Scott Bryce Speaks Candidly About Raising Children ‘Jewnitarian’

Image by Courtesy NBC

By Cindy Grosz November 28, 2017

You might recognize Scott Bryce from his roles in several television shows, including “The Good Fight,” “Murphy Brown,“ The Facts Of Life” and his guest spots on “Homeland” and “30 Rock.”

To many, he is still Craig Montgomery on “As The World Turns,” and Bryce’s portrayal earned him multiple acting awards and fan survey awards as both favorite couple and best villain. ABC Daytime fans remember him as Dr. Ed Crosby on “One Life To Live.”

Next week, he guests stars on NBC’s “Chicago PD,” playing a Congressman entwined in a web of scandal, leaving the door open to a recurring role.

When Scott finishes those long days in Chicago, he returns home to his two favorite roles: husband and dad.

Bryce has been very happily married to actress Jodi Stevens since 2003. Both have appeared in episodes of “Law and Order” and “Sex In The City.” Stevens is involved in regional theater in Connecticut, close to where Scott grew up and where the family currently lives. Bryce, in between jobs on location, is Mr. Mom, doing carpool shifts, attending basketball tournaments and arranging car pool to Hebrew School.

Hebrew School?

Bryce, a fourth generation thespian, seems like a ultimate Connecticut WASP. His late father, Ed Bryce, portrayed Bill Bauer for years on the daytime drama “The Guiding Light,” and celebrating Christmas dinner with the Bauer family was an annual tradition viewers waited for anxiously.

Jodi Stevens is Jewish. Son Jackson is twelve-years-old. “My amazing wife is Jewish, and so our beautiful son is, too,” Bryce told me.

“I am a Unitarian. We are raising him in both traditions. He is studying Hebrew now for his Bar Mitzvah in two years. He is also studying religion at our church. He calls himself a ‘Jewnitarian,’” added a very proud and encouraging dad.

Jackson goes to Hebrew School at a nearby Chabad. He is so enthusiastic about learning the Hebrew for this Haftorah that his biggest disappointment is not learning more modern Hebrew and a better understanding of the language. So after his Bar Mitzvah, says Bryce, he wants to continue his Hebrew studies.

“It was amazing watching Jackson help lead a Seder this past Passover during a family visit to my mother-in-Law,” added Bryce.

Image by Courtesy Cindy Grosz

On “Chicago PD,” airing this month on NBC, Bryce portrays Congressman Scott Graynor. He is one of Voight’s (Jason Beghe)’s friends. Congressman Scott Graynor (guest star Scott Bryce) is found passed out in his hotel room with a dead Ukranian girl. When Intelligence discovers the murder is connected to a sting and Burgess’ (Marina Squerciati) boyfriend (guest star Zach Appelman) is working with the Feds, Burgess must choose between compromising her case or her boyfriend’s case.

Compromising is something Bryce and I know something about. Another current project Bryce is working on is our pilot for a television show called “Common Ground Seekers,” where differences in everything from foreign and domestic policy to lighter issues are discussed in order to find mutual understanding.

Bryce shared his excitement for the holiday season beginning this week. “Now, at Christmas on our tree, we have “Menorahnaments,” added Bryce as he shared his love of latkes and gift giving. The season is also a time many of his past co-stars touch base or get together.
You can keep up with Scott’s work on “Chicago PD,” Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. on NBC. He also works behind the scenes producing, directing and teaching acting lessons in theater groups on the Northeast.

Cindy Grosz writes about timely topics relating to Jewish interests. Her work has appeared in multiple publications. She has hosted her own podcast as is in production with a YouTube show featuring breaking news and worldwide trends. She writes about food, fashion, education, celebrity news and especially everything Jewish and Israel. She is also the best-selling author of Rubber Room Romance.

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