Grant Aleksander

Aleksander was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and was the youngest of three brothers. He was well known at McDonogh School as both a football player and a thespian. He attended Washington and Lee University, but left to pursue his acting career. He eventually returned to the school and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre in 2012.

In late 2008, it was announced by the official Guiding Light website that he would be reprising his role as Phillip Spaulding. Aleksander resumed the role on February 9, 2009 and played Phillip until the show ended in September 2009.

It initially appeared that Phillip was murdered the same year, but a subsequent story in 2005 revealed that the character was alive. Subsequent attempts by producers to have him return in 2005 and 2006 did not meet with success.

The announcement in 2004 that Aleksander was let go by the show came as a great shock to fans and to the industry. Media reports speculated on a number of possible reasons, including Aleksander's high salary, and allegations that Aleksander was temperamental or had been feuding with the actress who portrayed his love interest.

Aleksander has been nominated for seven Soap Opera Digest Awards, winning one in 1999, for "Favorite New Couple", with Beth Ehlers, who played his former love interest, Harley Cooper. He has been nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards, in 2003, 2004, and 2005 for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series.

The bulk of Aleksander's TV work has been in daytime dramas (soap operas). Among his appearances in daytime are a stint on Capitol for the 1986 season as dastardly "DJ Phillips", and the role of "Alec McIntyre" on All My Children from 1993 to 1996.

Aleksander played the bartender at "Mickey's Bar" in the 1986 movie Tough Guys, starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. In 2006, he appeared in two motion pictures, The Big Bad Swim and the American Civil War film Fields of Freedom.

Aleksander is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Phillip Spaulding on the daytime drama Guiding Light. He played the role several times in a span of almost 30 years. His initial run was from 1982 to 1984. When Aleksander left the role, it was recast with actor John Bolger. Aleksander returned to Guiding Light in late 1986. He left again in 1991, citing exhaustion from being front-burner five days a week for five years, as well as the loss of both of his parents in the early 1990s. Aleksander again returned to the show in April 1996, and Phillip was once again involved in front-burner story with ex-wife Beth, as well as new love interests Harley Cooper and Olivia Spencer.

He was also featured on several episodic television series, mostly in the 1980s and 1990s. His first appearance was in the ABC Afterschool Special, "A Very Delicate Matter". His guest starring roles include Who's the Boss? and The Fall Guy. Aleksander also played Nicholas Drake in the 1986 made-for-TV movie Dark Mansions.

Grant Aleksander Kunkowski (born August 6, 1959), better known as Grant Aleksander, is an American actor.