Popular Soap Opera Actors Who Don’t Act Anymore

[shandy630]

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

Sad that John Reilly (Number 2 on the list) just recently passed away.

I would say once all the soaps left New York and dwindled down to the Final Four, many actors saw the writing on the wall and began to search for alternative means of support.

I saw that about John Reilly.

I know that Kelley Menighan (ex-Emily, ATWT) is living in the Chicago area and working at her family's business. Scott DeFreitas (ex-Andy, ATWT/Mr. Maura West) has basically been a stay-at-home dad since they moved out to California. I also believed he worked in real estate for a time after he left ATWT.

Fiona Hutchison (ex-Jenna, GL; ex-Gabrielle, OLTL) is teaching out in New York. Beth Ehlers (ex-Harley, GL) is working for the State of New Jersey.

[80sTrivia]

I've been watching almost all of Alan Locher's soap reunion specials on YouTube. Alan worked in PR for both Guiding Light and As the World Turns for many years.

I was watching one yesterday with Ryan's Hope actors. Louise Shaffer who starred on The Edge of Night, Ryan's Hope, Search for Tomorrow and All My Children, has written seven bestselling novels and has left acting entirely!

Martha Byrne (Lily, Rose, As the World Turns) mainly writes, produces and directs now. Katharine Hays (Kim, ATWT) has retired from acting and lives on a farm in Illinois now. Don Hastings (Bob Hughes) has retired now as well. Playing Dr. Bob for 54 years, he deserves to retire!

The one and only Eileen Fulton (Lisa, ATWT) has retired from acting and performing her cabaret act and lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she was born. I've heard she is writing a third memoir. Elizabeth Hubbard (Lucinda) is in semi-retirement as well.

Victoria Wyndham (Rachel, Another World) has apparently retired from acting. She's only made sporadic television appearances and I've heard she does local theatre from time to time.

Really, this thread could go on forever!

[shandy630]

I know when Staci Greason (ex-Isabella, DAYS) left DAYS in late 1992, she also left acting all together. She's made some appearances as Isabella's ghost over the years, but she's been writing mostly.

[adamchandler]

Marcy Walker hasn’t done nothing since leaving AMC in 2004.

[shandy630]

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

Sad that John Reilly (Number 2 on the list) just recently passed away.

I would say once all the soaps left New York and dwindled down to the Final Four, many actors saw the writing on the wall and began to search for alternative means of support.

The late John Reilly basically retired from acting after his last GH appearance, according to a recent article on his daughter, Tik Tok superstar Caitlin Reilly (who will be playing Annie Donely on the tribute episode of GH that is going to air tomorrow, 5/21.)

Sharon Wyatt (ex-Tiffany) hasn't been on TV since her last known appearance as Tiffany on GH's Night Shift back in 2008. She has been living in Tennessee for about 20 some years now. She also has had to have some major jaw reconstructions surgery about 10 years ago as a result of taking medication for osteoporosis in her back.

[shandy630]

Kimberly McCollough (ex Robin, GH) basically retired from acting and has been working behind the scenes as a director. However, she did make an appearance on the May 21st episode of GH in tribute to John Reilly/Sean Donely. Sharon Wyatt (ex-Tiffany) also made an appearance by voice/phone only when Tiffany was talking with Laura at the beginning and then with Annie towards the end.

Anthony Geary (ex-Luke) has basically been living in Amsterdam now for quite a while.

[Corkys-Place]

Wow, looking at that Nonna's Family Restaurant on Facebook which has a few clips of Rick Hearst taking to the camera I have to say he has aged VERY well!

Originally Posted by TMC

Some didn’t want to leave New York[/B] - Until the 2000s, most soap operas were filmed in the New York City region. To become a movie star in Hollywood, you need to live in the Los Angeles area or at least Southern California until you “hit”. Many actors would not make the move and they lost out on the opportunity to do become bigger stars.

Both The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful are filmed at CBS studios in LA, so this theory doesn't really apply to both those shows.

[shandy630]

Originally Posted by TMC

[*]They never get their big break - Myriad actors audition for roles that someone else gets and makes them famous. Many soap actors never got that role and they either remained where they were or they left the business.[*]Some didn’t want to leave New York - Until the 2000s, most soap operas were filmed in the New York City region. To become a movie star in Hollywood, you need to live in the Los Angeles area or at least Southern California until you “hit”. Many actors would not make the move and they lost out on the opportunity to do become bigger stars.

There are some actors who appeared in soaps that have gone on and had/have good careers and are still based in New York. Julianne Moore (ex-Frannie, ATWT) has a good TV/movie career and she's still New York based, same with Margaret Colin (ex-Margo, ATWT). Margaret actually was in episodes of Chicago Med this season. I know those two are probably the exception. Some NY based actors choose to remain in NY because of families/kids, etc. There are some who will go back and forth between Los Angeles/New York (pre-COVID).

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Edward216

Susan Lucci is far from forgotten! And she still looks amazing too!

Ed.

Susan Lucci is probably one of the very, very few soap opera actors/actresses who is a genuine household name in the mainstream. What I mean is that even if you aren't regular follower of the genre you in all likelihood know who she is or heard her name. She even hosted Saturday Night Live once back in 1990.

[80sTrivia]

Patricia Bruder (Ellen Stewart, As the World Turns) retired from acting after she was unceremoniously dropped from the show after playing Ellen for over 35 years!

Melanie Smith (ex-Emily Stewart, As the World Turns) left acting to raise her son, who is now in college. She started her own successful business and runs it full time.

Ellen Dolan (ex-Margo, As the World Turns) is mainly writing and producing now. Scott Holmes (Tom, ATWT) does regional theatre from time to time and lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

[shandy630]

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

Patricia Bruder (Ellen Stewart, As the World Turns) retired from acting after she was unceremoniously dropped from the show after playing Ellen for over 35 years!

Melanie Smith (ex-Emily Stewart, As the World Turns) left acting to raise her son, who is now in college. She started her own successful business and runs it full time.

Ellen Dolan (ex-Margo, As the World Turns) is mainly writing and producing now. Scott Holmes (Tom, ATWT) does regional theatre from time to time and lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Kathyrn Hayes, Don Hastings, and Eileen Fulton have all retired from acting. I believe Eileen is living in North Carolina somewhare.

Scott did a reunion episode with Ellen on The Locher Room last year and he said he's not even doing theater any more in South Carolina.

[80sTrivia]

^, Eileen is living in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, in a home with her younger brother, after selling her beautiful apartment in New York City and retiring from acting. Her ex-co-star Ellen Dolan said in a Locher Room interview that Eileen was writing on another book!

[shandy630]

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

^, Eileen is living in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, in a home with her younger brother, after selling her beautiful apartment in New York City and retiring from acting. Her ex-co-star Ellen Dolan said in a Locher Room interview that Eileen was writing on another book!

Ellen did mention Eileen writing another book. There was also mention that she (Eileen) was facing some health issues, too.

[80sTrivia]

Originally Posted by shandy630

Ellen did mention Eileen writing another book. There was also mention that she (Eileen) was facing some health issues, too.

I hate to hear that about her health. It seems Eileen has become somewhat of a recluse since retiring from acting and moving down to North Carolina...

[shandy630]

Originally Posted by 80sTrivia

I hate to hear that about her health. It seems Eileen has become somewhat of a recluse since retiring from acting and moving down to North Carolina...

I've heard that, too. She's not the only one, either.