# Stuart Damon
**Stuart Damon** (born Stuart Michael Zonis; February 5, 1937 – June 29, 2021) was an American actor best known for his three-decade portrayal of Dr. Alan Quartermaine on the ABC daytime soap opera *General Hospital*, a role he originated in 1977 and for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1999[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) • [2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/). Before daytime television he played the Prince in the 1965 television production of [Rodgers and Hammerstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/rodgers-and-hammerstein)'s *Cinderella* and starred as secret agent Craig Stirling in the British series *The Champions* (1968–69)[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | February 5, 1937, Brooklyn, New York; birth name Stuart Michael Zonis[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) |
| Died | June 29, 2021, Woodland Hills, California, of renal failure, at age 84[2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/) |
| Signature role | Dr. Alan Quartermaine on *General Hospital*, first appearing May 13, 1977; final appearance in 2013 for the show's 50th anniversary[2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/) |
| Awards | Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, 1999; Theatre World Award, 1963, for *The Boys from Syracuse*[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) |
| Early career | Prince in the 1965 TV *Cinderella* opposite Lesley Ann Warren; Craig Stirling in *The Champions* (1968–69)[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon) |
| Education | Brandeis University, B.A. in psychology, 1958; stage training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) |
| Family | Married actress, singer, and dancer Deirdre Ann Ottewill on March 12, 1961; children Jennifer and Christopher, and adopted grandson Alexander in 2000[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0198948/bio/) |
## Early life and training
Damon was born in Brooklyn to Marvin Leonard Zonis, a manufacturer, and Eva Sherer; his parents were Russian Jewish immigrants[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0198948/bio/). He was known as Stuart Zonis while at [Brandeis University](https://www.edgepedia.org/brandeis-university), where he was active in college drama and musicals and graduated in 1958 with a degree in psychology[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0198948/bio/). He then trained for the stage with Charles Conrad and [David Pressman](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-pressman) at the [Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/neighborhood-playhouse-school-of-the-theatre), and later with Uta Hagen, Frank Corsaro, and Maude Tweedy[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937).
## Stage and British television career
**Broadway and the Prince.** Damon made his Broadway debut in the chorus of *First Impressions* at the Alvin Theatre in 1959, and in 1963 played Antipholus of Syracuse in *The Boys from Syracuse* in New York City, earning the Theatre World Award for 1963[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937). In 1965 he played Eddie Yaeger in the original Broadway production of [Richard Rodgers](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-rodgers) and [Stephen Sondheim](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-sondheim)'s musical *Do I Hear a Waltz?*, and that same year starred as the Prince opposite [Lesley Ann Warren](https://www.edgepedia.org/lesley-ann-warren) in the 1965 television production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's *Cinderella*[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) • [2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/).
**London years.** His Broadway work led to more than a decade in Britain. He made his London debut as Jack Connor in *Charlie Girl* at the [Adelphi Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/adelphi-theatre) in 1965 and played the title role in *Houdini: Man of Magic* at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1966, portraying [Harry Houdini](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-houdini)[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon). On British television he starred as the secret agent Craig Stirling in *The Champions* (1968–69) and appeared in series including *The Saint*, *Steptoe and Son*, *UFO*, *[Space: 1999](https://www.edgepedia.org/space-1999)*, and *The New Avengers*[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon) • [1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937). He also played Corporal Vince Rossi in the series *Yanks Go Home* (1976–77)[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937).
## General Hospital and Alan Quartermaine
Damon first appeared as [General Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/general-hospital)'s Chief of Staff Dr. Alan Quartermaine on May 13, 1977, and remained in the role as a series regular until the character's death in February 2007[2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/). He continued to appear sporadically as Alan's ghost until December 23, 2008, returned for a dream sequence in 2011, and made his final appearance in 2013 to commemorate the show's 50th anniversary[2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/). The Television Academy's obituary summary describes him as best known as Chief of Staff Dr. Alan Quartermaine on the series from 1977 to 2013[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon).
The role brought sustained recognition. Damon earned seven Daytime Emmy nominations for the part, winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1999[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon) • [1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937). His nominations spanned lead and supporting categories in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1991, 1996, and 1997, and he also received a Soap Opera Digest Award for outstanding actor in 1996[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937). In a 2010 interview he described his approach to the character: "I tried to make the character as complete as possible... he wasn't black or white, he was gray. I wanted to make him someone you didn't mess with."[5](https://www.legacy.com/news/stuart-damon-1937-2021-starred-as-dr-alan-quartermaine-on-general-hospital)
He also played Alan Quartermaine on the *General Hospital* spinoff *Port Charles*, which aired from 1997 to 2003[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon).
## Later work
After his main run on *General Hospital* ended, Damon took multi-episode arcs on *Days of Our Lives*, as Governor Jim Ford in 2010, and on *As the World Turns*, as Ralph Manzo in 2009[2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/). His other television credits include episodes of *Fantasy Island*, *Hotel*, *The New Mike Hammer*, and *Diagnosis Murder*, and his film appearances include *[Star 80](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-80)* (1983) and *[Young Doctors in Love](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-doctors-in-love)* (1982)[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon). He was also a major fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation beginning in 1983 and a fundraiser for the Mountain AIDS Foundation of Santa Monica[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937).
## Death
Damon died on June 29, 2021, in Woodland Hills, California, at age 84, after struggling with renal failure for several years[2](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/) • [6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-stuart-damon-dead-at-84/). His son [Christopher](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher) told ABC7 reporter George Pennacchio that the show had been his father's favorite place to be and that he loved playing Alan[6](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-stuart-damon-dead-at-84/). *General Hospital* later aired an on-air tribute to him in August 2021[7](https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2021/08/general-hospital-the-life-of-stuart-damon-tribute-clip).
## References
1. [Damon, Stuart 1937–, Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/damon-stuart-1937)
2. [Stuart Damon, General Hospital's Alan Quartermaine, Dead At 84, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/news/stuart-damon-dead-general-hospital-alan-1234694500/)
3. [Stuart Damon, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/stuart-damon)
4. [Stuart Damon Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0198948/bio/)
5. [Stuart Damon (1937–2021), starred as Dr. Alan Quartermaine on "General Hospital," Legacy.com](https://www.legacy.com/news/stuart-damon-1937-2021-starred-as-dr-alan-quartermaine-on-general-hospital)
6. [GH's Stuart Damon Dead At 84, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/ghs-stuart-damon-dead-at-84/)
7. ['General Hospital' Honors the Life of Stuart Damon With On-Air Tribute, Soap Opera Network](https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2021/08/general-hospital-the-life-of-stuart-damon-tribute-clip)
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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 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license