One Life to Live: Tribute to Clint Ritchie

Clint Ritchie who portrayed Clint Buchanan from 1979-2004 passed away on January 31st 2009. This is a tribute to Clint as Clint.

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Entertainment

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• One
• Life
• to
• Live
• OLTL
• Clint
• Ritchie
• Buchanan
• Tribute
• Died
• Death
• Montage
• Viki
• Asa
• Bo
• Jessica
• Natalie
• Joey
• Kevin
• Renee
• Dallas

[flashdancebabe]

I didn't know he passed away, does anyone know what happend RIP Clint

[ackgh73994]

Clint had surgery to put in a pacemaker, which was a success, but a blood clot traveled to his brain resulting in a massive stroke. He died a few days later.

[gotch09]

@ackgh73994 Oh what a shame. I havent watched soaps in like 30 years, but I remember Clint. How was he written out of the show?

[ackgh73994]

@gotch09 A few years ago when the writers wanted to bring Clint back fulltime, Clint refused and the role was recast with Guiding Light star Jerry verDorn, who remains with the show to this day.

[SOI4ever]

better tribute than the show's!

[LBF522]

Loved Clint Ritchie. Had a problem with the recast because Clint made the character his own which was easy since Clint was his character.

RIP Clint

[Beckywild9]

@infodeallen Yep - Clint was brought into the storyline while Joe Riley was dying. The other Buchanans followed later. And it is all in perception - everyone interprets things differently. I learned of VerDorn's respect for CR and his feeling that he did not want to impersonate CR during an interview of VerDorn on "The View." All I can tell you is that my respect for CR goes waaaay beyond his acting ability and extends to the core of him as a man in real life.

[infodeallen]

@Beckywild9 Ok, I guess I missed that. I was thinking back as Clint was on the show already when I started watching. I recall when they had Clint & Viki get married the first time and how, due to a story they were working on, someone blew up their car as they were to leave on their honeymoon. So I'm assuming Clint was on the show before Phil Carey and Robert S. Woods was last to join? What an amazing balance of actors with intertwining yet conflicting personalities!

[Beckywild9]

@infodeallen I really have no concerns with VerDorn at all. In fact, I understand that he actually had a great deal of respect for CR and he didn't want to even attempt at mimicking CR's acting since it was beyond him. My only point is that Clint's role should have never been recast in the 1st place and I understand that ES even begged OLTL not to do it. This is the 3rd anniversary of his death and was just trying to memorialize him! RIP Clint.

[Beckywild9]

@infodeallen That is my whole point - Clint's role should not have been recast out of respect for CR. Ritchie was never married - he was engaged a couple of times though. I moved on the same time CR did. He refused to move forward with this immoral society and I followed in his boots so to speak. I'm just trying to keep his acting ability and memory alive. Thanks for your constructive comments though! :o)

[dereka79]

@Beckywild9 What in the HELL are you talking about? I am not EVEN going to bother to look for my original comment. Go and attack someone else!

[infodeallen]

@Beckywild9 As for the shows tribute I think with Carey he was a current on the show where Ritchie was not and recast. Perhaps the show felt there would be some confusion since they killed off Ace where Clint was still alive and well as a character or maybe Ritchie's wife preferred things kept to less? When you think about it few actors who worked with Ritchie were on the show or alive aside from Slezak and Woods. Ritchie is no longer with nor the show. Move on.

[infodeallen]

@Beckywild9 As for the shows tribute I think with Carey he was a current on the show where Ritchie was not and recast. Ritchie had been off the show near a decade aside from a couple appearances. Ritchie had done other acting alongside Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones but I think this character was probably one he was most proud of. The fact that his health precluded him from carrying on I think VerDorn's continuation was amazing. I swear you couldn't tell.

[Beckywild9]

I dream about the man you portrayed and the man you actually were! RIP Clint - This being the 3 year anniversary of your death on January 31, 2009, you are what shaped my requisites for a man - and it's a hard act to follow! My expectations for a man are probably even unreasonable in today's world. Thank you for the dreams nonetheless!

[infodeallen]

@Beckywild9 So all told, as I said and maintain, I believe Ritchie would both approve of VerDorn's portrayal and appreciate the respect that actor took towards the portrayal. Writers write but all the many mannerisms, voice and even the way he walked was all VerDorn so for an actor to come in with such regard and only get better over time is touching.