# Robert Desiderio
**Robert Desiderio** (born 1951 in New York City) is an American actor and writer known for soap opera roles on *One Life to Live* and *Knots Landing*, for guest parts on series such as *Cheers* and *The Sopranos*, and later for screenwriting and fiction, including the novel *The Occurrence* (2020)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/). He has been married to actress [Judith Light](https://www.edgepedia.org/judith-light) since January 1, 1985[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951, New York City, New York; height 6′ (1.83 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/) |
| Signature soap roles | Steve Piermont on *One Life to Live*; Ted Melcher on *Knots Landing* (1988–89)[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/) • [3](https://www.nndb.com/people/146/000400940/) |
| Other series work | Gary on *Cheers* (1988–93), Jack Massarone on *The Sopranos* (2000–04), Wes Kennedy on *Heart of the City* (1986–87)[3](https://www.nndb.com/people/146/000400940/) |
| Screenwriting | *Save Me* (2007), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/) • [4](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/band) |
| Fiction | First novel *The Occurrence*, published February 2020[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/) |
| Marriage | Judith Light, January 1, 1985–present; they met on *One Life to Live* in the early 1980s[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/) |
## Early life and education
Desiderio grew up in [The Bronx](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-bronx)[4](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/band) and graduated from [Seton Hall University](https://www.edgepedia.org/seton-hall-university)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/). A 1987 *Los Angeles Times* profile described him as a Bronx native who met Judith Light, a New Jersey native, on *One Life to Live* seven years earlier[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-12-ca-3225-story.html).
## Acting career
**Daytime and prime-time soaps.** Desiderio played Steve Piermont on *One Life to Live*, the man who won Karen Wolek's heart, and the two characters eventually went on the run together in the storyline[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/). In an interview he listed *Ryan's Hope*, *Search for Tomorrow*, where he played an Italian prince, and *One Life to Live* among his daytime credits[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/). Soap fans remember his turn as Ted Melcher on the prime-time soap *Knots Landing* in the late 1980s, where he worked with [Nicollette Sheridan](https://www.edgepedia.org/nicollette-sheridan), William Devane, and [Donna Mills](https://www.edgepedia.org/donna-mills)[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/). IMDb trivia describes him as a notable player in both daytime and prime-time soaps who has more recently been used extensively for voiceover work[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/).
**Television and film roles.** His screen credits span from an early appearance on *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979) and the film *Oh, God! You Devil* (1984) with [George Burns](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-burns), through TV movies such as *Original Sin* (NBC, 1988–89) and *Stop at Nothing* (Lifetime, 1990–91), to guest parts on *Cheers*, *Murder, She Wrote*, *Matlock*, *The Jeff Foxworthy Show*, *Ugly Betty*, and *Modern Family*[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-desiderio/). He played Jack Massarone on *The Sopranos* and appeared as David in the 2012 film *Liberal Arts*[3](https://www.nndb.com/people/146/000400940/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-desiderio/).
## Writing career
Desiderio's script for the film *Save Me* premiered at the [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival) and drew wide acclaim; *The New York Times* wrote that "Save Me has a lot of heart," and the *Los Angeles Times* called it "a thoughtful production of exceptional insight and quietly devastating power"[4](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/band). The film deals with a young man sex and drug addicted who is forced into a Christian-run ministry intended to cure him of his "gay affliction"; Chad Allen and Judith Light star[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/). Desiderio explained that Craig Chester had written *Save Me* as a farce a decade or more earlier, and that he was brought in for a complete rewrite that turned it into the drama it became; "the screenplay is mine," he said[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/). He has said he prefers writing to acting because "you are creating the world," while an actor is "a hired hand"[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/).
In 2008 he appeared with his friend, actress [Brynn Thayer](https://www.edgepedia.org/brynn-thayer), in *Life in General*, Karen Harris's online soap about the behind-the-scenes antics of a soap opera; the two played the cantankerous married couple Brian and Rachel Day, shot in a two-day period[2](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/). He published his first novel, *The Occurrence*, in February 2020[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/); *Town & Country Magazine* named it one of the 6 Best Books to Read That March and called it "a sharp, high-octane thriller"[7](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/). He continues to develop projects for film and television and lives in Los Angeles and New York City with Judith Light[4](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/band).
## References
1. [Robert Desiderio – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221241/bio/)
2. [Harris, Thayer, Desiderio Interviews – Life in General, Michael Fairman TV (2008)](https://michaelfairmantv.com/harris-thayer-desiderio-interviews-life-in-general/2008/12/05/)
3. [Robert Desiderio, NNDB](https://www.nndb.com/people/146/000400940/)
4. [Bio | Contact — Robert Desiderio](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/band)
5. [Reconcilable Differences, Los Angeles Times (1987)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-12-ca-3225-story.html)
6. [Robert Desiderio – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-desiderio/)
7. [Robert Desiderio, official site](https://www.robertdesiderio.com/)
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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: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license