Erika Slezak Appears in 20/20 Documentary About Rebecca Schaeffer's Murder

Although a talented actress, Erika Slezak’s next primetime appearance will see her simply playing herself in a special 20/20 documentary titled “Your Biggest Fan,” focusing on the murder of up-and-coming young star Rebecca Schaeffer almost 30 years ago. Schaeffer’s first role was playing Annie Barnes on the soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE back in 1985, where Slezak starred as Victoria Lord Buchanan for decades. It was her big break in show business before really hitting it big her the starring role in the CBS sitcom MY SISTER SAM the following year. “We were just horrified,” Slezak exclaims in a preview for the documentary. “How can you just walk up to somebody’s house and shoot them?”

Schaeffer’s career was just taking off and she was about to audition for a major role in The Godfather Part III when her longtime stalker, Robert John Bardo, shot and killed her in her home. This episode of 20/20 explores the young actress’ career and how her death changed laws to protect celebrities from stalkers. Slezak is just one of the many people who were interviewed for the documentary, joining Schaeffer’s MY SISTER SAM co-star Pam Dawber, Dyan Cannon, and Marcia Clark, who was the prosecutor who helped put Bardo in prison without the possibility of pariole.

The special two-hour event will air on Friday, April 12, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. Click here to watch a special preview of the documentary and then be sure to set your DVRs. And for more on what your favorite OLTL stars are up to now, keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.