Biography

Robert Newman has earned legions of fans with his winning portrayal of Joshua Lewis on Guiding Light. The ever-popular actor, who first appeared on the CBS daytime drama in 1981, plays a character that has seen great joy and tragedy in his life with his soul mate, Reva Shayne. Newman received a nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in both 2002 and 2006.

Newman attended Birmingham High School in California, and then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from California State University at Northridge. His theatrical training includes the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco as well as the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles.

Newman has worked extensively in the theater world, playing leading roles in the musicals "The Robber Bridegroom," "Guys and Dolls," "Bye Bye Birdie," and "The Fantasticks," as well as roles in such diverse plays as "Veronica's Room," "Titus Andronicus," "The Owl and the Pussycat," "Medea and The Rainmaker." He was seen off-Broadway at the Orpheum in "Quiet on the Set" and in "Betty the Yeti" at Stamford Theatreworks in Stamford, CT.

In addition, Newman and his wife, actress Britt Newman (ex-Lily Slater, Loving) have performed opposite each other in a number of plays, including "Picnic," "Barefoot in the Park," "Romantic Comedy," "Sylvia," (which Robert also directed), and "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams.

Newman was most recently seen as Guido Contini in the musical, "NINE" at the North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, Massachusetts and as Carl Magnus in the Steven Sondheim musical, "A Little Night Music" at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Newman originated the role of Josh on Guiding Light in October 1981, left the series in mid-1983, then returned to the role in October 1986. In the interim, he was seen in short-term roles on General Hospital and Santa Barbara. During that time he also played the recurring role of Dr. Alex Turnan in the cop show, Hunter, and was featured in the pilot Destination America, both for Stephen Cannell Productions. Newman left Guiding Light again in 1991, only to return for a third time in August 1993 after starring in the ABC civil war epic Class of '61 for Steven Spielberg's Amblin Productions.

Newman and his wife were married in September 1986. They have a son, Connor (b. 4/3/89), and a daughter, Kendal (b. 5/13/92). The brown-haired, blue-eyed actor enjoys golf, snow skiing, tennis and squash. He was born in Los Angeles, CA, and is one of seven children.

His birthday is June 27.