A Soap Opera Star Who Lives in North Naples Was Arrested for DUI in May. Here's What the Records Show.

A former daytime television star who has called North Naples home since 2019 was arrested on two misdemeanor DUI charges in May, and the arrest has now drawn national attention.

Colleen Zenk, 73, best known for playing Barbara Ryan on CBS's As the World Turns for more than three decades and more recently Jordan Howard on The Young and the Restless, was booked at the Collier County Jail on May 15, 2026, at 7:35 PM after an incident at the Mercato shopping center in North Naples.

A CCSO deputy responded to the Tommy Bahama store at 9115 Strada Place after receiving reports of a two-vehicle crash. A witness told deputies they observed Zenk backing out of a handicap parking space when her vehicle struck another vehicle parked nearby. The witness said Zenk continued backing out after the collision and began to drive away, but they were able to stop her a short distance down the road.

The responding sergeant reported smelling alcohol. A DUI investigation commenced. During field sobriety exercises, officers noted Zenk had difficulty maintaining her balance, took more steps than instructed during the walk-and-turn test, and swayed during the one-leg stand. She provided two breath samples that registered blood alcohol levels of 0.206 and 0.192, more than double Florida's legal limit of 0.08.

Zenk told authorities she had consumed two wine cups while at Bar Tulia.

She was charged with DUI resulting in damage to property or a vehicle belonging to another person and DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher, both misdemeanors. Bond was set at $1,000 for each charge. She bonded out May 16.

Zenk has pleaded not guilty through her attorney, Daniel M. Cavanaugh. She did not appear in person for a June 10 court date. A pre-trial was scheduled for July 29 in Collier County Circuit Court.

Certain court records in the case were marked secured and unavailable, including her driving record. The CCSO declined to release car camera footage referenced in the arrest report, citing an active criminal investigation.

A representative for Zenk told People magazine: "The charges are being defended. Ms. Zenk has not been convicted of anything. The truth will be played out in court."

This marks Zenk's third DUI arrest since 2010. She was previously arrested on a DUI charge in Connecticut in 2010.

Colleen Zenk has been charged. She has not been convicted. All charges are allegations only. Information sourced from Soap Opera Network, AOL/Naples Daily News, Parade magazine, and Collier County court records.