I would guess that except for two people I know that read this blog, no one that reads this blog watches soap operas. (While in all actuality, no one I know reads this blog…)
Anyboohoo, there are probably some Actors! you like that you didn’t realize were on soap operas earlier in their careers. And these appearances weren’t just cameos or extras work… legit characters were given life by these fan favorites. Let’s begin with one that you may know about:
- Sarah Michelle Gellar – Kendall Hart, All My Children (1993-95)
She played Buffy. She played Daphne. Who can't she play?
WHY YOU LIKE HER: On one hand, the background in the above photo should be a clue. On another hand, this.
- Tom Berenger – Tim Seigel, One Life to Live (1975-76)
City Mouse and, um, Country Mouse
WHY YOU LIKE HIM: Come on… he was a bad ass. Not only was he in both Major League films, he was in Platoon, the first The Substitute, and three Sniper films. Grant it – I’ve only seen the baseball comedies. Did you know there were three Sniper films?!
- Richard Dean Anderson – Dr. Jeff Webber, General Hospital (1976-81)
All he needs is a paper clip, a gum wrapper... and a mullet.
WHY YOU LIKE HIM: It should be a mantra – MacGyver, Stargate SG-1, MacGyver, Stargate SG-1, MacGyver, Stargate SG-1, MacGyver, Stargate SG-1… You get it.
- Alec Baldwin – Billy Aldrich, The Doctors (1980-82) / Joshua Rush, Knots Landing (1984-86)
Everybody used to look like this eventually.
WHY YOU LIKE HIM: This is my controversial entry. Not just because you may have never heard of The Doctors soap opera (there’s a stupid talk show starring a Bachelor reject with the same name) nor because Knots Landing was a nighttime soap, but because some people don’t like him! This blows my mind, just like the fact he was on TV waaaay before Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. (P.S. Check out Malice if you’ve never seen it.)
- Christopher Walken – Mike Bauer, Guiding Light (1954-56)
So many choices... I chose this.
WHY YOU LIKE HIM: I was going to close with Rick Springfield until I made this discovery. I mean, Jesse’s Girl is the never-dying, one-hit wonder I’ve always wished joked that wished I could write, but how many movies would have never made it to production if Walden didn’t get involved? Blast From the Past, The Stepford Wives, Joe Dirt, Excess Baggage, Balls of Fury, Envy, Country Bears… I should have went with Springfield.
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