Soap Star Mark Dobies Dead at 65: Remembered for ‘One Life to Live’
Mark Dobies, the actor best known for playing District Attorney Daniel Colson on the long-running soap opera One Life to Live, died on March 11, 2025, at the age of 65. He passed away in New Jersey, as confirmed by family sources. Initial reports had mistakenly cited his death as occurring in January, but it has since been clarified as March 11.
Dobies gained recognition in the early 2000s through his role as Colson, a sharp and ambitious district attorney with a dramatic storyline that included deep personal secrets and emotional conflicts. His character was central to several key plotlines on the show between 2003 and 2005.
Born on April 3, 1959, Dobies began his acting career in the 1990s and appeared in various television roles before finding steady success in daytime drama. In addition to One Life to Live, he had guest roles in series such as Guiding Light, Law & Order, and As the World Turns. His presence on screen was marked by a calm intensity and a natural command of legal and dramatic dialogue.
Before acting, Dobies was also a collegiate athlete and had pursued business and modeling. His shift into acting allowed him to blend charisma with character work, often portraying professionals or men in positions of power.
Outside of his acting career, Dobies kept a relatively private life. He was known to friends and colleagues as thoughtful, disciplined, and sincere. While he stepped away from the public eye in later years, his work on One Life to Live continues to be remembered by fans of the genre.
Mark Dobies is survived by family and close friends. A private memorial service was held in New Jersey.
His contribution to daytime television, especially in portraying layered characters in complex situations, remains part of the legacy of classic soap storytelling.
