Daniel Hugh Kelly was born on August 10, 1952 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the middle of five children. His father was a police officer/detective and his mother was a social worker. He received his B.A. from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and pursued his M.F.A. on a full scholarship at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Kelly has appeared in numerous off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions, primarily at the Public Theater and the Second Stage. A product of regional national theater, he has been a company member of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Folger Theater, Arena Stage, and the Actors Theater of Louisville among others. He toured with the National Players, the oldest classical touring company in the United States. He starred on Broadway as Brick opposite Kathleen Turner in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and as Paul Verrall opposite Madeline Kahn in "Born Yesterday". In 2003, he appeared at the Mark Taper Theater Forum, originating the role of Richard in "Living Out" by Lisa Loomer. Kelly starred as Senator Frank Ryan on the daytime soap opera _"Ryan's Hope" .
It was while doing a test for the daytime soap opera "General Hospital" that ABC decided instead to cast him in "Ryans Hope".
Received his B.A. from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. After touring for a year with the National Players, the oldest classical touring company in the nation, he was offered a scholarship to pursue his M.F.A. at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
After several years in regional repertory with the Folger Theatre, Arena Stage (D.C.), and the Actors Theater of Louisville (Kentucky), went home to New York in 1977 where one of his first roles was in the Public Theatres production of "Miss Margaritas Way" starring Estelle Parsons.
Starred in the acclaimed Broadway revivals of "Born Yesterday" as Paul Verrall opposite Madeline Kahn and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" as Brick opposite Kathleen Turner.
Virile, curly-haired American leading man from the 1970s stage who earned initial notice as a daytime television hunk (Frank Ryan in "Ryans Hope" ), then moved to prime time in the 1980s with his own series ( "Hardcastle and McCormick" opposite Brian Keith ).
His father was a police officer/detective and his mother was a social worker.
Attended and graduated from Roselle Catholic High School in 1970.
His acting mentors were/are Helen Gallagher and the late Brian Keith.
