Louise Sorel

Sorel was born Louise Jacqueline Cohen in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were Albert J. Cohen, a film producer, Jeanne ({{née}} Sorel), a concert pianist.{{cite news |last1=Hart |first1=Marla |date=November 3, 1994 |title=Louise Sorel Battles To Give Her Character Character |work=Chicago Tribune |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-11-03-9411030157-story.html |access-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915225605/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-11-03-9411030157-story.html |archive-date=September 15, 2018}}{{cite web| url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/people-news/jeanne-sorel-cohen-1117879636/ |date=January 28, 2003 |title=Jeanne Sorel Cohen |website=variety.com }} Sorel is Jewish.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/eatdrinkremarryc0000howa|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/eatdrinkremarryc0000howa/page/121 121]|quote=Louise Sorel Jewish.|title=Eat, Drink & Remarry: Confessions of a Serial Wife|first=Margo|last=Howard|date=May 15, 2014|publisher=Harlequin|via=Internet Archive}}

Sorel received theatrical training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York. She briefly attended the Institut Français, where she studied French.{{cite web |title=Louise Sorel Archives |url=https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/louise-sorel/ |website=soapoperadigest.com |accessdate=4 September 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924023507/https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/louise-sorel/ |url-status=live }} She began performing on stage when she was 15 years old.

Sorel's early career was on the stage; she spent several years on Broadway, playing roles in Take Her, She's Mine and Man and Boy. She appeared in stage productions of The Lion in Winter and The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=106900|title=IBDb profile|author=The Broadway League|accessdate=October 27, 2014|archive-date=March 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320162240/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/louise-sorel-106900|url-status=live}}

Sorel's first feature film appearance was in the film The Party's Over (1965). She appeared in Plaza Suite (1971), Night Gallery episode "Pickman's Model" (1971), B.S. I Love You (1971), Every Little Crook and Nanny (1972), The Return of Charlie Chan (1973), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Mazes and Monsters (1982), Where the Boys Are '84 (1984), and Crimes of Passion (1984), among others. Sorel has made guest appearances on more than 50 prime-time programs and TV movies, including Star Trek (as "Rayna", in the episode "Requiem for Methuselah", which aired in 1969).{{cite web |title=Catching Up with TOS Guest Star... Louise Sorel |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/catching-up-with-tos-guest-star-louise-sorel |website=startrek.com |publisher=CBS Television Distribution and CBS Interactive Inc. |accessdate=4 September 2020 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123214607/https://www.startrek.com/article/catching-up-with-tos-guest-star-louise-sorel |url-status=live }} She also portrayed Terry Waverly, the sister-in-law of Dr. Richard Kimble, in an episode of The Fugitive in 1965.

File:Owen Marshall 1972.JPG, Michael Witney, Sharon Gless, John Davidson and Sorel on ABC's Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1972)]]She made other guest appearances on such programs as Bonanza (as Marie in the episode "The Strange One", 1965), Daniel Boone, The Virginian, Night Gallery, Route 66, The Big Valley, The Fugitive, Search (as Magda Reiner, in "Live Men Tell Tales"), Vega$, Hart to Hart, Medical Center, Charlie's Angels, The Incredible Hulk, Hawaii Five-O, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Knots Landing, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, among others. She had a principal role on The Don Rickles Show.{{Cite web|url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=66923|title=Louise Sorel filmography at New York Times}}

Her first daytime dramatic role was as eccentric, meddlesome Augusta Wainwright on the NBC daytime drama Santa Barbara.{{cite web|url=http://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/08/interview-lunch-with-louise-sorel-part_11.html|title=Sorel's daytime television career|author=Damon L. Jacobs|accessdate=October 27, 2014|archive-date=October 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027193116/http://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/08/interview-lunch-with-louise-sorel-part_11.html|url-status=live}} She appeared on Santa Barbara from July 1984 to August 1986, then from November 1988 to May 1989, returning the following October. She remained until October 1991.

In between stints, she also spent a year appearing as a strong-willed but decent District Attorney, Judith Russell Sanders, on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, from August 1986 through November 1987. She played the villainous Vivian Alamain on the NBC daytime serial, Days of Our Lives from March 1992 until February 2000. Sorel's performance as Alamain garnered her five Soap Opera Digest Awards as "Outstanding Villainess" in 1994, "Outstanding Showstopper" in 1997, and again in 1999 as "Outstanding Scene Stealer".{{cite web |last1=Papadatos |first1=Markos |title=Chatting with veteran actress Louise Sorel: 'Days of Our Lives' (Includes interview) |url=https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/chatting-with-veteran-actress-louise-sorel-days-of-our-lives/article/575273 |website=digitaljournal.com |date=23 July 2020 |publisher=DIGITAL JOURNAL INC. |access-date=18 November 2021 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118053756/https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/chatting-with-veteran-actress-louise-sorel-days-of-our-lives/article/575273 |url-status=live }}

In 2000, shortly after her dismissal from Days of Our Lives, Sorel briefly joined the cast of the Port Charles as fashion maven "Donatella Stewart" (a play on the names Donatella Versace and Martha Stewart). The role lasted for a month. In 2001, she had a brief role on another ABC soap opera, All My Children, as "Judge Kay Campobello," who blackmailed Adam Chandler into sleeping with her. She made a brief appearance on Passions as cannery worker Dort in 2004. In December 2009, she was invited to reprise her villainous role on Days of Our Lives.{{cite web |last1=Logan |first1=Michael |title=Exclusive: Louise Sorel Exits Days of Our Lives |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/sorel-exits-days-1033861/ |website=tvguide.com |publisher=CBS Interactive, Inc. |accessdate=4 September 2020 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116100639/https://www.tvguide.com/news/sorel-exits-days-1033861/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2011, Sorel was let go from Days of Our Lives along with many other actors to make room for the return of super couple John and Marlena and several other characters.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvline.com/2011/06/days-of-our-lives-hogestyn-hall-sorel-chappell//|title=Days of Our Lives Shake-Up! Hogestyn and Hall Return, Sorel and Chappell Out|work=TVLine|date=3 June 2011 |accessdate=October 27, 2014|archive-date=March 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302045313/http://www.tvline.com/2011/06/days-of-our-lives-hogestyn-hall-sorel-chappell/|url-status=live}} In 2014, Sorel played Emily Tanner in the soap opera web series Beacon Hill.{{cite web|url=http://abc.soapsindepth.com/2014/02/a-whos-who-guide-for-beacon-hill.html|title=A Who's Who Guide For Beacon Hill!|work=ABC Soaps In Depth|date=February 28, 2014|accessdate=September 26, 2015 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194216/http://abc.soapsindepth.com/2014/02/a-whos-who-guide-for-beacon-hill.html|archivedate=September 5, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://beaconhilltheseries.com/characters.html|title=The Characters|publisher=Beaconhilltheseries.com|accessdate=September 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811115357/http://beaconhilltheseries.com/characters.html|archive-date=August 11, 2015|url-status=dead}}

On December 29, 2017, Sorel returned to Days of Our Lives as Vivian. However, she was briefly replaced by Robin Strasser. On December 30, 2019, it was announced that Sorel would once again return to the role in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://soapdirt.com/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-vivian-back-with-stefan-louise-sorel-return-hinted/|title=Louise Sorel Returns as Vivian to Days|date=2019-12-30|access-date=2019-12-30|website=Soap Dirt|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191230181309/https://soapdirt.com/days-of-our-lives-spoilers-vivian-back-with-stefan-louise-sorel-return-hinted/|archive-date=2019-12-30|url-status=live}}

In 2023, Sorel returned to her role as Vivian Alamain, in Days of Our Lives and again in 2025.{{Cite web |title=Louise Sorel returning to Days of our Lives |url=https://www.soapcentral.com/days-of-our-lives/news/2023/0323-louise-sorel-returning-to-days-of-our-lives.php |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=soapcentral.com |date=23 March 2023 |language=en-US}}

• 2014, 2020: Beacon Hill – Emily Tanner
• 1992–2000, 2009–11, 2017–18, 2020, 2023,2025: Days of Our Lives – Vivian Alamain
• 2004: Passions – Dort
• 1998: Sabrina the Teenage Witch – Mrs Saberhagen
• 1996: Law & Order – "Causa Mortis" as Marcy Fletcher Wrightman
• 1984–1991: Santa Barbara – Augusta Lockridge
• 1986–87: One Life to Live – Judith Sanders
• 1984: Matt Houston – “Eyewitness” as Barbara Daniels
• 1983: Diff'rent Strokes – Robin Saunders
• 1982: Mazes and Monsters – Julia
• 1982: Airplane II: The Sequel – Nurse
• 1982: Hart to Hart – "Blue and Broken Harted" season 3 episode 16 – Pat Yankee
• 1982: Knots Landing – Bess Riker
• 1982: Trapper John, M.D. – Marty Katz
• 1982: Magnum, P.I. – Eleanor Greeley
• 1979: The Incredible Hulk – Doctor Renee Dubois, S3E10
• 1977: Kojak – Janice Maclay
• 1974: Kojak – Vicky Brewer
• 1973: Circle of Fear – Nisa King
• 1973: The President's Plane Is Missing – Joanna Spencer
• 1973: Hawaii Five-O - Diane Foxton
• 1972: The Don Rickles Show – Barbara Robinson
• 1972: Banacek – Alicia Danato
• 1971: B.S. I Love You – Ruth
• 1971: Night Gallery – Mavis Goldsmith
• 1969: Star Trek: The Original Series – "Requiem for Methuselah" as Rayna
• 1968: Mannix – "Delayed Action" as Danielle Michaels / Merry Higgins
• 1967: The Rat Patrol – "The Fatal Reunion Raid" as Gabrielle
• 1967: The Flying Nun - [https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11b6cgs_cz&hl=en-US&q=A+Bell+for+San+Tanco&kgs=a4c18fc7160402c7&shndl=17&source=sh/x/kp/osrp/2&entrypoint=sh/x/kp/osrp S1E4] – "A Bell for San Tanco" as Binkie
• 1965: Bonanza – Marie
• 1965: The Virginian – "The Dream Of Stavros Karas" - Eleni Niarcos
• 1965: The Fugitive – "The Survivors" as Terry Waverly
• 1963: The Defenders – "Conspiracy of Silence" as Margie Spencer

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• [http://www.thespectrum.com/story/entertainment/2017/05/09/louise-sorel-star-trek-and-beyond/314240001/ Louise Sorel interview, The Spectrum] (accessed February 14, 2025).

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Category:Living people

Category:American film actresses

Category:American soap opera actresses

Category:American stage actresses

Category:American television actresses

Category:Actresses from Los Angeles

Category:Jewish American actresses

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:1940 births