IF THAT'S LOVE // Press Archive // Trevor St. John

The New Face of Todd (SID 4/27/04)
Trevor St. John sheds a different light on The Prince of Darkness

It's been nearly a year since One Life to Live's Todd Manning returned to Llanview with a new face: that of Trevor St. John. While replacing Emmy winner Roger Howarth was one of daytime's trickiest recasts, the move has been a success in the eyes of colleagues and fans alike. "Trevor had big shoes to fill," says leading lady Kassie DePaiva (Blair). "He had to come in as one of the most popular characters in daytime and one of the most powerful characters in Llanview -- and he's handled it beautifully. He's a terrific actor who knows who he is and is very comfortable in his own skin."

For the Record
While St. John wasn't intimidated by his predecessor, he maintains that comments he made regarding Howarth and his performance were misinterpreted in another publication. "I want to set the record straight," he says. "I'm sure that Roger is a fine actor -- but I wouldn't know; I'm not familiar enough with his work. Everything that I know about what he did is from the few minutes of tape that I saw and from what other actors, directors and producers have told me about the choices he made regarding the character."

Fighting Todd's Demons
While St. John's choices for Todd may be different, there is no question that they are powerful. Todd's alleged rape of Blair -- and the aftermath that continues to unfold -- is a case in point. "In my opinion, what he has with Blair is more like an obsession than love," the actor relates. "The way I played [the rape story] was that he never actually believed that he did it, but he never actually believed that he didn't. It all happened so fast and she looked battered -- but he never knew for sure one way or the other."

While the jury is still out on whether or not the couple will reconcile, St. John says his character isn't giving up. "There isn't much he wouldn't do to win Blair," he relates. "Again, it's an unhealthy obsession. It's not the real thing we all hope to have."

Healthy Balance
Luckily, St. John's personal life is in much better shape. Wed for three years to Sara, a graphic designer, the actor also runs Bioconstructs, "a comprehensive physical-fitness diagnostics and consultation company," he explains. "Our main market is fire departments. We train firefighters individually to be able to withstand the rigors and chaotic environment of firefighting. We also teach the science of biomechanics related to exercise to physical therapists and personal trainers across the country."

While St. John is a resistance training specialist -- for which he studied "seven years of intense physics, biology and cadaver dissection" in a PhD level program -- he has no intention of quitting his day job. "The biomechanics was more of a hobby, and the acting was sustaining," he concludes. "There's a difference."

FYI Section
In the Beginning: Born in Spokane, WA, St. John was raised in nearby Orchard Prairie. "We lived on farmland in the country," says the actor, whose grandfather was a wheat farmer. "It wasn't a working farm, but we had horses."
He's Got the Beat: An accomplished jazz musician, St. John attended Whitworth College on a jazz performance scholarship.
Love Story: The actor met his Swedish-born wife, Sara, in an L.A. coffee shop.
Big Screen Gems: The actor's movie credits include Payback, Biodome and Crimson Tide.
TV Land: St. John appeared on such primetime hits as "Murder, She Wrote," "Nash Bridges," and "Just Shoot Me."