Born in Queens, New York and raised on Long Island in Lake Grove, New York, Vincent Michael Irizarry was bit by the acting bug while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston. It was during this time, while performing with a regional theater company, Irizarry, decided to return to New York to try his hand as a professional actor. Shortly after Irizarry won a full-time scholarship with Lee Strasberg at his Theater Institute.
Irizarry started out in daytime television in 1983 as Brandon “Lujack” Luvonaczek Spaulding on Guiding Light and hasn’t looked back once taking on roles from day to night to film to theater. Irizarry was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1985 and 2002, and won the coveted award in 2009. While beloved as “Lujack” it was portraying the dastardly and dashing role of Dr. David Hayward that elevated him to legendary status by daytime fans.
Irizarry was able to showcase more than his character’s evil side with tender performances with the iconic Susan Lucci and brilliant Alexa Havins. Irizarry held his own with television veterans David Canary and Ray MacDonnell delivering high octane performances.
Recently Vincent and I chatted about his roots as a performer, his celebrated role as David, what he has planned, saying goodbye to All My Children, and the fan extravaganza, A Tribute to Pine Valley. I have been a fan since I was seven and haven’t looked back since.
Describe what your last day of filming like?
Last day of filming was very surreal. Honestly. Felt like an out of body experience for me. Even driving to work felt like that. So strange. So dreamlike. Being on the show for 14 years, it was just indescribable. I didn’t know what to make of it. I was working so much for the last month going up to it. I was working like crazy that I kept prolonging it - the reaction for myself -
pushing it off. Not dealing with the reality. Until the last couple of days started to hit me.
That last day in particular. My last scenes and my last lines were with David Canary. After it was done I couldn’t remember one word that I had I said. It just seemed like an out of body experience. There was great celebration afterwards. Agnes Nixon was there she gave a beautiful speech. Everybody was very celebratory. An amazing bunch of people coming together to celebrate the beauty of All My Children.
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