Nicolas Coster American actor of British descent Date of Birth: 03.12.1934 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Education
2. Broadway and London Stage
3. Film and Television Career
4. "Santa Barbara" Legacy
5. Personal Life
6. Russian Romance
7. Final Years and Death

Early Life and Education

Born on December 3, 1933, in London, Nicholas Coster was the son of an American mother and a New Zealand father. The family soon relocated to California, where Coster spent his childhood and adolescence. As a young man, he returned to the United Kingdom and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Coster also honed his craft at Lee Strasberg's acting studio in New York City.

Broadway and London Stage

Coster's early career was marked by appearances on the Broadway stage and tours in London. He shared the stage with Elizabeth Taylor and filled in for Laurence Olivier, but eventually shifted his focus to film and television.

Film and Television Career

Coster's filmography spans over 170 projects since 1953. He had recurring roles in the soap operas "One Life to Live," "Another World," and "Bay City," as well as memorable guest appearances in numerous other shows. His final screen appearance came in an episode of the action series "The Rookie: Feds," which aired in 2023, 70 years after his career began.

"Santa Barbara" Legacy

Coster achieved his greatest fame through the soap opera "Santa Barbara." He played Lionel Lockridge from 1984 to 1993, with a brief hiatus in the late 1980s. During this time, the actor narrowly escaped death in a car accident that left him in a coma and with partial amnesia. However, he resumed work immediately after his release from the hospital, with the support of his co-star, Lenore Kasdorf.

Lionel Lockridge was a successful businessman and chief rival of C.C. Capwell. His character was known for his authoritarian nature, manipulative scheming, and reputation as a womanizer.

Personal Life

Coster married model and actress Candace Hilligoss in 1960. They had two daughters, Candace and Deannine. The marriage lasted for 21 years, and Hilligoss later chronicled their unhappy relationship in her 2017 autobiography.

After divorcing Hilligoss, Coster married Elizabeth Pantle in 1988. They had a son, Ian, who died in 2016 at the age of 26 from a suspected drug overdose.

Russian Romance

In 2010, Russian fan Elena Borodulina reached out to Coster on social media, igniting an unlikely friendship. They exchanged messages and video chats, sharing interests in music, literature, and poetry. Eventually, Coster traveled to Russia to meet Borodulina in person and fell in love.

In 2013, Coster divorced his second wife and married Borodulina in a low-key ceremony. The couple embraced both Russian and American traditions in their home, and Borodulina's presence rejuvenated Coster's spirit.

Final Years and Death

In his later years, Coster battled cancer. He passed away on June 26, 2023, in a Florida hospice, due to myelodysplastic syndrome that had developed as a result of his cancer. The actor was six months shy of his 90th birthday.