Soap opera actress Colleen Zenk, known for her long-running role on As the World Turns, was arrested in Florida on DUI charges. This marks her third DUI arrest since 2010. The news has brought renewed attention to her 23-year marriage to actor Mark Pinter, which ended in divorce in 2010. Here is what we know about her legal troubles and her split from Pinter.
Colleen Zenk Arrested in Naples on DUI Charges
Colleen Zenk was arrested on May 15, 2026, in Naples, Florida. Court records show she faces two misdemeanor charges: DUI causing damage to property or a vehicle belonging to another person, and DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher.
The arrest report says a witness saw Zenk backing out of a handicap parking space near a Tommy Bahama store when her vehicle hit another parked car. The witness said Zenk appeared unsteady when she got out of her car. A police sergeant reported smelling alcohol on her breath.
Zenk told officers she had been at a bar called Bar Tulia and had consumed two cups of wine. She agreed to field sobriety tests. The arresting officer noted she showed signs of impairment, including balance problems, swaying, and difficulty following instructions.
According to the arrest report, Zenk later provided two breath samples. The results showed blood alcohol levels of 0.206 and 0.192, well above Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. She posted bond of $1,000 for each charge on May 16.
Zenk has pleaded not guilty through her lawyer. A pre-trial hearing is set for July 29, 2026, in Collier County. Her representative told People magazine, “The charges are being defended. Ms. Zenk has not been convicted of anything. The truth will be played out in court.”
Previous DUI Arrests in Connecticut and Florida
This is not Colleen Zenk‘s first DUI arrest. She was arrested in April 2010 in Wilton, Connecticut, on charges of DUI and improper lane usage. Police said she was driving erratically and crossed into an oncoming lane. She was arrested again in May 2017 in Collier County, Florida, on a DUI charge. Her May 2026 arrest marks her third since 2010.
Colleen Zenk and Mark Pinter’s 23-Year Marriage
Colleen Zenk and Mark Pinter were married for 23 years. They met on the set of As the World Turns in the 1980s, where Pinter played the character Brian McColl. They married on August 9, 1987. Zenk had previously been married to musician and actor Michael Crouch from 1983 to 1986.
The couple built a large family together. They raised six children total: two biological children, Morgan and Georgia, and four children from their previous marriages. They lived in Fairfield County, Connecticut, for over 20 years and were described as a close family.
Why Colleen Zenk Filed for Divorce from Mark Pinter
In May 2010, Colleen Zenk filed for divorce from Mark Pinter. She cited abandonment and irreconcilable differences as grounds for the divorce. At the time, Zenk told Suds magazine, “I filed for dissolution of marriage of her husband for 23 years on the grounds of infidelity and abandonment.”
The divorce was finalized in August 2010. In an interview with TV Guide that same year, Zenk spoke about starting her life over. She said, “I’m starting my life over completely in every way. People say ‘My God, Colleen, you’re dealing with so much loss all at once.’ Well, I look at it the way my oncologist says I need to look at it — from a positive point of view. It’s a chance to go on and find out what the next stage of my life is going to be.”
The timing of the divorce was significant. Zenk was 57 years old, a single parent, and had just overcome oral cancer. She was also dealing with the end of As the World Turns, which went off the air in September 2010 after 54 years.
Tragedy in 2018
In 2018, Colleen Zenk and Mark Pinter lost their son, Morgan. Reports indicate he died by suicide. This was a sad chapter for the family, coming years after their divorce.
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Zenk’s Recent Acting Work
Colleen Zenk is best known for playing Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns for 32 years, from 1978 to 2010. She earned Daytime Emmy nominations for her work on the show. She returned to daytime television in late 2023, playing Jordan Howard on The Young and the Restless. Her most recent appearance on the show was in January 2025.
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