Mark Steven Dobies, a veteran actor known for his prominent roles on the daytime soap operas “Guiding Light” and “One Life to Live,” passed away on March 11, 2025, in Dunellen, New Jersey. He was 65 years old.
According to his obituary, Dobies, a resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, was a “loving father, accomplished athlete, and talented actor” whose life was “full of passion, perseverance and love.” The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Before turning to acting, Dobies had a successful college football career at Delaware Valley University, where he helped the school win its first Middle Atlantic Conference football championship in 1980. His athletic prowess earned him a football scholarship, which launched his academic career.
Dobies began his notable soap opera career in 2000 when he joined the cast of CBS’s “Guiding Light” as Dr. Noah Chase. His character became a love interest for Kim Zimmer’s character, Reva Shayne. After approximately a year and a half on the show, Dobies moved to ABC’s “One Life to Live” in 2003, where he portrayed district attorney Daniel Colson until 2005.
His role on “One Life to Live” generated significant controversy. Dobies’ character, Daniel Colson, married Hilary B. Smith’s character, Nora Buchanan, but was later revealed to be both unfaithful and murderous. The storyline involved Colson killing a character named Paul Cramer after Cramer threatened to expose Daniel’s affair with another man.
This portrayal sparked protest from GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), who expressed concern that the storyline reinforced negative stereotypes about the LGBTQ community by depicting a gay man as a murderer. Despite the controversy, the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini, defended the narrative.
Valentini stated at the time that the story is about intolerance and about a man not being true to himself, standing firmly behind the creative decision.
Beyond his work in daytime television, Dobies built an extensive resume of guest appearances on popular primetime shows. His credits included roles on “Home Improvement,” “Melrose Place,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Just Shoot Me!,” “Fringe,” and “Gossip Girl.” Dobies also ventured into theater, appearing in the 2004 off-Broadway revival of Larry Kramer’s “The Normal Heart.”
Former colleagues remembered Dobies fondly following news of his passing. He was described by those who worked with him as a “genuinely good guy” whose talent and character made a lasting impression on cast and crew members alike.
Dobies’ most recent acting credit was in the 2016 biographical sports drama “Greater,” capping a diverse career that spanned decades across television, film, and stage.
The veteran actor is survived by his three children, his mother, and his siblings—a brother and a sister. According to reports, a memorial service for Dobies is being planned for a future date, though specific details have not yet been announced.
