Who Knew? 5 Stars Who Got Their Start on Soap Opera 'All My Children' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-14-2011, 10:54 PM

ABC said Thursday that it is canceling long-running daytime dramas All My Children and One Life to Live.

The shows -- which will end September and January, respectively -- will be replaced with two new younger-skewing, lifestyle-oriented series: The Chew and The Revolution.

During their runs, the two soaps have launched the careers of a slew of stars. Here are five:

1. Kelly Ripa: The actress and Live With Regis and Kelly co-host joined All My Children in 1990, playing Hayley Vaughan Santos. While on the soap, she got married to co-star Mark Consuelos, who played her husband on the show. The two left AMC in 2001 but returned for two episodes in January 2010. After leaving AMC, Ripa went on to star in the ABC comedy Hope & Faith from 2003-06 and became co-host of Live alongside Regis Philbin in 2001. Of AMC’s cancellation, Ripa told The Hollywood Reporter: "This is like losing a member of your family. All My Childrenwas more than a job -- it was my family. It was there that I met my husband; it was there when my first two children were born; it was there where I met many of my lifelong friends. It was the greatest training ground ever. I feel heartsick."

2. Sarah Michelle Gellar: The then-teenage actress played Kendall Hart Lang in AMC from 1993-95. A year after leaving the show, she would land her star-making role in Joss Whedon's TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing the title character for seven seasons. She also co-starred with her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., in the Scooby-Doo feature and its sequel and recently was cast in The Ringer, a drama pilot for CBS in contention for the 2011-12 season.

3. Christian Slater: Like Gellar, he actor did a stint as a teen on AMC, playing Caleb Thompson, in 1986. Two years later, he became a star -- and teen heartthrob -- with his role in Heathers. Starring roles in the films Gleaming the Cube, Young Guns II, Pump Up the Volume, Mobsters and True Romance followed. Slater now stars in Fox's comedy series Breaking In, which debuted last week.

4. Josh Duhamel: Long before Transformers, the actor spent three years on AMC, playing Leo du Pres from 1999-2002. Two years after leaving the soap, he starred opposite Kate Bosworth and Topher Grace in Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! and then spent five years on NBC's Las Vegas. In 2007, he starred with Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox in the first Transformers film. A sequel followed in 2009, with a third installment set for a July 1 release.

5. Melissa Leo: The actress made her acting debut on AMC, playing Linda Warner from 1984-96. Earlier this year, Leo won an Oscar for her role in The Fighter, opposite Mark Wahlberg, and recently appeared on the small screen in HBO's miniseries Mildred Pierce, opposite Kate Winslet.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...t-start-178725

Marvo301 · 04-14-2011, 11:30 PM

Soap Opera's are a great training ground where many young actors got their start. It's a shame that they seem to be a dying art form.

catlover79 · 04-14-2011, 11:33 PM

I knew about four of the five (and they left out Kim Delaney!!) - never knew Christian Slater was on this show. I do know he had a role on Ryan's Hope in 1985, opposite another up-and-comer named Yasmine Bleeth. Interestingly enough, his father, Michael Hawkins, originated the role of Frank Ryan when RH premiered in the summer of 1975.

-STEFFY- · 04-14-2011, 11:39 PM

Meg Ryan started off on a soap opera. I'm not sure which one she was on.

catlover79 · 04-14-2011, 11:41 PM

That would be As the World Turns.

-STEFFY- · 04-15-2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

That would be As the World Turns.

^ Another wonderful soap that was cancelled...different network though.

catlover79 · 04-15-2011, 12:33 AM

Yup!! Meg was on ATWT from 1982-84, and you can see much of her work from the soap on YouTube.

This is unbelievable, the cancellations in the past few years:

1. Passions, NBC, cancelled in 2007. When the show moved to DirecTV, it was cancelled again in 2008!!

2. Guiding Light, CBS, cancelled in 2009.

3. As the World Turns, CBS, cancelled in 2010.

4. All My Children and One Life to Live, ABC, cancelled in 2011.

5. One Life to Live, ABC, set to air its final episode in January 2012.

-STEFFY- · 04-15-2011, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

2. Guiding Light, CBS, cancelled in 2009.

I was DEVISTATED when Guiding Light was cancelled. I still miss it. I'm going to really miss One Life To Live, too. I never watched All My Children, but I know it has millions of fans who are so sad right now.

Zoneboy · 04-15-2011, 12:50 AM

Kelly Ripa isn't exactly my idea of a star.

Marvo301 · 04-15-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Kelly Ripa isn't exactly my idea of a star.

That may be so but I'd love to have her bank account!!!

catlover79 · 04-15-2011, 12:58 AM

Back in the day, the soaps (especially in NYC) would hire seasoned stage actors to give the shows more of a theatrical feel. Another World did this in the 1970s to great effect. One of the problems was that soaps stopped hiring trained actors and started hiring models instead.

Zoneboy · 04-15-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

That may be so but I'd love to have her bank account!!!

We do share the same birthday so I will give her some credit.

catlover79 · 04-15-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

We do share the same birthday so I will give her some credit.

That's right! I'd forgotten her bday is 10/2.

HuntingtonM15 · 04-15-2011, 02:22 AM

I also knew about them all except Christian. Like her or not, Kelly Ripa is definitely a big enough name to mention. Sarah Michelle has to be one of the biggest names to launch from a soap.

Coffeecup · 04-16-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Kelly Ripa isn't exactly my idea of a star.

On one of those biography shows on the E network it discussed her life.
I was amazed she got a part out of 8 or so people auditioning for
All My Children. When she was on the soap for a few days, producers told her she couldn't act. That I wasn't surprised, but they told her, they keep her on if she went to acting school. The production company, I thought I heard this, paid for the training. If I was told I couldn't act I would be told, Hey go to school and come back when you ready. Most likely they wouldn't see my face again. But to be paid to go to school and keep the job. I felt she had it easy. The Regis and Kelly show, well, all they do there is chit chat. I felt the soap was far more challenging and far more work. NIce girl but overrated.

04-14-2011, 10:54 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Who Knew? 5 Stars Who Got Their Start on Soap Opera 'All My Children' ABC said Thursday that it is canceling long-running daytime dramas All My Children and One Life to Live. The shows -- which will end September and January, respectively -- will be replaced with two new younger-skewing, lifestyle-oriented series: The Chew and The Revolution. During their runs, the two soaps have launched the careers of a slew of stars. Here are five: 1. Kelly Ripa: The actress and Live With Regis and Kelly co-host joined All My Children in 1990, playing Hayley Vaughan Santos. While on the soap, she got married to co-star Mark Consuelos, who played her husband on the show. The two left AMC in 2001 but returned for two episodes in January 2010. After leaving AMC, Ripa went on to star in the ABC comedy Hope & Faith from 2003-06 and became co-host of Live alongside Regis Philbin in 2001. Of AMC’s cancellation, Ripa told The Hollywood Reporter: "This is like losing a member of your family. All My Childrenwas more than a job -- it was my family. It was there that I met my husband; it was there when my first two children were born; it was there where I met many of my lifelong friends. It was the greatest training ground ever. I feel heartsick." 2. Sarah Michelle Gellar: The then-teenage actress played Kendall Hart Lang in AMC from 1993-95. A year after leaving the show, she would land her star-making role in Joss Whedon's TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing the title character for seven seasons. She also co-starred with her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., in the Scooby-Doo feature and its sequel and recently was cast in The Ringer, a drama pilot for CBS in contention for the 2011-12 season. 3. Christian Slater: Like Gellar, he actor did a stint as a teen on AMC, playing Caleb Thompson, in 1986. Two years later, he became a star -- and teen heartthrob -- with his role in Heathers. Starring roles in the films Gleaming the Cube, Young Guns II, Pump Up the Volume, Mobsters and True Romance followed. Slater now stars in Fox's comedy series Breaking In, which debuted last week. 4. Josh Duhamel: Long before Transformers, the actor spent three years on AMC, playing Leo du Pres from 1999-2002. Two years after leaving the soap, he starred opposite Kate Bosworth and Topher Grace in Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! and then spent five years on NBC's Las Vegas. In 2007, he starred with Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox in the first Transformers film. A sequel followed in 2009, with a third installment set for a July 1 release. 5. Melissa Leo: The actress made her acting debut on AMC, playing Linda Warner from 1984-96. Earlier this year, Leo won an Oscar for her role in The Fighter, opposite Mark Wahlberg, and recently appeared on the small screen in HBO's miniseries Mildred Pierce, opposite Kate Winslet. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...t-start-178725
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

04-14-2011, 11:30 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	Soap Opera's are a great training ground where many young actors got their start. It's a shame that they seem to be a dying art form.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

04-14-2011, 11:33 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I knew about four of the five (and they left out Kim Delaney!!) - never knew Christian Slater was on this show. I do know he had a role on Ryan's Hope in 1985, opposite another up-and-comer named Yasmine Bleeth. Interestingly enough, his father, Michael Hawkins, originated the role of Frank Ryan when RH premiered in the summer of 1975.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-15-2011, 12:50 AM	#9
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,381	Kelly Ripa isn't exactly my idea of a star.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

04-15-2011, 12:58 AM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Back in the day, the soaps (especially in NYC) would hire seasoned stage actors to give the shows more of a theatrical feel. Another World did this in the 1970s to great effect. One of the problems was that soaps stopped hiring trained actors and started hiring models instead.
	Last edited by catlover79; 04-16-2011 at 12:09 AM.

04-14-2011, 11:39 PM	#4
-STEFFY- Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 18, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 14,580	Meg Ryan started off on a soap opera. I'm not sure which one she was on.

04-14-2011, 11:41 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	That would be As the World Turns.

04-15-2011, 12:33 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Yup!! Meg was on ATWT from 1982-84, and you can see much of her work from the soap on YouTube. This is unbelievable, the cancellations in the past few years: 1. Passions, NBC, cancelled in 2007. When the show moved to DirecTV, it was cancelled again in 2008!! 2. Guiding Light, CBS, cancelled in 2009. 3. As the World Turns, CBS, cancelled in 2010. 4. All My Children and One Life to Live, ABC, cancelled in 2011. 5. One Life to Live, ABC, set to air its final episode in January 2012.

04-15-2011, 02:22 AM	#14
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	I also knew about them all except Christian. Like her or not, Kelly Ripa is definitely a big enough name to mention. Sarah Michelle has to be one of the biggest names to launch from a soap.