BARBARA CRAMPTON HEADS WEST

Barbara Crampton, who resurrected the role of Mindy Lewis on “Guiding Light” in 1993, has decided to leave the show when her contract comes to an end this spring. Crampton, who moved from Los Angeles to New York City when she took on the role, will be returning to the West Coast to join her fiance, Kristoffer Tabori, who is an actor and a director.

At press time, it was not known when, or if, the show would be looking for another actress to take over the role.

Charles Jay Hammer, also from “Guiding Light,” says he is very protective of his character, Fletcher Reade.

“I don’t do it often,” Hammer admits, but I’ve been known to rewrite dialogue I don’t think Fletcher would say. One writing team took revenge by giving my character laryngitis. It became a Pandora’s box. I mimed everything. I practically used it as a license to steal,” he says.

“I think the same writing team put me in diapers,” he adds. Reva was having a baby shower--enter Fletcher as an infant. All I can say,” he concludes, “is that they’re gone--I’m still here.”

*

Jackie Zeman, who plays Bobbie Jones on “General Hospital,” has spent the past year and a half “learning all about the skin care business” for her post as spokeswoman for a line of beauty products she is endorsing for The Home Shopping Club. And, according to the actress, it has been quite an educational experience.

“I actually worked on the development of products,” she explains. “I didn’t pick ingredients in a petri dish or anything, but I did give my input as to what types of products they should have and things like that. I helped establish the whole line.”

Zeman knows the products work, because she uses them herself.

“Being an actress and being on a soap for so many years, skin is my business,” she says.