to the level of legit tenor and performed as a soloist with the Orchestre de Lyon, France.

Vincent joined the cast on the daytime drama, All My Children, in November 1997, for an initial short-term contract role of the manipulative and menacing Dr. David Hayward.Due to his incredible popularity with the fans, Irizarry returned to the role in June 1998, which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination as 'Outstanding Lead Actor' in 2002. Exiting from the show in late 2006, he returned again in Fall 2008 to reprise the role, earning him an Emmy award for "Most Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series" in August 2009.

His other television roles include the starring role in the telefilm Lying Eyes and a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210.
In the Summer 2010 Gladys, Vincent appeared with his first ever published article "Divided We Stumbled". "It was such a hit with our readers, that he became a regular columnist with our magazine in January 2011", says the editor Andrea Patrick Forte.  "We are thrilled to name Vincent as Our Most Inspiring Person of the Year within this special group of people.  Please pick up a copy to read about each of their inspiring stories.  They truly are Angels Among Us."

"ANGELS AMONG US"
 
 Gladys Magazine Celebrates
"The Inspirational Issue"
PRESENTING OUR 2011 GLADYS MAGAZINE MOST INSPIRING PERSON OF THE YEAR, Vincent Irizarry (Star, ABC's All My Children) 
 Our Gladys Magazine Most Inspiring People for 2011
Guy Fieri (Food Network Host,"Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" & NBC's "Minute to Win it" Host)
Robin Roberts (Host, Good Morning America)
Devin Grissom (Star of CMT's Sweet Home Alabama) 
Debby Ryan(Star of the New Disney Series "Jessie") 
Erica Cerra (Actress on SYFY's #1 Series Eureka)
Lorenzo Borghese (The "Bachelor" from Season 9 on ABC, Owner of Royal Treatment and Author of "Princess of Nowhere")
Randee Heller (2011 Emmy Nominated Actress for "Mad Men) 
Darren Darnborough(Actor on "True Blood") 
Mallory Musante( Owner, Designer of Mallory Musante Shoes)
Debbie Wright (Owner of ProjectCloset.com, Author of "Inspired Style" ) 
Leah Shannon(Owner of the BrazenKitchen.com)
Christina DeAntonis (Owner, Altered Ego Boutique)
Lisa Gleave(Host, Bikini Destinations, Former Deal or No Deal Model, 2010 Summer Gladys Cover) 
Michelle Marie (Host, E! Entertainmant)
Natalia Victoria(Actress, "Deadheads") 
Kinga Philipps (Actress, Host of SYFY's Legend Quest) 
Nicole Kelley (Miss Earth 2011 United States)
Glitzburgh (Pittsburgh Charity raising money for Children's Hospital of UPMC )  
These Lions (Pittsburgh Indie/Alternative Band ) 
Emily June Domica (Most Inspiring Story)
Kate Wilmarth (Most Inspiring Story)
Philip Press (Most Inspiring Product of 2011) 
In addition, Kim Alexis, appears in this issue as our New Beauty Director. Ms. Alexis was our Most Inspiring Person of 2009 and appeared on the 2009 Gladys Holiday Cover.

In recognition of Vincent's exceptional talents, many fans have been inspired to show their appreciation. Rather than following the pattern of a traditional fan club, "Friends of Vincent Irizarry" (FOVI) was organized for a greater cause. This international network of online and offline fans support Vincent's artistic work in television, theater, movies, and music. Additionally, FOVI members focus on the development of, and participation in, many charities and social service projects on Vincent's behalf.  Since becoming Vincent's official fan club in May 2000, Friends of Vincent Irizarry (FOVI) raised over $100,000 for Vincent's charities, which have included:  Hope for New York, American Red Cross Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity, Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, Midtown Pregnancy Support Center, City Harvest, September 11th Funds, Grandma's House, American Diabetes Association, Heifer International, Habitat for Humanity International Women Build, Treats for Troops, Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Prison Fellowship Ministries, and the United Service Organizations (USO).  FOVI accomplishes this via fundraisers at fan events, auctions, special projects, and voluntary member donations.

FOVI's most comprehensive project involved raising funds for Habitat for Humanity International Women Build, which is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing organization that promotes, recruits, and trains women to build and maintain affordable housing.  FOVI raised over $30,000 towards the designated sponsorship of a house build, and in October 2003, FOVI members had the opportunity to assemble together, alongside Vincent, to participate in the build itself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Influential Person of the Year Award:  In October 2005, The Carol Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund awarded Vincent "The Influential Person of the Year" award.  The program stated that this award is bestowed upon people who further the cause and increase awareness through their own selfless actions.

Congratulations to our very own Vincent Irizarry!


The new issue of Gladys features their 2011 Most Inspiring People and is their Inspirational Issue.  It is set to release this weekend NATIONWIDE!

For more information, visit:

www.gladysmagazine.com
www.facebook.com/gladysmagazine

# # #

Gladys Magazine is dedicated to anyone who has been inspired to pursue their dreams by someone they love.
We are a Quarterly Magazine, distributed nationally with a worldwide following.