Eric Close


Inside Soaps
May 5, 1992

"Santa Barbara Actor Loves John Wayne"

He recently joined SB as Sawyer Walker, but Eric Close - that's his real name - was inspired by a great Western movie actor: John Wayne! In fact, Close lived in the same frat house that Wayne did at UCLA.

[Paula's Note: UCLA is incorrect. Eric Close and John Wayne attended USC. Note 2: John Wayne was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity]

Soap Opera Update
May 5, 1992


"The Warren Report: Private Lives Making News"

The play's the thing: SANTA BARBARA's young stars Paula Irvine (Lilly) and Robert Fontaine (Rafe) surprised their co-star Eric Close (Sawyer) on his opening night of a play at the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles, in which Close has an important and emotional role. Close didn't know that his friends had made arrangements to attend the special night, but sure was excited that they had made the effort. "It is such a demanding role - and Eric definitely delivered," Paula said. The character that Eric plays in "Thanksgiving Cries" couldn't be more different than wholesome Sawyer Walker on SB. "That's the great thing about doing the play," says Eric. "Having the best of both worlds." Also appearing in the play with Eric is Anne Howard (ANOTHER WORLD and DAYS OF OUR LOVES).