Bio

Hunter Tylo Bio: Chapter Three: The Very Bold Years (1990 - 1999), Part IV (1998-1999)

 

Part IV: Hunter's Real Calling in Life (1998 - 1999)

 

Click photo thumbnails on this page to enlarge.

 

The sweet victory in 1997 turned to immense shock in 1998, which set a course in Hunter's life that some might say was to be her true calling in life in 1998 and 1999 (to be discussed later below). Katya Ariel was born on January 15th, 1998 which was some additional good news to add to the court victory celebrations. In the first quarter of 1998, there was plenty of discussion about the court victory and then came a most disturbing announcement in April. At mass during Easter, Hunter noticed that Katya's right eye was looking unusual. A trip to many a specialist ensued and on April 14th it was announced that Katya had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that most of the "specialists" had understandably missed.

Striking as few as one in eight thousand toddlers, the cancer is known as Retinoblastoma, and for Katya it meant an eye removal and chemotherapy for the remaining eye. For those, like this author, who have never experienced the word "cancer" in their life, this terrible announcement was probably the most spine-chilling news ever. It was certainly enough to make the most cold hearted of us pray and cry (no matter how macho or strong we think we are). Even good news from April to mid year did little to help. News of the 'Melrose' trial surfaced again in April, soon after most talk of the 1997 victory had finished, and another rather deserving honor was bestowed upon our goddess of the soap world. A Los Angles Superior Court judge threw out a request by Aaron Spelling attorneys for a new trial. He (the judge) did grant a request for more than $US900 000 in legal fees to be paid to Hunter by Spelling's company.

 


The Tylo family with their newborn - Katya

 

Fans were no doubt happy to hear all this news, and thereafter that was pretty much all we heard of court trials for Hunter fortunately. In May, People Magazine published their list of "The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World". Hunter appeared near the bottom of the list but nevertheless it was much deserved recognition (she was listed in 1993 also). By the middle of the year, Hunter had signed a three-year contract with Bold, after declining a role on Baywatch so she could focus on Katya and her commitment to Bold. Of course these were nice little news items to hear about (our concern was more for Katya) and there were only a few more news items to come, in what was a quiet latter half from the fan's point of view, in 1998.

 

A birthday or two, and the start of public awareness about the cancer, saw the year out for the Tylo family. In early July, Hunter celebrated her birthday (perhaps rather somberly given Katya's condition) and kept herself busy by continuing to answer media requests for information about Katya and Retinoblastoma. The mid-year months were probably the start of a campaign of awareness about the cancer that would continue into 1999, but not before one more celebration. Michael turned "49.95" on October 16th, 1998, and Hunter threw a surprise birthday party. Michael's former co-stars, as well as current Bold stars, were in attendance. So that was 1998, and now Hunter's true calling in life could be pursued in the last year of the century.

 


Katya & Hunter

 

While work on Bold continued, in addition to having a movie to appear in and a biography to finish writing, Hunter found that Retinoblastoma provided the biggest discussion point of 1999, in various events and interviews. The middle of the year was probably the busiest time of 1999 for her. It saw Hunter taking a brief break from Bold to make an appearance in a movie called Jack of All Trades. Little is known about this movie as of late 1999, but fans are no doubt looking forward to its release in the first quarter of 2000. Her own TV show called First Priority (presenting women's issues), was another mid year pursuit, as was a charity golf tournament, which was held to raise money and awareness of Retinoblastoma.

 

This was one example of the many events that Hunter attended throughout the year in her campaign for greater public awareness of the disease. It was also the start of greater media awareness of her campaign, and the latter half of the year provided television interview opportunities for her, on TV shows like Leeza, Larry King Live, Lance Burton, and Donnie and Marie, where she could discuss Retinoblastoma. Hunter had also begun to write Making A Miracle in first half of the year. This would contain a lot of candid discussion about her experiences in the mid to late 1990s, such as the potential divorce from Michael, the Spelling battle, and of course with, what some may describe as, her date with destiny - Retinoblastoma awareness.

 

It seemed that the two biggest issues of 1998 and 1999, where Hunter was concerned, were women's issues like pregnant employed women facing discrimination and also the other issue of Retinoblastoma, and perhaps these areas and their promotion were her true calling in life - her destiny, triggered largely by the cancer scare. All the years Hunter spent developing a degree of celebrity status could have been God's way of molding her for an ultimate role of being a spokesperson for the rights of working women and for the awareness of a rarely heard of cancer.

 

She set up a charitable organization in 1999, called Hunter's Chosen Child, a most admirable and inspiring constructive effort for her fellow human. It was designed to help working mothers facing problems beyond their control and stemmed from her experience and ultimate "windfall" in the 1997 court case. The television interviews led to further public awareness of the cancer and campaigns by Hunter and Michael (who had joined the board of Retinoblastoma International) to have all newborns checked for the disease. She seems to be quite comfortable in her spokesperson role and maybe this is because this was her destiny, some might say. Perhaps God has been behind the soap years and the roller coaster ride of life that threw challenges at Hunter. Combined, the personal life experiences and the public life experiences as a celebrity, may have made Hunter a strong and inspirational person worthy enough for all to listen to - maybe this destiny was God's plan.

 

And so Christmas (which the Tylo family usually spends together and with other family relations, at home and in restaurants) has come and gone leaving the Tylo family to face a new millennium together. What it will bring no one knows (although there is some speculation in the Epilogue). One thing is certain - life will continue to be a challenging and yet rewarding ride for Hunter, whatever role she pursues (soap star or spokesperson for the issues affecting her life). God willing, there will be many more chapters to write about in the fascinating story of the life of a stunning lady who has achieved far more in her (less than forty) years than most of us will in a lifetime.

 

My wish, as the author, is that you, the reader, are equally blessed as Hunter has been and may you be tremendously inspired to contribute to your society in any way possible, just like Hunter Tylo has done. Who knows you might be rewarded for your efforts, not through money perhaps but by recognition of your work (Hunter received a humanitarian award at the first annual George Vick Jr. White Swan Awards in October)!

Lyndon

Webmaster

 

Prologue.

Chapter One: Another Lifetime (1962 - 1987).

Chapter Two: The Days of Our Lives & The Masked One (1988-90).

Chapter Three: The very Bold years (1990 - 1999), Part I (1990 - 1995).

Chapter Three: The very Bold years (1990 - 1999), Part II (1996).

Chapter Three: The very Bold years (1990 - 1999), Part III (1997).

Current page: Chapter Three: The very Bold years (1990 - 1999), Part IV (1998 - 1999).

Epilogue: What might the new millennium bring for Hunter?

 

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© 1999, L Ramsay. All rights reserved.