Post by jag11 on Jun 15, 2008 14:32:25 GMT -5
June 17, 2008 Soap Opera Digest
Having six sons ages 5-18 may seem like a daunting challenge, but it was a destiny Don Diamont embraced. "I always wanted to have a lot of kids, so I'm not surprised," chuckles the 40-something hunk.
That's because he had a stellar example in his late father, Albert Feinberg. "I had a great dad," he affirms proudly. "He had character and did the right thing. He was always there for me and was a fun-loving, turn-the-other-cheek kind of guy. But if it was time to discipline me, he would, and deservedly so. I lost him when I was young and I miss him a lot. I still get emotional when I talk abut him. It's been very difficult for me that he didn't see my kids."
Diamont's desire to be a dad (and he plays one as Y&R's Brad) intensified when he became an uncle. "I was only 19 when my niece was born and I lived right down the street from my sister, Betty, who has since passed away," he explains. "I was very hands-on with Alyssa. My sister and my mom would sometimes leave for the day to go do stuff and I would babysit my niece. I would change her diapers, feed her, put her down to sleep, everything. I was not only comfortable with taking care of her, but I really enjoyed it."
Even after his acting career kicked off (for which he changed his last name to his mother's maiden name), Diamont kept his eye on the fatherhood prize. That meant silently sizing up any date mates as potential mothers. "That was something I definitely had an awareness of," he admits. "You want to be with somebody who wants kids and has good maternal instincts. You have to be somewhat selfless to be a parent and some people don't realize that until after they have kids."
Despite high-profile romances with Gloria Loring (ex-Liz, DAYS) and Eileen Davidson (Ashley, B&B), Diamont eschewed the life of a swinging bachelor. "I was never a George Clooney committed to being single," he chuckles. "I always had some kind of responsibility with my family."
In his 20s, two tragedies compelled Diamont to return to his roots: His dad, dying of cancer, regretted not giving his sons a religious upbringing in the Jewish faith. Two years after his death, Diamont's brother, Jack, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and they decided to study for the bar mitzvahs they never had. Jack passed away before his schooling was completed, but at age 29, Diamont proudly underwent the rite of passage. "It was a beautiful day," he recalls.
In 1994, Diamont married former model Rachel Braun and became an insta-papa to her two sons, Lauren and Sasha. Two more boys, Alexander and Luca, followed and the doting dad was determined to keep the faith. "As of last February, three of my sons have gone through bar mitzvahs," he smiles. "There won't be another one for a while, so I've got a break."
The couple divorced in 2000, but Diamont found love again with actress Cindy Ambuehl (ex-Kim, B&B), and they ultimately became engaged. The couple welcomed fraternal twins Anton and Davis in 2003.
As the older sons grow into young men, Diamont credits his dad's child-rearing techniques. ("I find myself repeating a lot of the things he said to me") with avoiding teenage calamities. "Fortunately, we haven't had any real drama or horror stories like alcohol and drug problems," he marvels. "It's been more about being on them for their studies. They're all pretty good kids. Of course, there were times I wanted to kill them [laughs], but that's just part of the deal when you sign up for this."
And as far as Diamont is concerned, this father thing won't ever get old. "I firmly believe that before we have all the kids completely out of the house, there will be grandchildren," he predicts. "But that would be great. I won't ever have to go through the empty nest syndrome."
Birthday: December 31
Born In: New York
Grew Up In: L.A.
Shares His Birthday With: Singers Donna Summer and the late John Denver, designer Diane von Furstenberg, and actors Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley.
Favorite Junk Food: Peanut M&M's and Raisinets
Family Tree: Dutch, Russian and Latvian
Former Soap Role: Carlo on DAYS
Rear View: Diamont showed off his bare derriere in a prime-time Y&R special in 1995.
On His TV Daughter Tammin Sursok (Colleen): "I think she's wonderful. I felt pretty good about her from the beginning."
Brood Awakening
by Devin Owens
Y&R's Don Diamont Revels In His Most Important Role--Father Of Six!
Having six sons ages 5-18 may seem like a daunting challenge, but it was a destiny Don Diamont embraced. "I always wanted to have a lot of kids, so I'm not surprised," chuckles the 40-something hunk.
That's because he had a stellar example in his late father, Albert Feinberg. "I had a great dad," he affirms proudly. "He had character and did the right thing. He was always there for me and was a fun-loving, turn-the-other-cheek kind of guy. But if it was time to discipline me, he would, and deservedly so. I lost him when I was young and I miss him a lot. I still get emotional when I talk abut him. It's been very difficult for me that he didn't see my kids."
Diamont's desire to be a dad (and he plays one as Y&R's Brad) intensified when he became an uncle. "I was only 19 when my niece was born and I lived right down the street from my sister, Betty, who has since passed away," he explains. "I was very hands-on with Alyssa. My sister and my mom would sometimes leave for the day to go do stuff and I would babysit my niece. I would change her diapers, feed her, put her down to sleep, everything. I was not only comfortable with taking care of her, but I really enjoyed it."
Even after his acting career kicked off (for which he changed his last name to his mother's maiden name), Diamont kept his eye on the fatherhood prize. That meant silently sizing up any date mates as potential mothers. "That was something I definitely had an awareness of," he admits. "You want to be with somebody who wants kids and has good maternal instincts. You have to be somewhat selfless to be a parent and some people don't realize that until after they have kids."
Despite high-profile romances with Gloria Loring (ex-Liz, DAYS) and Eileen Davidson (Ashley, B&B), Diamont eschewed the life of a swinging bachelor. "I was never a George Clooney committed to being single," he chuckles. "I always had some kind of responsibility with my family."
In his 20s, two tragedies compelled Diamont to return to his roots: His dad, dying of cancer, regretted not giving his sons a religious upbringing in the Jewish faith. Two years after his death, Diamont's brother, Jack, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and they decided to study for the bar mitzvahs they never had. Jack passed away before his schooling was completed, but at age 29, Diamont proudly underwent the rite of passage. "It was a beautiful day," he recalls.
In 1994, Diamont married former model Rachel Braun and became an insta-papa to her two sons, Lauren and Sasha. Two more boys, Alexander and Luca, followed and the doting dad was determined to keep the faith. "As of last February, three of my sons have gone through bar mitzvahs," he smiles. "There won't be another one for a while, so I've got a break."
The couple divorced in 2000, but Diamont found love again with actress Cindy Ambuehl (ex-Kim, B&B), and they ultimately became engaged. The couple welcomed fraternal twins Anton and Davis in 2003.
As the older sons grow into young men, Diamont credits his dad's child-rearing techniques. ("I find myself repeating a lot of the things he said to me") with avoiding teenage calamities. "Fortunately, we haven't had any real drama or horror stories like alcohol and drug problems," he marvels. "It's been more about being on them for their studies. They're all pretty good kids. Of course, there were times I wanted to kill them [laughs], but that's just part of the deal when you sign up for this."
And as far as Diamont is concerned, this father thing won't ever get old. "I firmly believe that before we have all the kids completely out of the house, there will be grandchildren," he predicts. "But that would be great. I won't ever have to go through the empty nest syndrome."
Just The Facts
Birthday: December 31
Born In: New York
Grew Up In: L.A.
Shares His Birthday With: Singers Donna Summer and the late John Denver, designer Diane von Furstenberg, and actors Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley.
Favorite Junk Food: Peanut M&M's and Raisinets
Family Tree: Dutch, Russian and Latvian
Former Soap Role: Carlo on DAYS
Rear View: Diamont showed off his bare derriere in a prime-time Y&R special in 1995.
On His TV Daughter Tammin Sursok (Colleen): "I think she's wonderful. I felt pretty good about her from the beginning."