# Gina Tognoni
**Gina Tognoni** (born 1973 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American daytime television actress known for playing Kelly Cramer on *One Life to Live*, Dinah Marler on *Guiding Light*, and [Phyllis Summers](https://www.edgepedia.org/phyllis-summers) on *The Young and the Restless*, winning three [Daytime Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/daytime-emmy-awards) across those roles[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gina-tognoni/) • [2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973, St. Louis, Missouri[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gina-tognoni/) |
| First soap role | Kelly Cramer on *One Life to Live*, beginning in 1995[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/) |
| *Guiding Light* | Dinah Marler, 2004–2009; two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/) |
| Emmy years | Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2006 and 2008[3](https://www.soapcentral.com/theactors/tognoni_gina.php) |
| *The Young and the Restless* | Phyllis Summers, 2014–2019; Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/) |
| Other credits | Guest roles on *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *The Sopranos*, and *Fastlane*; the role of Sami in the online series *Venice*[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gina-tognoni/) • [4](https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2009/09/1212-gina-tognoni-returns-to-one-life-to-live/) |
## Early life and start in daytime
Tognoni was born in St. Louis, Missouri[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gina-tognoni/). Her family moved several times during her childhood: they left the Midwest for Syracuse, New York, when she was 3, and relocated again to Bristol, Rhode Island, when she was 13, where she attended high school[5](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/tbt-gina-tognoni-2/). Before her acting break she was studying liberal arts at [Santa Monica College](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-monica-college) in California and working part-time in a tanning salon[5](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/tbt-gina-tognoni-2/).
In 1995 she joined *One Life to Live* as Kelly Cramer, the role that launched her soap career[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/). She played the part for six years in her first run[6](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=10392), and returned to the show for a second stint from 2010 to 2011[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/).
## Dinah Marler on Guiding Light
From 2004 to 2009, Tognoni portrayed Dinah Marler on *Guiding Light*[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/). The performance earned her the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in both 2006 and 2008[3](https://www.soapcentral.com/theactors/tognoni_gina.php); the 2008 win came at the 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, presented June 20, 2008, via live broadcast on ABC from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/2009/International-Television-Almanac-2009.pdf).
When *Guiding Light* was canceled, Tognoni returned to *One Life to Live*, rejoining the cast in the role that had started her career; executive producer Frank Valentini welcomed her back in a public statement[4](https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2009/09/1212-gina-tognoni-returns-to-one-life-to-live/). She stayed with the show through 2011[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/). During this period she also appeared as Sami in *Venice*, an online series created by her former *Guiding Light* co-star [Crystal Chappell](https://www.edgepedia.org/crystal-chappell), alongside ex-*Guiding Light* costars Jordan Clarke, Daniel Cosgrove, and Jessica Leccia[4](https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2009/09/1212-gina-tognoni-returns-to-one-life-to-live/).
## Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless
In May 2014, Tognoni was cast as Phyllis Summers on CBS's *The Young and the Restless*, taking over the role from [Michelle Stafford](https://www.edgepedia.org/michelle-stafford), who had just joined ABC's *General Hospital*[8](https://www.thewrap.com/young-and-the-restless-casts-gina-tognoni/). Phyllis had last been seen hospitalized in a coma after a year-long absence from the screen, and Tognoni's first scenes on set required her to play the character in that state[8](https://www.thewrap.com/young-and-the-restless-casts-gina-tognoni/) • [9](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-gina-tognoni-interview-the-young-and-the-restless/2014/08/07/). She debuted in the role in August 2014[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/).
Her run lasted from 2014 to 2019 and produced a third Daytime Emmy, this time for Outstanding Lead Actress[2](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/). She wrapped her run at the show in 2019, marked by a goodbye party attended by the cast[10](https://michaelfairmantv.com/gina-tognoni-wraps-her-run-at-y-cast-attends-goodbye-party-in-her-honor/2019/05/03/).
## Other work
Beyond soaps, Tognoni's television credits include guest appearances on *The Sopranos*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, and *Fastlane*, and roles in the television movies *This Time Around* and *Phenomenon II*[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gina-tognoni/).
## References
1. [Gina Tognoni – Actress, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gina-tognoni/)
2. [Gina Tognoni News, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/gina-tognoni/)
3. [Gina Tognoni: A Brief Biography, Soap Central](https://www.soapcentral.com/theactors/tognoni_gina.php)
4. [Gina Tognoni Returns To 'One Life to Live', TV Source Magazine](https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2009/09/1212-gina-tognoni-returns-to-one-life-to-live/)
5. [#TBT – Gina Tognoni, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/tbt-gina-tognoni-2/)
6. [GUIDING LIGHT, Paramount Press Express](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=10392)
7. [National and International Awards, International Television Almanac 2009](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/2009/International-Television-Almanac-2009.pdf)
8. ['Young and the Restless' Casts Daytime Vet Gina Tognoni as New Phyllis, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/young-and-the-restless-casts-gina-tognoni/)
9. [The Gina Tognoni Interview – The Young and the Restless, Michael Fairman TV](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-gina-tognoni-interview-the-young-and-the-restless/2014/08/07/)
10. [Gina Tognoni Wraps Her Run At Y&R, Michael Fairman TV](https://michaelfairmantv.com/gina-tognoni-wraps-her-run-at-y-cast-attends-goodbye-party-in-her-honor/2019/05/03/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › US and Americas daytime serials and characters › Daytime serial production and people*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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