William Leonard Christian (born September 30,^[2] 1955)^[3] is an American stage and television actor.^[4] He portrayedPolice Chief Derek Frye on thesoap operaAll My Children from 1990 to 2007, and portrayedTR Coates onDays of Our Lives.^[5]

Born inWashington, D.C., Christian attended elementary school at St. Francis De Sales where he was first exposed to acting. He then attendedArchbishop Carroll High School where he participated in the theater program.^[6] Christian attended at theCatholic University of America, where he learned abouttheatre and earned hisbachelor's degree. He then attended at theAmerican University, where earned hismaster's degree^[2] based ondrama.

Christian moved toNew York in the early 1980s, for which he was a member of the Actors Information Project, where he performed in stage productions. He appeared in commercials such asAmerican Express andBurger King, among others. Christian performed in the 1989 Off-Broadway revival of the playThe Member of the Wedding, appearing with actressEsther Rolle.^[7] Christian guest-starred in television programs includingThe Cosby Show,ER,Malcolm in the Middle,Spin City,Hand of God (four episodes),Matlock,^[7]Desperate Housewives andMonk.^[3] In 1990, he was cast in the recurring role of Dr. Marshall Redd onAnother World.^[7] He then went on to portray the role of Derek Frye onAll My Children from 1990 to 2007.^[5] For this, he was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award in the categoryOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1991.^[8][9] In 1995, Christian had spoken out at the Youth Forum Against Violence at the Network Club, making a speech to young people inSpringfield, Massachusetts.^[10] In 1996, he appeared in the Off-Broadway revival of the playThe Boys in the Band.^[11]

Christian first appeared onDays of Our Lives in 2018, where he portrayed an uncredited role known as "minion". In 2022, he was cast as TR Coates onDays of Our Lives, first appearing in the January 26, 2022, episode.^[12][13] Christian was cast following discussions with co-executive producerAlbert Alarr.^[14] He presently resides inBoston, Massachusetts with his family, and attributes them for encouraging him to take on the role.^[14]

In 2002, Christian married Gail Samuel.^[1][15] In 2021, Samuel would become the first female president and CEO ofBoston Symphony Orchestra.^[16] The couple welcomed their first child in the summer of 2005.^[17] They have two sons, Samuel and Orlando.^[15][18] Christian currently lives in Boston with his wife and sons.^[19]

• William Christian atIMDb
• Rotten Tomatoes profile

• 1955 births
• Living people
• Male actors from Washington, D.C.
• American male stage actors
• American male television actors
• American male soap opera actors
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• 20th-century African-American male actors
• 21st-century African-American male actors
• Catholic University of America alumni
• American University alumni

• CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list
• CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles with hCards