TV soap operas have acted as launchpads for some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. It has done so for seven decades and continues to shine the light on the best up and comers of the industry.
Here’s a throwback to the daytime soap era of some of our favorite A-listers:
Kelly Ripa – All My Children
Kelly Ripa is synonymous with Ryan Seacrest as a top daytime talk-show host in their famous, Live With Kelly and Ryan. The talkative star was also the lead in Hope and Faith. Her start in ABC’s All My Children literally changed her life—from kick starting her career to meeting her soulmate, Mark Consuelos!
Shemar Moore –The Young and the Restless
Shemar Moore takes our breath away on both Criminal Minds and S.W.A.T. with his dapper looks and bravado. But rewind to 1994, and he was just a teen with a cute smile on The Young and the Restless.
Tom Selleck – The Young and the Restless
Tom Selleck’s rugged handsomeness is so apparent whenever he’s on-screen, be it Magnum PI or Blue Bloods. But before our Monica from Friends fell for him, Selleck was clean-shaven with a million-dollar smile on CBC’s The Young and the Restless.
Laurence Fishburne – One Life to Live
He has been an actor ever since he was a child, but his big break came on the daytime show, One Life to Live. Best known for starring alongside Keanu Reeves in the Matrix franchise, Laurence Fishburn now plays grandpa Pops on Black-ish.
Nathan Fillion – One Life to Live
Nathan Fillion is a primetime favorite with hits like Firefly and Castle. We still can’t get over the mind-blowing chemistry between him and StanaKatic. Looking back at his dorky character on One Life To Live, it’s hard to imagine it’s the same actor who plays the billionaire writer.
Jensen Ackles – Days of Our Lives
Who doesn’t have a crush on Supernatural’s Winchester brothers? The monster-slaying Dean isn’t the only prime time credit Jensen Ackles holds. He was also a big-shot in Smallville. Like many other actors, Jensen made his debut playing the heartthrob, too, as Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives.
Eva Longoria – The Young and the Restless
Joining the numerous stars from TY&TR, Eva Longoria has climbed from an unhinged young woman to well, another mature mess as Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives. We still love this beauty!
John Stamos – General Hospital
Remember the lovable Uncle Jesse on Full-House? John Stamos came back in action with Netflix’s spin-off of the same show called Fuller-House. Contrary to what many would think, Full-House wasn’t John’s first gig. He rose to the spotlight as the rebellious Parish from General Hospital.
Aren’t we all thankful for those old daytime soaps now? If you feel like it, you can recap here!
