Stephen Paul Schnetzer (born June 11, 1948) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Cass Winthrop on Another World from 1982 to 1986, returning in 1987 until the show's cancellation in 1999. He won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Actor in 1989 for his role on Another World and received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1990 for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Early life

Schnetzer was born in Canton, Massachusetts on June 11, 1948. His father was a postal worker and his mother was secretary to the superintendent of schools in Canton. His father had German and Irish ancestry. His mother was a war bride from Algeria.

Schnetzer attended Catholic Memorial School and The University of Massachusetts, earning a degree in French, with a minor in Spanish. He studied acting at Juilliard and The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. While at Juilliard, he took circus classes and learned to juggle. Schnetzer trained with William Esper, using the Meisner technique.

Career

Early in his career, he was sometimes billed under the names Steven Schnetzer, Stephen St. Paul, and Steven St. Paul. He made his film debut with a small role in Hail (credited as Steven Schnetzer). In 1976, he played Lucentio in a TV movie production of The Taming of the Shrew and guest-starred on Hawaii Five-O (credited for both roles as Stephen St. Paul).

Schnetzer played the role of Julie Olson Williams' brother, Steven Olson, on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1978 to 1980. He guest-starred on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

In 1980, he made his Broadway debut in Filumena, playing the son of Joan Plowright. The play was directed by Laurence Olivier. Schnetzer joined the cast of the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, playing Marcello Salta from 1980 to 1982. Schnetzer returned to Broadway in 1981, playing Mark Harrison in A Talent For Murder at the Biltmore Theater. On television, he appeared in the 1983 TV movie Rage of Angels.

He landed the role of attorney Cass Winthrop on Another World in 1982 and stayed until 1986. He decided to leave to pursue other opportunities in Los Angeles, while also spending time with his newborn son. Schnetzer returned to Another World in 1987, continuing to play Cass until the show's final episodes aired in June 1999. He won a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1989 for Outstanding Comic Actor for his work on the show. He also received Soap Opera Digest Award nominations in 1986, 1991, 1992, and 1999. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1990.

During his time on Another World, Schnetzer appeared in the TV movie Shattered Innocence. He guest-starred on The Cosby Mysteries and Prince Street. After Another Worlds cancellation, Schnetzer continued to appear as Cass Winthrop on the CBS soap operas As the World Turns (1999 to 2002; 2005 and 2006) and Guiding Light (2002). He made guest appearances on Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He played Mr. Hammon in the 2005 drama film Brooklyn Lobster.

Schnetzer returned to Broadway in 2002, replacing Bill Pullman in the role of Ross in Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? He went on to play the role of Martin in a production of The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? at Lyric Stage in Boston, opening in February 2006. He starred as Garry Lejeune in Noises Off at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. from December 2006 to 2007. He co-starred with his son, Ben Schnetzer, in the 2007 film Ben's Plan.

From 2008 to 2013, he had guest-starring roles on The Wire, Fringe, Damages, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Person of Interest. He appeared on Homeland, playing a character named Dr. Cass Winthrop.

From May to June 2009, Schnetzer played Voltaire in Legacy of Light at Arena Stage in Crystal City, Virginia. He returned to the same venue in September 2009, appearing in The Quality of Life, co-starring with Annette O'Toole and Kevin O'Rourke. In October 2015, he starred in Arthur Miller's Broken Glass at the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut.

Schnetzer became a prolific voiceover talent in English and French, advertising for many companies, such as Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. He continued to land guest-starring roles, appearing from 2014 to 2018 on Forever, The Blacklist, Flesh and Bone, Blue Bloods, Billions, and Elementary. Schnetzer appeared in the 2017 film Aardvark. He starred as Richard in the independent film A Case of Blue. Since 2022, Schnetzer has appeared on the web series The Bay.

In 2024, it was announced that he would be returning to Days of Our Lives as Steven Olson.

Personal life

Schnetzer married Amy Ingersoll at the Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco, on November 24, 1976. They later divorced.

He met actress Nancy Snyder while they were both on One Life to Live (she played Katrina Karr). They were married on March 18, 1982 and had two sons. They are now divorced. Their younger son, Ben Schnetzer, is also an actor.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Stephen Schnetzer at Playbill

• Stephen Schnetzer at IBDb

• Stephen Schnetzer at AllMovie