The Most Iconic Soap Stars: Where Are They Now?
Rebecca Herbst – Age 43 – General Hospital
Rebecca Herbst took part in many figure skating competitions when she was a young girl, but her passion switched to full-time acting during her teenage years. She had her debut in L.A. Law in 1986, and then her first notable role was in the Space Cases Nickelodeon series.
Herbst big break came in 1997 when she joined the cast of the soap opera General Hospital. She became a series regular on the ABC Daytime soap opera by playing Elizabeth Webber. As of 2021, Herbst is still part of the show’s cast.
Jacklyn Zeman – Age 67 – General Hospital
Jacklyn Zeman is a castmember of General Hospital who first appeared in the soap in the late ’70s. She plays Bobbie Spencer on the show, and she still gives life to the character as of 2021.
Outside of acting, you might recognize her for appearing in the Home Shopping Network, where she presents and designs fabulous accessories. Zeman is already 67 years old, but it looks like she doesn’t mind having a busy schedule until today. In recent years, you might’ve also seen her star in series like Misguided and The Bay.
Nancy Lee Grahn – Age 64 – General Hospital
Nancy Lee Grahn is a friendly face you will often spot on daytime soap operas. Her breakthrough role was in Santa Barbara, where she acted as Julia Wainwright Capwell for about seven years. She then got cast in General Hospital, a soap she has been appearing in as Alexis Davis until today.
Grahn got engaged to a professor named Richard Smith, who works at Thornton School of Music in USC, in 2019. They were supposed to tie the knot in 2020, but it seems like it got postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
John Stamos – Age 57 – General Hospital
Funnily enough, the former General Hospital star John Stamos made a 1992 return to the iconic soap as… John Stamos. After portraying the character of Blackie in the ’80s, Stamos went on to become a recognizable TV star and was given a chance to appear as his own self in the soap that made him famous in the first place!
After landing an Emmy nomination for his work in General Hospital, the Cypress, California native appeared in the TV series Full House, Fuller House, and Grandfathered. In 2021, he starred in the Disney Channel sports comedy Big Shot. Now 57, Stamos still looks like a bona fide hunk!
Tyler Christopher – Age 48 – General Hospital
Tyler Christopher moved to Los Angeles to pursue full-time acting after studying at Ohio Wesleyan University for two years. The considerable risk brought him an incredible reward because he became a massive star thanks to his performance as Connor Bishop in General Hospital.
It looks like soap opera casting directors love him because he joined the Days of Our Lives cast in recent years. Christopher left the show in 2019, and he doesn’t have any TV roles as of today. His IMDb page says he has a part in an upcoming movie called Unhallowed, though.
Sharon Case – Age 49 – The Young and the Restless
When Sharon Case was only 17 years old, she was quite active in Japan’s modeling scene. She later moved back to Los Angeles and became interested in pursuing acting. She appeared in several shows before landing her breakthrough role in The Young and the Restless.
After over 2,700 episodes of the series, she remains a regular castmember as of 2021. Case’s performance in the show won her the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series award at the 1999 Daytime Emmy Awards. More recently, she was dubbed the Favorite Actress from the series at the 2020 Soap Hub Awards.
Tracey E. Bregman – Age 57 – The Young and the Restless
Tracey E. Bregman mostly appeared in soap operas throughout her entire acting career, and it seems like she doesn’t have any problem with it. She’s played Lauren Fenmore in The Young and the Restless since the mid-’80s. Then, she portrayed the same character in The Bold and the Beautiful from 1993 until 2007.
In 2018, she made headlines after news broke out that she lost her property in the catastrophic California wildfires. Thankfully, she was able to recover and bounce back. Bregman will appear in an upcoming TV movie titled Swag Town.
Kate Linder – Age 73 – The Young and the Restless
Kate Linder has been a member of The Young and the Restless’ cast since the ’80s. She gave life to the role of Esther Valentine in more than 2,000 episodes so far. Unlike many soap opera stars, the 73-year-old Linder has also been busy doing different kinds of film and TV roles.
You might’ve seen her in The Salon, Echo Boomers, and Donna On the Go. Her achievements as a soap opera star even earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Linder’s IMDb page says she has upcoming films titled The Book of Leah and Shriver.
Peter Bergman – Age 67 – The Young and the Restless
Peter Bergman first gained fame when he got cast as Dr. Cliff Warner in the soap called All My Children. You might be surprised to know that he initially auditioned for the role of Dr. Jeff Martin. After leaving the series in 1989, he started appearing in The Young and the Restless.
Many loved him in the soap, and he continues to appear in it until today. Bergman’s portrayal of Jack Abbott won him the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series thrice in his career. Bergman has two kids with Mariellen Bergman, who has been his wife since 1985.
Christian Jules Le Blanc – Age 62 – The Young and the Restless
Christian LeBlanc became a household name in the soap opera scene ever since he started appearing in The Young and the Restless. Everyone loves him in the show, and he ended up winning three Daytime Emmy Awards over the years.
LeBlanc is still portraying Michael Baldwin in the latest season of the soap as of 2021. His other notable performances were in Venice the Series and As the World Turns. In 2020, he got featured on episodes of Let’s Make a Deal and Celebrity Page. He also acted in a short film titled Across the Room.
Colleen Zenk – Age 67 – As the World Turns
The character named Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns got played by actress Colleen Zenk. She started appearing on the series in 1978, and she lasted until its cancellation in 2010. When she’s not in front of the camera, she’s busy pursuing her musical theater career.
Zenk is already 67 years old, and even if she isn’t as busy as she used to be, she still lands new acting gigs from time to time. Her most recent role was in the 2019 film called American Criminal. She was married to another soap star, actor Mark Pinter, from 1987 to 2010.
Julianne Moore – Age 60 – As The World Turns
While some soap stars stay soap stars, the As The World Turns actress Julianne Moore had other plans for her acting career. She worked in the CBS soap for three years before making her big-screen debut with the 1990 horror flick Tales from the Darkside: The Movie. She then became a bona fide ’90s Hollywood A-lister, appearing in The Lost World: Jurassic Park and The Big Lebowski.
Still active in the industry, Moore has most recently appeared in the 2021 mini-series Lisey’s Story, about a widow that becomes the target of a deranged stalker. She may be 60 years old, but what about that flawless skin and lovely freckles?
Terri Conn – Age 45 – As the World Turns
Many of you would remember Terri Conn for her longtime role in the show As the World Turns. There’s no doubt that the show gave her a heftier bank account because she acted in over 1,300 episodes over the years. She also found love thanks to the show because she married co-star Austin Peck.
The soap wasn’t her only memorable acting project, for she also appeared in other series like Breaker High and One Life to Live. Conn hasn’t had any new parts since appearing in the 2019 film titled Play the Flute. In 2018, she officially became a program host for QVC, a shopping network.
Jon Hensley – Age 55 – As the World Turns
Jon Hensley is a friendly face you would recognize if you love watching daytime soap operas. He appeared on As the World Turns as Holden Snyder from 1985 until the show ended in 2010. His first-ever TV role was in One Life to Live, and then he appeared in two episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210.
Hensley’s last role was in The Bold and the Beautiful, and it looks like he hasn’t been pursuing new roles in recent years. He was married to his co-star, Kelley Menighan, but they divorced in 2015. Sources say he’s now living in Old Tappan, New Jersey.
Don Hastings – Age 86 – As the World Turns
Soap opera fans would surely know who Don Hastings is because he spent about five decades appearing on As the World Turns. He was the third man who got cast to play Bob Hughes in the series. He was already acting in the ’40s but was mostly appearing in Broadway plays.
When he left As The World Turns in 2010, it seems like he didn’t want to keep working in the acting industry anymore. Hastings has been keeping a low profile since then, and sources say he lives a peaceful life with his wife Leslie Denniston in their property in upstate New York.
Pamela Bellwood – Age 69 – Dynasty
Pamela Bellwood started as a Broadway star in the ’70s, starring in plays like Finishing Touches and Butterflies Are Free. She later ventured into mainstream acting and became well-known for her role as Claudia Blaisdel Carrington in the hit soap opera Dynasty. She was part of the series from 1981 until 1986.
Bellwood also had roles in films like Going Shopping, Joseph’s Gift, and Family Secrets. Since appearing on an episode of Criminal Minds in 2013, she hasn’t gotten cast in any new roles yet. It seems like she’s living a quiet life with her husband, photographer Nik Wheeler.
Pamela Sue Martin – Age 68 – Dynasty
Liz Gillies might be doing a fantastic job playing Fallon Carrington in the new Dynasty series, but the original star who gave life to the role was actress Pamela Sue Martin. She was part of the show from 1981 until 1984. She was already famous during that time because of her role in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.
Martin doesn’t act much anymore, but she did appear in Nancy Drew in 2019. No one knows what she’s up to these days, but we know she supported environmental causes over the years. She once appeared in an ad to help save Amazon River’s pink dolphins.
Linda Evans – Age 78 – Dynasty
At the start of her career, Linda Evans had minor appearances in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Bachelor Father. She had her first taste of fame when she landed a part in The Big Valley. Her career then got even more exciting in the ’80s when she got cast as Krystle Carrington in Dynasty, which won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series in 1981.
Many thought Evans was already retired because she became inactive in the late ’90s, but she resurfaced in the 2020 German TV series Das Traumschiff. Now, she will appear in a new movie called Swan Song.
John James – Age 64 – Dynasty
John James is an actor who’s well-experienced when it comes to acting in daytime soap operas. He made his debut in Search for Tomorrow during the late ’70s, but he later had a breakthrough when he got cast to portray Jeff Colby in the series called Dynasty.
James did a remarkable job playing the character that he got a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. His other notable roles were in All My Children and As the World Turn. James isn’t entering retirement anytime soon, and sources say he’s part of an upcoming film called Evil at the Door.
Ronn Moss – Age 68 – The Bold and the Beautiful
For over two decades, Ronn Moss was the man behind Ridge Forrester’s character in the Bold and the Beautiful soap opera. Before he even pursued acting, he was already passionate about music, and he had a band called Player. They’re best known for singles like Baby Come Back and This Time I’m In It for Love.
After Moss went solo, he toured Australia and Italy in 2019. He hasn’t forgotten about his acting career, though, and reports say he will appear in two new movies titled Trail Blazers and In the Position.
Hunter Tylo – Age 58 – The Bold and the Beautiful
Actress Hunter Tylo’s soap opera fame kickstarted in the ’80s when she landed a recurring role in All My Children. Her fame later skyrocketed once she got cast to play Taylor Hayes in The Bold and the Beautiful. She portrayed the character until 2019, taking part in 2,250 episodes in total.
Despite being a gorgeous woman, she didn’t hit the jackpot when it came to marriage. She had three marriages over the years; two ended in divorce, while the third ended with an annulment. Tylo currently has no upcoming shows or movies.
Katherine Kelly Lang – Age 59 – The Bold and the Beautiful
Katherine Kelly Lang doesn’t need to worry about going broke because of her long run with The Bold and the Beautiful. She reportedly appeared in more than 5,000 episodes already since her debut in the show in 1987. Other notable appearances she had were in 1st & Ten and The Young and the Restless.
Despite frequently appearing on TV, Lang also has film credits to her name. Her more recent big-screen roles were in Stan the Man, Garlic & Gunpowder, and Odissea Nell’ospizio. Her IMDb page says she will appear in The Christmas Dance and Diabolika.
Kassie DePaiva – Age 59 – One Life to Live
Many of you would remember Kassie DePaiva for her performance in One Life to Live. She was part of the soap opera as Blair Cramer from 1993 until 2013. Before getting cast in the series, she already made appearances in Guiding Light.
She’s also well-recognized for her performance in the 1987 movie called Evil Dead II. DePaiva is still open to doing new roles at 59 years, and we bet it’d be a long time before she disappears from the industry. Her most recent TV appearance was in Days of Our Lives.
Robert S. Woods – Age 72 – One Life to Live
Robert S. Woods has been a well-known name in the acting industry for decades, and the most iconic role he had in his whole career was his role as Bo Buchanan in the soap called One Life to Live. His performance won him a Daytime Emmy Award in 1983.
Woods took a break from the series in 1986, came back two years later, and eventually stayed until the soap got canceled in 2012. It’s unclear if Woods will still pursue new roles since he hasn’t worked in recent years. He and his wife, Loyita Chapel, are most probably busy being supportive parents to their son named Tanner.
Matthew Ashford – Age 60 – Days of Our Lives
Matthew Ashford started making a name for himself as a soap opera actor in the ’80s when he landed roles in Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live. His most tremendous success came in the late ’80s, though, when he started starring as Jack Devereaux in Days of Our Lives.
The role earned him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination and five Soap Opera Digest Awards. His earnings from the show haven’t stopped, and you can still catch him on the soap’s most recent season. Ashford also has an upcoming movie titled The Castle.
Robin Strasser – Age 75 – One Life to Live
Robin Strasser is the talented woman who played Dr. Dorian Lord from One Life to Live. She was part of the soap opera from 1979 to 2003, and she notably won the Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series award during the 1982 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Strasser was a scholar at the Yale University School of Drama before she started raking in professional acting gigs in the early ’60s. Strasser never left the acting scene over the years, and most recently, she appeared on the series called Days of Our Lives.
Kathryn Leigh Scott – Age 77 – Dark Shadows
After completing her education at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kathryn Leigh Scott immediately landed her iconic role in Dark Shadows. Josette du Pres, Maggie Evans, Rachel Drummond, and Lady Kitty Hampshire were the four characters she portrayed in the soap.
Scott’s husband was Geoff Miller, the founder of Los Angeles magazine. They tied the knot in 1991 and stayed together until he passed away in 2011. As of 2021, she’s still pursuing her craft, and her most recent on-screen performance was in the 2020 film called The 11th Green.
Joan Collins – Age 87 – Dynasty
Joan Collins’ acting career started when she was only nine years old. She initially focused on stage work but eventually started getting cast in film roles during the ’50s. She enjoyed a steady amount of success for a couple of decades, but she welcomed a massive wave of success when she appeared in Dynasty during the ’80s.
Collins starred as Alexis Carrington Colby and regularly appeared on the show for about eight years. It’s undoubtedly the most iconic role in her acting portfolio because it won her the Best Actress award at the Golden Globe Awards. Collins will star in a new series titled Glow & Darkness in 2021.
Erika Slezak – Age 74 – One Life to Live
Erika Slezak started as a theatre actress after she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In the ’70s, she rose to fame as a TV actress thanks to her performance in the soap called One Life to Live. It undoubtedly made her richer because she did over 2,000 episodes.
People loved watching Slezak, and her performance even won her an impressive six Daytime Emmy Awards. Slezak is now 74 years old, and she hasn’t fully retired yet. Her IMDb page says her most recent role was on an episode of Blue Bloods in 2019.
Susan Sullivan – Age 78 – Another World
Susan Sullivan had her eyes set on an acting career, and it’s why she majored in drama when she went to Hofstra University. Universal Studios signed her in 1969, and it eventually led to her breakthrough performance in the series called Another World.
She was quite lucky when it came to TV work because she later landed more notable roles in shows like Falcon Crest, Julie Farr, M.D., and It’s A Living. Sullivan might be 78 years old already, but it looks like she doesn’t plan to leave the acting scene yet, as she’s reportedly part of an upcoming film titled Marzipan.
Eileen Fulton – Age 87 – As the World Turns
Actress Eileen Fulton was consistently making money for about five decades thanks to her role in As the World Turns. Her first appearance was in the ’60s, and she lasted until the show’s conclusion in 2010. She didn’t only appear on TV because she also pursued a career as a theater actress, playing roles in plays like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Fantasticks.
Fulton’s last acting part was in the 2011 movie called The Life Zone, and it looks like she decided to step away from the industry since then. She was married thrice in her life, but all her marriages didn’t work out.
Julie Goodyear – Age 78 – Coronation Street
Julie Goodyear is yet another star who got to maintain a consistent flow of earnings for decades thanks to a soap opera. She first appeared in Coronation Street in 1966 and became a regular on the show from 1970 to 1995. She later made guest appearances on the series in the early 2000s.
Goodyear is now 78 years old, and it looks like she doesn’t want to spend countless hours on set anymore. She hasn’t had any new role since appearing in a short film titled Tug of War in 2006. In more recent years, most people would know her for joining Celebrity Big Brother’s 10th season in 2012.
Holly Valance – Age 37 – Neighbours
Holly Valance rose to soap opera fame during her teenage years because of the show called Neighbours. She starred in the series for several years, appearing in a total of 420 episodes. She later pursued music as well and moved to Los Angeles from Australia.
Valance released two albums and appeared in films like Pledge This! and DOA: Dead or
Alive. She then moved to the United Kingdom and has become a TV personality there. The 37-year-old competed on Strictly Come Dancing and was a judge on Shopaholic Showdown. She’s happily married to Nick Candy, a property developer with whom she shares two kids.
Bryan Dattilo – Age 49 – Days of Our Lives
Bryan Dattilo studied psychology when he went to Santa Monica College, but it looks like he ended up working in the showbiz industry. He gained a tremendous amount of fame for starring in the soap opera called Days of Our Lives.
1993 was the year he first appeared on the show, and he was still part of the series in recent years. He didn’t look for many other projects, but he played in Youthful Daze in 2016. A fun fact about Dattilo is that he has a black belt in Taekwondo and Shotokan Karate.
David Selby – Age 79 – Dark Shadows
David Shelby kickstarted his professional acting career with a soap opera, and it looks like he maintained a consistent demand in the TV scene as time passed. He first caught people’s attention through his role in Dark Shadows, and then he became a primetime star after appearing in Falcon Crest.
Some of his other notable roles were in Raise the Titanic and Flamingo Road. Outside of acting, Shelby has authored the novels The Blue Door and Lincoln’s Better Angel. He’s still an active actor today, and his most recent roles were in shows like NCIS: New Orleans and Chicago Fire.
Doug Savant – Age 56 – Melrose Place
Doug Savant made his soap opera debut in the late ’80s when he landed a small role in Knots Landing. His big break came in the ’90s when he got cast as Matt Fielding in Melrose Place. He later landed guest roles in Nip/Tuck, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and JAG.
In the 2000s, his popularity escalated even more thanks to his role in Desperate Housewives. The 56-year-old Savant hasn’t stopped doing acting work, and in 2021, he will appear in a new series titled Tell Me Your Secrets, set to premiere on TNT.
Andrew Shue – Age 53 – Melrose Place
Andrew Shue became a famous heartthrob during the ’90s thanks to his lead role in the soap called Melrose Place. He was a regular on the show for six years, and after his exit, he left the acting scene and pursued a career as an entrepreneur.
He’s among the CafeMom website founders, and he also helped put up a nonprofit organization called Do Something. Even if he doesn’t add more to his acting credits, Shue still makes TV appearances from time to time. In 2020, he appeared on Stars in the House and Extra with Billy Bush.
Steve Burton – Age 50 – General Hospital
Many people fell in love with Steve Burton’s charm when he joined General Hospital’s cast in the early ’90s. He was already famous before the show for appearing in Days of Our Lives and Out of This World.
Burton didn’t only thrive as an on-screen star, for he also did a lot of work as a voice actor. He notably did voice work for several Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts video games. As of 2021, Burton continues to star in the latest season of General Hospital. He has been married to Sheree Gustin since 1999, and they share three kids together.
Gordon Thomson – Age 75 – Dynasty
Gordon Thomson is yet another Dynasty castmember that appears on our list. He was the guy who played Adam Carrington, and he appeared on the soap from 1982 until 1989. The ’90s were a busy time for him because he got to star in Santa Barbara and Sunset Beach.
Before his big break as an actor, Thomson worked as a catalog model to make ends meet. His IMDb page says his most recent role was in the 2019 movie called The Experience. In recent years, he confirmed to the public that he’s indeed into men.
Lorenzo Lamas – Age 62 – Falcon Crest
Lorenzo Lamas became a beloved name in the ’80s thanks to his role in the CBS show Falcon Crest. His performance earned him a nomination at the Golden Globe Awards. He continued to rise to fame after starring in shows like Renegade and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Lamas also gets paid as a voice actor, voicing Meap from Phineas and Ferb. Lamas also had a reality series called Leave It to Lamas, and he was a judge on Are You Hot?. According to his IMDb page, he will appear in two new films called Trail Blazers and Palm Springs Confidential.
Thomas Calabro – Age 61 – Melrose Place
Thomas Calabro was already in his 30s when Melrose Place made him a popular actor. After graduating from Fordham University, he spent several years as a theatre actor in New York. He was part of the Circle Repertory Company and the Actors Studio.
Calabro returned to Melrose Place in the late 2000s, but he only took part in nine episodes. In recent years, he appeared in a series called The Bay, and he got featured on an episode of Stars in the House. He also had parts in films like American Zombieland and Influence.
Matthew Ashford – Age 60 – Days of Our Lives
Matthew Ashford started making a name for himself as a soap opera actor in the ’80s when he landed roles in Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live. His most tremendous success came in the late ’80s, though, when he started starring as Jack Devereaux in Days of Our Lives.
The role earned him a Daytime Emmy Award nomination and five Soap Opera Digest Awards. His earnings from the show haven’t stopped, and you can still catch him on the soap’s most recent season. Ashford also has an upcoming movie titled The Castle.
John Aniston – Age 87 – Days of Our Lives
Hearing John Aniston’s name might ring a bell because he’s related to Friends star Jennifer Aniston. He’s her famous father, and he also had his fair share of success in the Hollywood scene. Most people would know him for his role in Days of Our Lives.
Aniston appeared in over 3,800 episodes since joining in the mid-’80s, and he remains part of the cast to this day. Aside from the soap, John’s most recent role was in the 2014 film Return to Zero. He appeared in a recent documentary about his daughter titled Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends.
Maurice Benard – Age 57 – General Hospital
Maurice Benard was lucky in his acting career because his debut performance in All My Children was well-received. It opened many doors for him, which eventually led to him landing the role of Sonny Corinthos in General Hospital. His performance even won him two Daytime Emmy Awards and three Soap Opera Digest Awards.
When Benard was 22, he found out he was bipolar. He immediately got bipolar treatment and became a spokesperson for it. They made his character Sonny battle the disorder in the soap as well, and people praised how real their depiction of the condition was. As of 2021, Benard still appears in the soap opera.
Cameron Mathison – Age 51 – All My Children
Cameron Mathison initially pursued modeling and commercial projects but later enrolled in acting classes and pursued acting in Toronto, Canada. By the ’90s, his life changed after being cast in All My Children. He played Ryan Lavery in the show for more than a decade.
He never slowed down and now reportedly appears in a new series called Manopause. Mathison didn’t only limit himself to acting because he also got into hosting, serving as a weekend co-anchor and correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. As of 2021, he’s one of the hosts of Home and Family.
Josie Bissett – Age 50 – Melrose Place
Josie Bissett was already into modeling at only 12 years old, appearing in commercials and print ads. She then pursued a career as an actress in the late ’80s, but she only achieved mainstream stardom in the ’90s when she got cast as Jane Mancini for Melrose Place. She appeared in the show for about seven years.
Bissett remains an active star at her current age of 50, and her last role was in the series called Wedding March. She had a marriage with former Melrose Place co-star Rob Estes, but it ended in 2006. Her current husband is named Thomas Doig.
Josh Taylor – Age 77 – Days of Our Lives
Josh Taylor could’ve pursued a law career because he holds a Juris Doctor degree, but he later discovered that he wanted to end up in the acting industry. His breakthrough as an actor happened in the late ’70s when he started starring in Days of Our Lives.
There’s no doubt that the series made him financially stable, as he’s still part of the soap as of 2021. His other memorable roles were in The Hogan Family and Beverly Hills, 90210. The last big-screen project he was part of was the 2009 film titled Siblings.
Michael E. Knight – Age 61 – All My Children
Michael E. Knight only became a full-time actor after he finished his studies at Wesleyan University. He quickly rose to fame when he joined the soap titled All My Children. He played the character named Tad Martin in more than 1000 episodes of the series. You might’ve also seen him in The Young and the Restless and NCIS.
From 1992 to 2006, he was married to Catherine Hickland, an actress who also experienced starring in soap operas. Knight isn’t slowing down in his career yet, and you can currently catch him on General Hospital’s latest season.
Renee Jones – Age 62 – Days of Our Lives
In the ’90s, Renée Jones gained fame in the acting scene after joining Days of Our Lives, where she got cast as Lexie Carver. Before embarking on a modeling and acting career, she earned a living by working as a secretary.
Jones was 19 years old when she landed a contract with the renowned Ford Modeling Agency. She enjoyed a decent amount of success in her career, but she decided to retire in 2012. She says that acting didn’t make her happy, and she prefers to live a simpler lifestyle away from the limelight.
Walt Willey – Age 69 – All My Children
All My Children fans surely know who actor Walt Willey is, for he played Jackson Montgomery in the soap for more than two decades. Before joining the show, most people knew him for roles he had in Another World and Ryan’s Hope.
The 69-year-old star isn’t as famous as the other cast members of the show, but it looks like he’d rather live a lowkey lifestyle. Willey’s acting career hasn’t been as active as theirs because he hasn’t been taking on new roles. His last one was in the series called Tainted Dreams.
Eric Braeden – Age 79 – The Young and the Restless
Eric Braeden is originally from Germany, but he moved to America in the late ’50s. He studied at the University of Montana, Missoula, and later pursued a career as an actor. He became a big name in showbiz when he started appearing in The Young and the Restless in the ’80s.
The show was his main acting gig for decades, but he also landed roles in Murder, She Wrote, Titanic, and How I Met Your Mother. Braeden continues to star in The Young and the Restless, but he also had recent appearances in The Talk and The Night Time Show.
Shemar Moore – Age 50 – The Young and the Restless
Shemar Moore started doing modeling work when he was still a college student, but he later managed to enter the acting industry during the ’90s. He rose to fame for his role in the soap opera, The Young and the Restless, where he gave life to Malcolm Winters. He made a brief comeback in several episodes of the series in 2019.
Moore also had a notable performance in Criminal Minds, and he currently stars in S.W.A.T. In December 2020, he contracted a mild case of COVID-19 but was able to make a speedy recovery.
Jess Walton – Age 71 – The Young and the Restless
Jess Walton was doing great in her acting career in the ’70s, but getting addicted to drugs and booze took a toll on her career. She then decided to get professional help and made a massive comeback in the mid-’80s. People first saw her in the soap called Capitol.
Walton’s career later peaked when she joined the gorgeous cast of The Young and the Restless. She did a superb job playing Jill Foster Abbott that she even won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Aside from the series, Walton’s most recent TV appearance was in The Talk in 2019.
Natalia Livingston – Age 44 – General Hospital
Most of you would remember Natalia Livingston for appearing in General Hospital from 2003 to 2009. She initially played Emily Quartermaine, but there was also a brief period wherein she portrayed Rebecca Shaw’s character. She and her co-star Tyler Christopher fell in love in real life, but they broke up in 2006.
Livingston has been married to a scientific author and neuroscientist named Dr. Matt Aldag since 2016, and they welcomed their second child together in 2020. Livingston’s last role was in a film called Full Count in 2019, and it looks like she’s focusing on being a mom these days.
Anthony Geary – Age 73 – General Hospital
It’s impossible to forget actor Anthony Geary because of his iconic performance as Luke Spencer in General Hospital. His first appearance on the soap happened in the late ’70s, and he went on to win a whopping eight Daytime Emmy Awards.
Geary also appeared on the big screen over the years, and his most prominent roles were in Teacher’s Pet, Scorchers, and Johnny Got His Gun. He could’ve continued doing more films and shows, but he decided to retire early. Sources say he now lives a simple and peaceful life in Amsterdam.
Carolyn Hennesy – Age 58 – General Hospital
Carolyn Hennesy first gained fame when she appeared in Dawson’s Creek. After that, she became a massive star once she joined the cast of General Hospital. Her performance in the soap got her nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. She finally took home a Daytime Emmy when she starred in The Bay.
Hennesy is also a talented writer, and her novel titled The Secret Life of Damian Spinelli made it into the bestseller list of the New York Times. As of today, this 58-year-old still gets bombarded with a lot of acting work. Some of her other recent roles were in Studio City and Calling for Love.
Doug Davidson – Age 66 – The Young and the Restless
Doug Davidson is the longest-serving member of The Young and the Restless cast. He started playing Paul Williams’s character in May 1978, and he continued to have a contract role until 2017. His performance won him four Soap Opera Digest Awards and one Daytime Award.
Davidson’s contract with The Young and the Restless reportedly ended in 2018, but when producer Mal Young left the show, his character returned to the soap in 2019. His IMDb page says he’s working on a new film called Season of Rage. Davidson is married to Cindy Fisher, who is an actress.
Yani Gellman – Age 35 – The Young and the Restless
When you first look at Yani Gellman, you might instantly recognize him for starring in The Lizzie McGuire Movie. He frequently appeared on TV as well over the years, and you might remember that he played Rafe Torres in The Young and the Restless.
He had a three-year run with the soap, appearing in about 86 episodes. His other notable TV roles were in Pretty Little Liars, Monster Warriors, and Guinevere Jones. Gellman is now 35 years old, and he still sports the same long hairstyle. His most recent role was in the show called Bosch.
Farah Fath – Age 36 – Days of Our Lives
Farah Fath was already earning as a child by starring in commercials and print campaigns. In 1999, she made her acting debut in the soap opera titled Days of Our Lives. She portrayed Mimi Lockhart until 2007 and made a short comeback on the series in 2018.
Many of you might also remember her for the five-year run she had in One Life to Live. Fath has been married to professional poker player Phil Galfond since 2015, and it looks like she had been busy taking care of their son named Spencer in recent years.
Heather Locklear – Age 59 – Melrose Place
Most people would know actress Heather Locklear for starring in Melrose Place. She frequently got Golden Globe nominations for her performance on the show, but sadly, she didn’t win any of them. She also gave memorable performances in other shows like Dynasty and Spin City.
Locklear is already 59 years old, and she still has the same enchanting eyes and luscious blonde hair. She became inactive in the industry after appearing in Too Close to Home in 2017, but her IMDb page confirms that she will make a comeback through her role in the upcoming film called Zombie Brothel.
Kylie Minogue – Age 52 – Neighbours
Kylie Minogue is best known for her success as a singer, but loyal fans of hers know that she was a soap opera actress at one point. She initially became popular in Australia for her role in Neighbours. She also appeared in Fame and Misfortune and The Henderson Kids when she was younger.
She started focusing on music in the late ’80s, and her career peaked in the 2000s when she released her album called Fever. Minogue is now in her ’50s, and she’s nowhere near retirement yet. In 2020, she released a new studio album titled Disco.
David Canary – Died At Age 77 – All My Children
People first discovered David Canary when he appeared in the series Peyton Place. However, his performance in Bonanza launched him into mainstream stardom. He became an even more prominent actor once he started appearing in All My Children in the ’80s.
Canary took home five out of the sixteen Daytime Emmy Award nominations he got from the beloved soap opera. His last appearance in the show happened in 2013. Sadly, Canary passed away at the age of 77 in 2015, and according to reports, he passed away from natural causes.
Michelle Ryan – Age 36 – EastEnders
Soap operas are a trend in many countries, and in the United Kingdom, Michelle Ryan became a famous soap star thanks to EastEnders’ success. She was only 16 years old when she started appearing on the series, and her run lasted for about five years.
Despite leaving the show, people still saw her on TV because she landed lead roles in Jekyll and Bionic Woman. She also had guest appearances in Doctor Who and Mister Eleven. Ryan’s most recent part was in Dark Stories, and it’s still unclear what her next TV gig would be.