For more than five decades, the Erika Slezak Fan Club has documented Erika's remarkable career through its newsletters. This archive brings together our original printed newsletters and, beginning in 2007, our online editions—preserving interviews with Erika, career news, photographs, fan club events and memories from throughout the years.
Many of these newsletters were created as the events they chronicle were actually happening, making them a unique record of Erika's career and her longtime connection with her fans. We invite you to explore the collection and rediscover those years through the pages of the fan club's own history.
Erika's Holiday Letters & Pictures: Revisit Erika's personal holiday greetings and photographs, a cherished Fan Club tradition dating back to 1972.
Special thanks to Stephen Schofield and Mike Poklewski for their contributions in helping complete our archive.
Walter Miller
Erika in Her Own Words
For more than five decades, our newsletters have been the heart and soul of the Erika Slezak Fan Club.
Through her Dateline Erika and Ask Erika columns, Erika shared personal memories, behind-the-scenes stories, humorous anecdotes, and candid answers to questions from her fans. Unlike conventional newspaper and magazine interviews, these columns offered her an opportunity to speak more openly and personally with people she regarded as part of her extended family.
We've selected a handful of fascinating moments from those years to spark your curiosity. Each reflects Erika's thoughts and experiences at a particular time in her life.
Whether you're revisiting these newsletters or discovering them for the first time, we invite you to explore Erika's own words—and the many wonderful stories waiting within these pages.
The Fan Letter Erika Never Forgot (1973)
What could a young viewer write that touched Erika so deeply? Her answer reveals a remarkable connection between an actress and her audience.
Read Erika's original answer →
Explore the 1970s newsletters →
Erika, a Bathtub, and the Great New York Blackout! (1977)
Where was Erika when the lights went out across New York City in July 1977? Her firsthand account of that unforgettable night makes for a wonderfully entertaining read.
Explore the 1970s newsletters →
Erika's Vienna Adventure—and a Memory of Her Father (1986)
While filming One Life to Live in Vienna, Erika encountered a special reminder of her father, Walter Slezak. What made the experience so memorable?
Explore the 1980s newsletters →
The Career Decision That Almost Changed Everything (1988)
Before becoming Victoria Lord, Erika faced a difficult choice involving a theater opportunity that might have taken her career in a very different direction. What was the opportunity, and why did she turn it down?
Read Erika's original answer →
Explore the 1980s newsletters →
Erika Meets Hollywood Royalty! (1997)
During a star-studded benefit in Los Angeles, Erika found herself among some of entertainment's biggest names. Whom did she meet, and what made the evening so memorable?
Explore the 1990s newsletters →
What Was It Like Performing One Life to Live LIVE? (2002)
For five extraordinary days in May 2002, One Life to Live broadcast its episodes live! How did Erika feel about performing without the safety net of retakes, and what surprises did the experience bring?
Explore the 2000s newsletters →
The Scene Erika Never Knew Was an Audition! (2016)
Looking back on her earliest days as Viki Lord, Erika recalls an emotional scene that turned out to have an unexpected purpose. What did she discover afterward?
Explore the 2010s newsletters →
What Did Erika Really Think of the Actresses Who Played Dorian? (2022)
Decades after once expressing an interest in playing Dorian, Erika reflects on the actresses who portrayed Viki's formidable rival. Which performances stayed with her?
