Kelly Cramer - Background and Casting

Background and Casting

The role of Kelly Cramer was originally offered to actress Alexandra Wilson in late 1994. When Wilson turned the role down, the role was offered to actress Gina Tognoni, who originated in the role on the episode first-run February 17, 1995. In April 2001, it was announced that Tognoni decided not to renew her contract with the series after six years with the soap. Following Tognoni's announcement, it was rumored that the actress would take over the role of Carly Corinthos on the ABC Daytime soap General Hospital; a role that later went to actress Tamara Braun. Tognoni vacated the role on-screen on August 14, 2001. Tognoni briefly reprised her role in December 2001 and January 2002. Tognoni later went on to join the CBS Daytime soap Guiding Light in 2004, portraying the role of Dinah Marler.

In June 2003, it was announced that the role of Kelly Cramer was to be brought back to the series, this time with former CBS Daytime actress Tracy Lindsey Melchior, best known for her role as Kristen Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful. Melchoir debuted in the role in July 2003. In October 2003, it was announced that former The Young and the Restless actress Heather Tom would replace Melchior as Kelly. Melchior last aired on December 10, 2003 with Tom debuting a day later on December 11, 2003.

In August 2006, it was announced that Tom decided to exit from her contract to return to Los Angeles to pursue other acting opportunities. Tom issued a statement about her leave, saying:

It is with great regret that I have decided to leave the cast of OLTL The time has come for me to return to Los Angeles and pursue other creative avenues. I have loved my time in New York City, and I have been so lucky to have known and worked with some of the best people in daytime. The love and support from everyone on the set of One Life and from all my fans has meant more to me than anyone can imagine.

Tom vacated the role on-screen on December 14, 2006. During Tom's run, the actress and her One Life alter-ego crossed over to the All My Children several times starting from March 22, 2004 until February 21, 2005 during a "baby switch" storyline involving both series. In 2005 and 2007, Tom was nominated for Supporting Actress Emmys in the role, the latter for an episode where Kelly confesses to being pregnant by a tryst with the late son of husband Kevin Buchanan who was portrayed by Dan Gauthier; in 2007, Tom lost her award bid to original Kelly Cramer actress, Gina Tognoni, who had been nominated for her role at the time, Dinah Marler on Guiding Light.

In April 2009, CBS cancelled Guiding Light; the cancellation lead to an influx of rumors of Tognoni to reprise her beloved One Life role. In June, it was reported that Tognoni was in-talks with several soaps, including The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful as her post-Guiding Light gig. It was further reported that One Life had passed on signing Tognoni back to the soap.

In September 2009, it was confirmed that Tognoni would reprise her role of Kelly Cramer after eight years. Tognoni returned on-screen February 12, 2010.

Following the April 2011 cancellation of One Life to Live and All My Children, it was announced that Tognoni would exit alongside co-star Tom Degnan, who was portraying Joey Buchanan at the time, would exit the series before its January 2012 finale. Tognoni released a statement concerning the cancellation of the soap, saying:

It makes my heart sad and I am at a loss for the words to describe how I feel when I think about the cancellation of ONE LIFE and ALL MY CHILDREN Over this past year I have met so many faces at events and countless loving and honest comments on Facebook and Twitter. I know without a doubt that these shows were special to you all. They entertained you, they got your minds off of whatever may be worrying you that day and got you laughing or crying instead — all in the same hour. I will miss working with a team of actors, directors, producers, cameras, makeup, wardrobe, hair, lighting, sound and every great effort that was made to keep this show going. This is a change in television culture; I believe that is why this is all so significant. I will miss the process and the fans. I LOVE YOU and loved doing it for you, with all my heart.

Tognoni last aired as Kelly Cramer on August 24, 2011. One Life to Live aired its final episode on January 13, 2012.