‘As The World Turns’ actress, DeSales grad, dies at 37
Marnie Schulenburg, the actress best known as Alison Stewart on “As The World Turns,” died May 17. She was 37.
Schulenburg died from breast cancer at a hospital in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Deadline reported.
Schulenburg graduated from DeSales University in 2006 with a degree in theater.
She joined “As The World Turns” in 2007 and appeared through the soap’s final episode in 2010. Later, Schulenburg starred in a reboot of “One Life to Live” in 2013.
Schulenburg was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2020. She was very open about her battle.
“On the eve of my 36th Birthday I contemplate, ‘How does one celebrate a birthday after a Stage Four Breast Cancer Diagnosis in the middle of a global pandemic while raising a 5-month-old,’ ” she wrote on Instagram shortly after her diagnosis.
Schulenburg and her husband, actor Zack Robidas, welcomed baby daughter Coda in December 2019.
Earlier this month, Schulenburg left the hospital to celebrate Mother’s Day alongside her mother and daughter.
“Here’s to remembering that nothing is permanent,” she wrote in her final Instagram post. “To soaking up the imperfections and that the best thing you can do for your child is make them feel loved, safe and supported just like my mother did for me.”
Born May 21, 1984, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts,
Schulenburg first dreamed of being a gymnast before pivoting to acting.
According to a 2012 article in The Morning Call, she decided to attend DeSales University for college after falling in love with the campus. Her older brother Gus, a DeSales graduate, took her there for auditions. While attending the school, she met Robidas while serving as his tour guide when he was visiting the campus.
“I knew that she would be a success in the professional arena,” Dennis Razze, then chairman of the DeSales theater department, told The Morning Call at the time.
Her most famous role was also her first role, as she joined “As The World Turns” that same year and took over the role of Stewart. She even crossed over to “The Young and the Restless” for an episode in 2007. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her performance in 2010.
Schulenburg also appeared on several primetime shows, including “Fringe,” “Blue Bloods,” “Royal Pains” and “Elementary.” She will be seen in a recurring role on the upcoming third season of Showtime’s “City on a Hill.”
Exactly one year ago, Schulenburg wrote about her commitment to continuing her career while fighting cancer.
“When I think upon my friends who thrive with cancer whether active or in remission on a daily basis I’m reminded of what true perseverance looks like,” she wrote.
“When I think of those who lived beautifully but were ultimately taken, I think of the Stuart Scott quote, ‘You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live.’ ”