Ross Marler

Guiding Light

Portrayed by

Jerry verDorn

First appearance

March 23, 1979

Last appearance

October 11, 2005

Cause/reason

Airplane crash

Created by

Bridget and Jerome Dobson

Profile

Gender

Male

Occupation

Lawyer, Congressman

Title

Ross Marler, Esq.

Relationships
Parents	Emily Marler (deceased)
Sibling(s)	Justin Marler Elaine "Lainie" Marler Ben Warren (half-brother, deceased)
Spouse(s)	Carrie Todd (1982, divorced) Blake Marler (1994-1998, divorced) Blake Marler (2003-2006, dissolved)
Romances	Calla Matthews Vanessa Chamberlain Ann Jeffers Eve Stapleton Amanda Spaulding Trish Lewis Karen Jensen Claire Ramsey Alexandra Spaulding Calla Matthews (engaged) Eileen Lyndon Nadine Corley (deceased) Holly Norris (dated/engaged) Suzanne Deveraux (dated) Christina "Blake" Thorpe Marler India von Halkein Anita Blackwell Tory Granger (one night stand)
Children	Dinah Marler (daughter, with Vanessa; given up for adoption) Jason Marler (son, with Blake; twin) Kevin Marler (son, with Blake; twin) Clarissa Marler (daughter, with Blake)
Grandchildren	Laura Layne (granddaughter, via Dinah, deceased)
Nieces and nephews	Phillip Spaulding Samantha Marler Drew Jacobs

Ross James Marler is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. He was created by Guiding Light's then head writers Bridget and Jerome Dobson (he was one of the final characters the Dobsons created for GL, before they left the soap in early 1980), originally arriving in Springfield as the younger brother of established character Dr. Justin Marler, and was portrayed by Jerry verDorn from March 23, 1979 to June 2005 on contract and then as a recurring character until October 11, 2005. Though originally depicted as something of an opportunist -- upon arrival, his first big case as a lawyer was to defend villain Roger Thorpe against rape charges brought on by his wife Holly -- the character quickly reformed and became a well-respected presence on the show.

On April 5, 2006, after not having appeared for several months, the character was said to be presumed dead following a plane crash, and was later eulogized onscreen.