The Soap Box

BRUSHING UP ON MANTOOTH

What's in a name? For Randolph Mantooth, who plays the mercurial Alex on ABC's Loving, the answer is simple: an unexpected career boost. The moniker of the '70s TV icon (remember Emergency?) is gaining him popularity in non-soap circles. Rock star Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) uses the name Mantooth when he checks into hotels. And Talk Soup's John Henson dropped Mantooth's name so often that the actor taped a series of cameo appearances for the popular cable show. ''At first I thought, 'Should I be insulted?' '' says Mantooth, 49. '' 'Is this what my career has come to?' But now I'm flattered.'' E! has also asked Mantooth to guest-host Talk Soup later this year. ''All because of my name,'' he says incredulously. ''You can't pay a publicist to get you this kind of attention. Is this a capricious business or what?''

Originally posted Apr 21, 1995 Published in issue #271 Apr 21, 1995 Order article reprints

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining
Advertisement