Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, Crystal Chappell studied computer science at Coast Carolina College. Switching gears to journalism, she also attended the University of South Carolina. While on a break from her studies, Crystal won the lead in the University of Maryland's production of Beauty and the Beast, a role which required her to enroll in the university's acting program. While in the program, Crystal was cast in a production of Spring Awakening, which made it to the finals of the National College Theatre Festival where Crystal performed at The Kennedy Center.
Upon graduation, Crystal moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. Inspired by the book Sanford Meisner on Acting, Crystal wrote the author and famed thespian who invited her to join a group of students at his home in the West Indies for intensive theatrical training.
In addition to her daytime television roles, Crystal has guest-starred on Walker, Texas Ranger, Pensacola, Wings of Gold, Burke's Law, and Diagnosis Murder. She also starred in the feature films Lady in Waiting and Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter. Her other theatrical endeavors include The Three Sisters, The Balcony, The Twelfth Night, and The Comedy of Errors.
Crystal is known to daytime audiences for her portrayal of Dr. Carly Manning on Days of our Lives, a role which garnered her a Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Female Star. She also appeared on One Life to Live as Maggie Carpenter and as Olivia Spencer on Guiding Light. For her work on Guiding Light, Chappell earned a Daytime Emmy.
PLACE OF BIRTH: Silver Spring, Maryland
DATE OF BIRTH: August 4, 1965
HAIR: Brunette
EYES: Green
MARITAL STATUS: Married; Michael Sabatino [Jan 6, 1997]
CHILDREN: Jacob Walker [May 11, 2000; weighed in at 9 pounds, 2 3/4 oz.] and Dylan Michael [Sep 2, 2003 at 2:15am; weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz.]
ALMA MATER: Coast Carolina College majoring in Computer Science, Journalism at the University of South Carolina, and Acting at The University of Maryland