A chat with Jon Hensley, Luke Snyder's dad on ATWT...

Jon Hensley, who has played Holden Snyder on-and-off for 20 years on "As the World Turns," wasn't nominated for an Emmy Award this year. But I can think of a few awards he should get: 1. Coolest dad of a gay teen in soap history. 2. Hottest dad of a gay teen in soap history! OK, the second category was mostly a joke but Jon is a very handsome guy. I got to see for myself at a pre-Emmy party last Thursday and again on the red carpet at the Kodak Theater on Friday.

I wanted to know how he felt about his television son, Emmy-nominated Van Hansis, coming out as gay a couple of years ago, His character of Holden and his wife Lily (played by Martha Byrne until recently) had long been one of daytime TV's supercouples.

"When they first told me about the storyline, I was pretty skeptical about whether or not we should be doing that in daytime," he admitted. "It's turned out to be, I think, one of the better storylines in the last 10 years. Fans have really loved it.
Recently we had Cyndi Lauper come on the show. I guess she was a fan of it sl she was very supportive of it. It's been great and I hope they continue it."

The most touching scenes, to me, have been when Luke gets back from maybe a fight with Noah and sits in the kitchen talking to his dad about it. Holden cares about his son's happiness first and foremost and that seems to guide him in any advice he gives.

Jon said: "They really wanted my character to very supportive of him, whatever sexuality he chose and what;s really wonderful about it is I guess there aren't that many parents like that when their sons come out to them initially and tell them that they are gay. But Holden dealt with it and he loves his son."