Walker’s Limo Takes Her to the Door of Prime-Time ‘Palace’

In Marcy Walker’s final scene wrapping up 6 1/2 years on the NBC soap opera “Santa Barbara,” she rode off in a limousine piloted by an unlikely chauffeur.

In a bit of symbolic casting, the driver was played by prolific prime-time producer Stephen J. Cannell, who had hired Walker away from daytime TV to star in his new CBS fall series “Palace Guard.”

She plays the head of public relations for a large hotel chain in the romantic comedy-action series, which also stars D.W. Moffett and Tony LoBianco.

Her departure from “Santa Barbara,” where she had won an Emmy for best actress, broke up one of daytime’s most passionate romances. As Eden, whose occupation she described as “rich girl,” Walker had a long romance with Cruz, a policeman played by A Martinez.

“Leaving is bittersweet,” she said. “It’s exciting to go off and do something new. But at the same time it was a glorious routine, and I had good friends I could count on.”

The relationship between Eden and Cruz was more contemporary than those on other soap operas, Walker said.

“It was certainly more realistic and honest than Luke and Laura,” she said, referring to the “General Hospital” pairing. “We weren’t trying to delude people that this was Prince Charming and his lady. People like to think people love each other that way. Eden and Cruz had problems, but they worked them out. There was a little mysticism.”

The story concocted for her departure was that Eden developed a multiple personality disorder. She assumed the personality of her dead brother, shot her mother and left town in the limo.

“I think they’ve left the door open,” Walker said. “If the series doesn’t go, they could ask me back.”

The actress has spent much of her career in daytime serials. Before “Santa Barbara,” she had a role in “All My Children” as Liza, whom she called the “consummate teen-age villainess.”

When the offer to do the pilot for “Palace Guard” came along, she grabbed it.

“There’s always the chance it will become a series and the decision’s made for you,” she said. “It’s a gamble. Most pilots don’t go. You do it, it’s a nice vacation, it’s fun, but you don’t count on it. Of course, Stephen Cannell is a man with a remarkable track record in television. When CBS decided to go with it, it was a surprise--but a pleasant one.”

LoBianco plays Walker’s boss on “Palace Guard,” a boxer with a glass jaw who invested his money in hotels. Moffett plays a renowned jewel thief hired to be head of special security.

“I’m a failed movie actress named Christy Cooper that Tony makes head of public relations,” Walker said. “It’s really escape television. The show’s about being out there and having a good time.”

Although the hotel where “Palace Guard” takes place is supposed to be in San Francisco, the series is filmed in Vancouver. Part of the pilot also was filmed in Acapulco.

“We’re supposed to be involved in hotels all over the world,” Walker said. “I said the show is going to be involved with hats. When we go to Australia, they’ll put a pith helmet on us. If we’re supposed to be somewhere cold, they’ll put a fur hat on us and we’ll be in Alaska.”

A hallmark of a Stephen Cannell show is that the characters have bizarre backgrounds that often make them uniquely qualified for what they’re now doing.

“Nobody takes Christy seriously,” Walker said. “She’s at a point where she’s got to be a success. She’s a little defensive. She wants to prove herself, but gets into trouble because she has no experience.”

“Palace Guard” premieres Monday at 10 p.m. and moves to its regular time slot Friday at 10 p.m. on ABC.