Two Soap Opera questions.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 09-04-2015, 01:40 AM

1.)Which actor or actress played the same role in a Soap Opera? My guess is
Mary Stuart who played the lead character on Search for Tomorrow, who was on the show from 1951-1986. 35 years is pretty impressive, but maybe someone on Guiding Light has her beat. Maybe McDonald Carey or the lady who played his wife on Days of Our Lives, if they were on the show past the year 2000.

2.) Which actor now has the longest tenure playing the same role still active in the show? Is Eric Braeden still on The Young and the Restless? That hot chick on Days of Our Lives who played Marlena?

3.) Which character has been portrayed by the most actors or actresses? For example, the lead character on The Edge of Night was a lawyer named Mike Karr who was portrayed by three diffrent actors in e 28 year run of that series 1956-1984). It is very common for one actor to quit a show and his character is replaced by someone else.

I think it is amazing that these shows lasted decades, with writers writing for a hour long show five days a week, basically 52 weeks a year. I asked about the writing in another thread and no one has answered me!

Wawwie · 09-04-2015, 01:49 AM

Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) is still on The Young & The Restless.
Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans) is still on Days of our Lives.

bgva · 09-04-2015, 01:54 AM

I believe Jeanne Cooper (the actress who played Katherine Chancellor on Y&R) was on the show since the beginning. She died a year or two ago.

*Wikis* She died in May 2013, about a month and a half after the show's 40th anniversary. Wiki also has a list of longest-tenured actors and actresses on a soap...apparently, Helen Wagner of As the World Turns held the record with 50 (non-continuous) years as Nancy Hughes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...#United_States

scrapple · 09-06-2015, 10:06 PM

I think the character of Tom Hughes on As The World Turns holds the record for most portrayals by different actors.

MickeyMac · 09-10-2015, 01:17 PM

Don Hasting who played Bob Hughes on As The World Turns, and Eillen Fulton who played Lisa on ATWT are close runners. They both started in 1960 and played their roles up until the show's cancellation in 2010.

Cliff Barnes · 09-12-2015, 01:47 PM

Michael Storm had 35 years as Larry Wolek, Erika Slezak had 42 years as Viki on oltl. Also notable on there was Bob Woods with about 33 years as bo and Phil Carey with about 30 years as Asa.

Also notable ones on Amc and Gh would be Leslie Charleson, John Beradino, Rachel Ames, Susan Lucci, Ray McDonnell, James Mitchell, and David Canary. I'm leaving out a lot I know but I'm not as familiar with those two and even less off abc.

09-04-2015, 01:40 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Two Soap Opera questions.... 1.)Which actor or actress played the same role in a Soap Opera? My guess is Mary Stuart who played the lead character on Search for Tomorrow, who was on the show from 1951-1986. 35 years is pretty impressive, but maybe someone on Guiding Light has her beat. Maybe McDonald Carey or the lady who played his wife on Days of Our Lives, if they were on the show past the year 2000. 2.) Which actor now has the longest tenure playing the same role still active in the show? Is Eric Braeden still on The Young and the Restless? That hot chick on Days of Our Lives who played Marlena? 3.) Which character has been portrayed by the most actors or actresses? For example, the lead character on The Edge of Night was a lawyer named Mike Karr who was portrayed by three diffrent actors in e 28 year run of that series 1956-1984). It is very common for one actor to quit a show and his character is replaced by someone else. I think it is amazing that these shows lasted decades, with writers writing for a hour long show five days a week, basically 52 weeks a year. I asked about the writing in another thread and no one has answered me!

09-04-2015, 01:49 AM	#2
Wawwie Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 26, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 14,376	Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) is still on The Young & The Restless. Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans) is still on Days of our Lives.

09-04-2015, 01:54 AM	#3
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	I believe Jeanne Cooper (the actress who played Katherine Chancellor on Y&R) was on the show since the beginning. She died a year or two ago. Wikis She died in May 2013, about a month and a half after the show's 40th anniversary. Wiki also has a list of longest-tenured actors and actresses on a soap...apparently, Helen Wagner of As the World Turns held the record with 50 (non-continuous) years as Nancy Hughes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...#United_States

09-06-2015, 10:06 PM	#4
scrapple Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 259	I think the character of Tom Hughes on As The World Turns holds the record for most portrayals by different actors.

09-10-2015, 01:17 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Don Hasting who played Bob Hughes on As The World Turns, and Eillen Fulton who played Lisa on ATWT are close runners. They both started in 1960 and played their roles up until the show's cancellation in 2010.

09-12-2015, 01:47 PM	#6
Cliff Barnes Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 163	Michael Storm had 35 years as Larry Wolek, Erika Slezak had 42 years as Viki on oltl. Also notable on there was Bob Woods with about 33 years as bo and Phil Carey with about 30 years as Asa. Also notable ones on Amc and Gh would be Leslie Charleson, John Beradino, Rachel Ames, Susan Lucci, Ray McDonnell, James Mitchell, and David Canary. I'm leaving out a lot I know but I'm not as familiar with those two and even less off abc.