Millette Alexander: Actress and Pianist

Daytime Television Star and Classical Concert Performer

Sep 4, 2008

Millette Alexander has had an exciting career as an actress in daytime television and as a classical pianist on the concert stage.

Alexander and her partner, Frank Daykin, have become nationally known as a first-rate piano duo. But this was not what Millette had envisioned when she was studying piano in Great Neck, Long Island.

"I had wonderful teachers," she says, "but while I started lessons at five I was never really into it that much." She also played the violin and was concert mistress of the Great Neck High School orchestra. Not happy with the sound she was producing on the violin Millette decided to concentrate on the piano... and then the acting bug hit.

Music Education League Competitions

A native New Yorker, Alexander grew up in Great Neck, the child of parents who both played the piano , so it was only natural that she would study music. She did well, winning the gold medal three years in succession in the Music Education League competitions. But when the urge to act overcame all other considerations, she enrolled in Northwestern University for the excellent theater school they had.

Hollywood Contract

Her first acting jobs after college were in commercials and dramatic shows. She had married by now and she and her husband Roger Schoenfeld had welcomed a son, Adam, into their family. During this time Millette was offered a seven-year contract to go to Hollywood and become a 'starlet.' She believed that this would not be the right move to make at this time so refused the offer.

Unfortunately, however,the marriage ended in divorce, leaving Millette on her own with Adam. She later met and married James Hammerstein, the youngest son of the famous Oscar Hammerstein, with whom she had two children, a daughter, Jennifer, and a son, William.

Jennifer is a medical doctor living in Passaic, New Jersey, and William is a committed environmentalist living in Huntington, Connecticut, presently attending law school.

Soap Operas

After having her children, Millette became a member of the cast of "As The World Turns," and remained there for some time before going to "The Guiding Light," where she stayed for sixeen years in the pivotal role of Dr.Sara McIntyre.

During this time the Hammersteins divorced and Millette and the children moved to Piermont, New York, where she had a 'wonderful old house' and garden. However, she felt the need to return to New York City and began to study piano with Jeffrey Seigel. This story will be continued under the title "Alexander Daykin Piano Duo."

Source

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