Exclusive Interview
‘DAYS’ Couple Crystal Chappell & Michael Sabatino Share Update on Life After His Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Crystal Chappell‘s been a part of many soap opera onscreen duos. Off-screen, she’s part of a supercouple, too, courtesy of her marriage to Michael Sabatino (ex-Chip, Knots Landing), whom she met when he played Lawrence Alamain on Days of our Lives while she played Carly Manning.
They have two sons, but they aren’t quite empty nesters yet, as one is still in school. “We have a college student that still lives with us,” Sabatino says. “But he has a girlfriend and a job. We see him probably half of the week.”
Last September, Chappell shared on social media that her husband had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “He’s doing well,” Crystal tells Swooon.
“I feel pretty good,” Sabatino reveals. “I have a really good doctor at Stanford [Medicine]. He’s given me meds that kind of control any type of tremors. I’m lucky because I’m in really good shape. I’m pretty strong. A lot of people are challenged with balance, so I do a lot of balance exercises. Also, I do a lot of yoga with Crystal.”
Sabatino is grateful that another Michael – Michael J. Fox – has been a champion for Parkinson’s disease with his foundation. “He’s the guy, the lead, in terms of research and raising funds,” Sabatino says.
Howard Wise / jpistudios.com
Most importantly, Chappell and Sabatino have each other as they face this challenge. The couple has been together for 34 years and married for 28 – a rarity among show business duos. Does living outside of Hollywood help?
“That might be one of the [better] things about not staying Hollywood for too long,” Chappell says with a smile. “But yeah, we’re good. We live in a very beautiful home on the Central Coast. We can see the ocean. It’s calm. It’s laid back. That’s kind of our vibe now.”
Chappell remains busy, both at home and at work. She’s bringing back Venice, the popular web series on which she stars as Gina Brogno opposite Jessica Leccia’s Ani Martin for another season. The two actresses were first paired together as Olivia and Natalia on Guiding Light in the gone-but-never-forgotten soap’s final few years.
After spending Season 6 of Venice in the New York area, Gina and Ani have decided to return to where it all began – Venice. “Gina and Ani are going back to Venice Beach, back to their lives, back to their friends, and family,” Chappell previews to Swooon. “As with all things in life, all hell breaks loose! There’s upheaval for everyone and they have to cope with it together, which is kind of fitting given where we are.”
Guiding Light’s Olivia and Natalia, affectionately known as “Otalia,” weren’t soaps’ first same sex couple – but they did take their relationship to levels viewers hadn’t seen before in terms of intimacy. “[Olivia and Natalia] was the springboard for everything,” Chappell says. “Today, I think it’s more important than ever to be authentic and represent. The common theme [with all romance], obviously, being that love rises above. It’s our stronghold as a species. Once we turn our back on it…we’re lost.”
Venice’s Season 7 tight-knit cast will include some familiar faces. In addition to Chappell and Leccia, viewers will see Nadia Bjorlin (Lara; ex-Chloe, Days of our Lives), Harrison White (Jaime), and Gregory Zarian (Nate). “We have some new faces, too – Marem Hassler, who I used on Beacon Hill [as Katherine], and Mandahla Rose, a lovely Australian actress.
“It’s a rich season,” Chappell adds. “There’s a lot going on with a lot of upheaval, a lot of community and coming together. There’s some laughter, too.” Check out Venice Season 7 here, and watch our exclusive preview above.
