Find Out What Happened To Your Favorite Soap Opera Stars From The 1970s And 1980s
From The Young and the Restless to Days of Our Lives and General Hospital, these shows have been competing for our affection for decades. Some actors have been in their roles for years, while others have moved on to pastures new. Join us as we take a look at some famous faces of your favorite soap operas to see what they're up to these days.
Kathryn Leigh Scott - Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows was a niche program in a different vein to the other soap operas of its day. The gothic show focused on a family of vampires, with Kathryn Leigh Scott playing several characters. Scott left the show in 1970, going on to have roles in Dial M for Murder and Hawaii Five-O.
Although she has remained fairly active in the industry, Scott turned her hand to publishing when she launched Pomegranate Press in 1985. Focusing on books related to the entertainment industry, Scott has used the platform to release several of her own works, including The Bunny Years and Down and Out in Beverly Heels.
Kim Zimmer - One Life to Live & Guiding Light
Kim Zimmer got her big break with roles in ABC's One Life to Live and CBS's Guiding Light. She was the proud recipient of four Daytime Emmy Awards for her efforts. Over the decades, Zimmer has continued to act in movies and TV shows but has been concentrating on theatre since 2012.
The star joined the cast of Broadway's Wicked, playing the part of Madame Morrible until September 2014. She has also had roles in various productions of the musical Gypsy, the latest running in 2015. Zimmer is married to actor and director Allen Cudney Weary, with whom she shares three children.
Rick Springfield - General Hospital
Before George Clooney and ER, Rick Springfield was getting pulses racing as Dr. Noah Drake on ABC's General Hospital. Springfield was also working as a musician at the time. When he released his debut album, Working Class Dog, it was an unprecedented hit.
His music career began to take off, leading to a conflict with his filming schedule. Springfield ultimately left the soap in 1983. Over the years, Rick has continued making music and acting, appearing in the coveted anthology series American Horror Story and Supernatural. He returned to the hospital halls as himself in 2013 to reprise his role as Dr. Drake.
Deidre Hall - Days of Our Lives
Deidre Hall hasn't been out of work since walking through the casting doors of Days of Our Lives 40 years ago. The beauty, now in her late 70s, plays Dr. Marlena Evans on the hit NBC show, gaining numerous awards for her portrayal.
Since 2009, Hall has guest-hosted talk radio program Clout on Air America Media, where she talks about different topics. The actress has also been very open about her four marriages and struggles to have children. She has two sons, born via surrogate, which she shares with her last husband, Steve Sohmer.
Susan Lucci - All My Children
Baby-faced Susan Lucci landed the role of Erica Kane at the tender age of 24. All My Children was one of the most popular soap operas of its time, running for 41 years before calling it a day in 2011. The show helped launch the careers of many well-known actors.
Lucci has continued to act over the years, starring in other TV shows like Hot in Cleveland and Devious Maids. Now in her 70s, the Daytime Emmy winner still looks as stunning as ever.
Heather Locklear - Dynasty & Melrose Place
Heather Locklear rose to prominence as Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty in the early '80s. After leaving the show in 1989, she went on to star in Melrose Place. Locklear was the first wife of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee from 1986 to 1993.
In more recent years, she has starred in Lifetime movies.
Elizabeth Hubbard - The Doctors & As the World Turns
Elizabeth Hubbard made waves as Dr. Althea Davis on one of the first long-running soaps, The Doctors. She reprised her role several times between 1964 and 1982, before joining the cast of As the World Turns.
In her 80s, she starred as Eva Montgomery in the web series Anacostia. As a result, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series. The New York native was a well-known face at home and abroad, after starring in Dutch soap Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden. She sadly passed away in April of 2023.
Kristina Wagner - General Hospital
Kristina Wagner was one of the longest-running cast members of General Hospital, having been cast as Felicia Cummings in 1984. The actress left the soap after a contractual dispute in 2005, but she returned a few years later to reprise her role.
Wagner has since co-produced a documentary with her brother, Joe Crump, called Children of the Internment, which focuses on events during World War II. She married her General Hospital co-star Jack Wagner in 1993, going on to have two sons together before divorcing in 2006. Wagner's last credit is 2017's The Storyteller, in which she plays Dr. Gordon.
Mary Beth Evans - Days of Our Lives
Mary Beth Evans played sweet Kayla Brady on Days of Our Lives from 1986 to 2002, before jumping back on board in 2010. Alongside her on-screen love, Patch (played by Stephen Nichols), Evans was one of the most popular soap actresses of her era.
Evans has appeared in several other soap dramas, including General Hospital, Port Charles, and As the World Turns. With far too many acting credits to her name than we have space for, the actress remains one of the leading ladies of daytime television. The Pasadena native has been married to cosmetic surgeon Micahel Schwartz since 1985.
Tony Geary - General Hospital
Tony Geary played the character everyone loved to hate on General Hospital, Luke Spencer. His character's wedding to Laura brought in the highest viewing figures of any soap opera to date, with a cool 31 million people tuning in to watch the nuptials.
Over the course of his career, Geary has garnered multiple Daytime Emmy nominations, setting a record in 2012 with his 7th win. After dipping in and out of General Hospital over the decades, he finally hung up his white coat for good in 2015. Now, Geary has largely retired from acting to enjoy the spoils of his labor.
Jonathan Frid - Dark Shadows
Jonathan Frid played the main role of vampire Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows from 1966-1971. Initially, the Canadian actor thought it would be a short-term role that would help him get by, but as the popularity of the show rose he realized he was on to a winner.
After the show ended, Frid returned to stage acting, starring in Broadway plays for the rest of the 70s. He often appeared at fan conventions in his later years and even made a cameo appearance in the Tim Burton movie version of Dark Shadows. He passed away in 2012 aged 87.
Finola Hughes - General Hospital
Finola Hughes made it big when she starred as Laura in Staying Alive, the sequel to Saturday Night Fever. After that, she landed the part of Anna Devane on General Hospital, a part she played for seven years until 1992.
Hughes has largely stayed on the daytime TV circuit but took a seat behind the camera to direct the feature indie comedy-drama The Bet. In 2015, she directed her second movie, Byrd and the Bees, starring Irish actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Tracy Spiridakos. The London-born actress has three children.
Eileen Davidson - The Young and the Restless
Eileen Davidson was the original actress that played Ashley Abbott on the popular soap The Young and the Restless. After being cast in 1982, Davidson stayed on board until 1988 when she quit pursuing other avenues.
The actress continued to work on the daytime scene over the decades, including a year-long stint on Days of Our Lives. In 2014, she reprised her role as Ashley on YNR whilst simultaneously returning to Days of Our Lives. In between, Eileen also reached a different audience as a cast member on the Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She has been married to actor Vincent Van Patton since 2003.
Shell Kepler - General Hospital
Shell Kepler's character Amy Vining in was a fan favorite in General Hospital. The Ohio born actress played the role from 1979 to 2002. As well as starring in the beloved hospital drama, Kepler had roles n Port Charles, CHiPs, Three's Company and a 1982 movie alongside Joan Collins.
Over the course of her career, Kepler also launched a range of clothing called "Lacy Afternoon." In a 1994 interview, she revealed that she had made more than $20 million in sales the same year. After leaving the soap, the actress focused on charity work until passing away in 2008, at just 49 years old.
Kristian Alfonso - Days of Our Lives
Kristian Alfonso captivated viewers as Hope Brady, the love interest of bad-boy Bo Brady. She had some dramatic storylines, including amnesia, brainwashing, and revenge. Alfonso is still playing the character on the show, making her one of the show's longest starring actors.
The former figure skater and model has released a successful jewelry collection called Hope Faith Miracles, as is still working on a few different television shows. For the most part though, Alfonso has stuck with Days of Our Lives. She's married to Danny Daggenhurst, who she shares two children with, Jack and Spartan. In the mid-noughties, the actress could be seen frequently on QVC.
Patricia Barry - Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light & All My Children
Patricia Barry was a daytime television icon, having appeared in over 100 different shows in supporting roles or as a guest star. Barry played the recurring role of Peg English on All My Children from 1981 to 2005 and also starred as Sally Gleason on Guiding Light.
Her last appearance on television was when she left All My Children in 2005. Over the course of her career, Barry helped numerous charities alongside performing, especially WIF, Women in Film. She was an advocate for equal rights and dedicated a large portion of her attention to the cause. Barry passed away aged 94 in October of 2016.
Marcy Walker - Santa Barbara & All My Children
Marcy Walker played Liza Colby on All My Children on and off from 1984 to 2005, as well as Eden Capwell on Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1991. The blonde-haired beauty left soaps to accept a position in a North Carolina Christian ministry.
She worked as a minister at a church in Charlotte and took up a staff position at LifeChurch.tv at their Edmond, Oklahoma campus. She's been with her current husband Doug Smith since 1999 and chooses to go by his surname in her private life.
Stephen Nichols - Days of Our Lives & General Hospital
Stephen Nichols won over audiences with his portrayal of Patch Johnson on Days of Our Lives from 1985 to 1990. After leaving the soap, he spent a few years on General Hospital playing Stefan Cassadine.
Nichols has largely remained on the daytime soap circuit, returning to his role as Patch Johnson in 2006. He stayed on board for three years before returning again in 2015. In that time, he also played Tucker McCall on The Young and the Restless. Aside from his TV career, Nichols has appeared in feature films alongside the likes of Demi Moore and Robert Downey Jr. He has also directed several plays.
Debbi Morgan - All My Children
Debbi Morgan made history on All My Children, playing the part of Angie Baxter Hubbard from 1982 to 1990. Her character's relationship with her love interest became the first African-American power couple on the soap, paving the way for other actors of color.
Morgan went on to star in Generations, Loving, The City, and Port Charles. In the mid-'90s, she launched her movie career, landing roles in She's All That, The Hurricane, Coach Carter, and Soul Food. She continues to feature regularly in movies. Morgan has been married to Jeffrey Winston since 2009.
Peter Reckell - Days of Our Lives
Peter Reckell has played Bo Brady several times since originating the role in 1983. He returned for two years in 1990 and again in 1995. He has also had roles in As the World Turns and Knots Landing.
Reckell now has quite a few credits to his name outside of the soap opera circuit, including several stage productions. In 2010, he joined the cast of Emmy Award-winning web opera Venice: The Series as Richard McAndrews. The actor has been married to Kelly Moneymaker since April 1998. They share one daughter together, Loden Sloan, who was born in 2007.
