‘Dynasty' Actor Who Became a Synth-Pop Icon in the '80s Turns 70
The birthday tributes are pouring in for Al Corley.
An actor, singer, and producer, Corley is best known for two things: his stint on supreme prime-time soap Dynasty and his synth-pop gift to 1984, "Square Rooms."
During his time on the television sensation that perfected the open-palm catfight, Corley played Steve Carrington, one of the small screen's first openly gay characters. The strong-willed, eco-conscious son of an oil tycoon, Steve served as a groundbreaking character, pioneering LGBTQ+ representation on the small screen. Of course, the camera taking every opportunity to showcase his baby blues and blond coif only helped his cause.
In 1982, Corley walked away from acting and pursued a career in music. The transition proved a good move, as several of his songs achieved international chart success. From Germany, he released "Cold Dresses," "Give It Up," and "Over Me," but it was his 1984 synth-pop gem "Square Rooms," produced by renowned composer HaroldFaltermeyer, that become his signature hit.
"The song benefitted from the same crisp, dance-floor-oriented production style that defined the era's electronic sound," Billboard wrote about the chart-topper. "Faltermeyer, who had previously applied his arranging talents to the global smash ‘Self Control' for Laura Branigan, provided a polished, synth-heavy foundation for Corley."
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 11, 1985, at No. 96, and peaked at No. 80 in June. The single achieved broader success across Europe, topping the charts in France and reaching the Top 20 in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Austria.
"The track stands as a testament to the crossover ambition of the era, where television stars frequently sought to pivot into the recording studio, supported by the cutting-edge electronic arrangements that characterized the 1985 pop radio environment," Billboard added.
Years later, Corley reprised his acting role for the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. The television event ran as a two-part series on ABC, pulling in strong viewership and network ratings (you can actually revisit the reunion on DailyMotion). He reunited with his cast again in 2015 on the Hallmark Channel talk show Home & Family.
Today, Corley is a producer with the film production and management company CodeEntertainment, whose films include The Ice Road starring Liam Neeson, The Forger starring John Travolta, and Kill the Irishman starring Val Kilmer.
Happy birthday, Al!
Related: Grammy-Winning, Soulful Voice Behind Some of Rock's Biggest '80s Hits Turns 79
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 12:58 PM.