Members FrenchFan Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 Here is a list of the longest running stars (more than 20 years) with the same contract role on a daytime drama: Don Hastings [bob Hughes, ATWT] (1960-present) : 47 years Helen Wagner [Nancy Hughes, ATWT] (1956-1981, 1985-present) : 47 years Eileen Fulton [Lisa Miller Grimaldi, ATWT] (1960-1965, 1966-1983, 1984-present) : 45 years Frances Reid [Alice Horton, DAYS] (1965-present) : 42 years Rachel Ames [Audrey Hardy, GH] (1964-2003) : 39 years John Clarke [Mickey Horton, DAYS] (1965-2004) : 39 years Susan Lucci [Erica Kane, AMC] (1970-present): 37 years Ray MacDonnell [Joe Martin, AMC] (1970-present): 37 years Erika Slezak [Viki Lord Davidson, OLTL] (1971-present) : 36 years Patricia Bruder [Ellen Stewart, ATWT] (1960-1995) : 35 years Larry Bryggman [John Dixon, ATWT] (1969-2004) : 35 years Larry Haines [stu Bergman, SFT] (1951-1986): 35 years Kathryn Hays [Kim Hughes, ATWT] (1972-present) : 35 years Mary Stuart [Jo Barron Tourneur, SFT] 1951-1986): 35 years Ruth Warrick [Phoebe Tyler Wallingford, AMC] (1970-2005) : 35 years Jeanne Cooper [Katherine Chancellor, YR] (1973-present): 34 years John Beradino [steve Hardy, GH] (1963-1996) : 33 years Charita Bauer [bert Bauer, GL] (1952-1984) : 32 years Eileen Herlie [Myrtle Fargate, AMC] (1976, 1977-present): 31 years Suzanne Rogers [Maggie Horton, DAYS] (1974-1984, 1985-2003, 2004-present) : 31 years Leslie Charleson [Monica Quartermaine, GH] (1977-present) : 30 years Stuart Damon [Alan Quartermaine, GH] (1977-2007) : 30 years Julia Barr [brooke English, AMC] (1976-1981, 1982-2006) : 29 years MacDonald Carey [Tom Horton, DAYS] (1965-1994) : 29 years Doug Davidson [Paul Williams, YR] (1978-present): 29 years Jacklyn Zeman [bobbie Spencer, GH] (1977-1981, 1982-present) : 29 years Colleen Zenk-Pinter [barbara Ryan, ATWT] (1978-present) : 29 years Phil Carey [Asa Buchanan, OLTL] (1979-2007) : 28 years James Mitchell [Palmer Cortlandt, AMC] (1979-present) : 28 years Melody Thomas-Scott [Nikki Reed Newman, YR] (1979-present): 28 years Eric Braeden [Victor Newman, YR] (1980-present): 27 years Deidre Hall [Marlena Evans Black, DAYS] (1976-1987, 1991-present) : 27 years Marie Masters [susan Stewart, ATWT] (1968-1979, 1986-2002) : 27 years Anna Lee [Lila Quartermaine, GH] (1978-2004) : 26 years Jerry Ver Dorn [Ross Marler, GL] (1979-2005) : 26 years Robert S. Woods [bo Buchanan, OLTL] (1979-1986, 1988-present) : 26 years Victoria Wyndham [Rachel Cory, AW] (1972-1999) : 26 years Mary Fickett [Ruth Martin, AMC] (1970-1995) : 26 years Constance Ford [Ada Hobson, AW] (1967-1992) : 25 years Henderson Forsythe [David Stewart, ATWT] (1960-1985) : 25 years David Canary [Adam / Stuart Chandler, AMC] (1983-present): 24 years Frances Heflin [Mona Kane, AMC] (1970-1994) : 24 years James Reynolds [Abe Carver, DAYS] (1981-1990, 1991-2003, 2004-present) : 24 years Carolyn Conwell [Mary Williams, YR] (1980-2003): 23 years Elizabeth Hubbard [Lucinda Walsh, ATWT] (1984-1999, 1999-present) : 23 years Kate Linder [Esther Valentine, YR] (1984-present): 23 years Michael Storm [Larry Wolek, OLTL] (1969-1992) : 23 years Patty Weaver [Gina Roma, YR] (1982-2005): 23 years Ann Flood [Nancy Karr, EON] (1962-1984): 22 years William Johnstone [James Lowell, ATWT] (1956-1978) : 22 years Shell Kepler [Amy Vining, GH] (1979-2001) : 22 years Emily McLaughlin [Jessie Brewer, GH] (1963-1985) : 22 years Robert Newman [Joshua Lewis, GL] (1981-1984, 1986-1991, 1993-present) : 22 years Theo Goetz [Papa Bauer, GL] (1952-1973) : 21 years Peter Hanssen [Lee Baldwin, GH] (1965-1986) : 21 years Drake Hogestyn [John Black, DAYS] (1986-present) : 21 years Michael E. Knight [Tad Martin, AMC] (1982-1986, 1988-1990, 1992-present): 21 years Peggy McCay [Caroline Brady, DAYS] (1985-2003, 2004-present) : 21 years Frank Parker [shawn Brady Sr, DAYS] (1985-1989, 1990-present) : 21 years Audrey Peters (Vanessa Dale Sterling, LOL] (1959-1980): 21 years Ron Tomme [bruce Sterling, LOL] (1959-1980): 21 years Frank Dicopoulos [Frank Cooper, GL] (1987-present): 20 years Susan Flannery [stephanie Forrester, BB] (1987-present): 20 years Mandel Kramer [bill Marceau, EON] (1959-1979): 20 years Katherine Kelly Lang [brooke Logan Forrester, BB] (1987-present): 20 years John McCook [Eric Forrester, BB] (1987-present): 20 years Ronn Moss [Ridge Forrester, BB] (1987-present): 20 years Santos Ortega [Grandpa Hughes, ATWT] (1956-1976) : 20 years Melba Rae [Marge Bergman, SFT] (1951-1971) : 20 years Jess Walton [Jill Foster Abbott, YR] (1987-present): 20 years Walt Willey [Jackson Montgomery, AMC] (1987-present): 20 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members angel Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 Peter Hanssen [Lee Baldwin, GH] (1965-1986) : 21 years Wasn't he on for more years than that? Should PORT CHARLES be counted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TC Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 Thanks FrenchFan. I knew Helen Wagner would be at the top but had forgotten about the few years she was off. Had she not been away for those 4 years it would have put her over the 50 mark. I wonder how may hover just under the 20 year level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members applcin Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 Thanks for the list! Hmmm...why is Clint Ritchie missing? IMDB gives his dates on OLTL as 1979-1999 (20 years), then episodes in 2000, 2003. It's funny how some folks I half expected to see on the list weren't there...people that seemed to have been around a lot longer than they actually were because they were so identified with their soap/characters, like Douglass Watson (Mac, AW), Forrest Compton (Mike Karr, EON--didn't realize he was the 3rd Mike!), Tony Geary & Norma Connolly (Luke & Ruby, GH). So much history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pest Spray Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 Deidre Hall (1976 - 1987; 1991 - present) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dale Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 What a great list! Thanks for taking the time to compile it! Of course you must have anticipated a few annoying nitpickers like me! Consider this update: Jackie Zeman - off GH from Dec 1981 to Dec 1982 Again, this is a fascinating list!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonesy Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 I agree, this is awesome!!! Shouldn't Victoria Wyndham (Rachel, AW) be 26 years (almost 27)? July 1972 - June 1999 according to Eddie's Drueding's AWHP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members applcin Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 I'm back, lol. Now that I think about it, and checked around a bit, wouldn't Tony Geary make the 20 year list as well? 1978-1984 - 6 years not counting 1991-1993 as Bill Eckert 1993-2007 - 14 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LoyaltoAMC Posted July 24, 2007 Members Share Posted July 24, 2007 How about a few more? Frances Heflin (Mona Tyler, AMC), 1970-1994 (24 yrs) Walt Willey (Jack Montgomery, AMC), 1987-present (20 yrs) Jennifer Bassey (Marian Chandler, AMC), pretty much been with the show consistently whether on/off contract since 1983 Michael O'Leary (Rick Bauer, GL): I know he left and later returned at one point, but he must've put in at least 20 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LoyaltoAMC Posted July 25, 2007 Members Share Posted July 25, 2007 "Mary Fickett [Ruth Martin, AMC] (1970-1996) : 26 years" Actually, Fickett returned in December 1998 after Lee Meriwether left, and played the role until 2001. So that would give her about 29 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sam Ford Posted July 25, 2007 Members Share Posted July 25, 2007 This is a really fascinating topic, and it reminds me of a really interesting project I heard about that I thought some of you might be interested in. Lee Harrington is doing a project researching aging in relation to soap operas and the relationship longtime viewers and actors have with a soap. She is interviewing a variety of the talent you have listed here who have portrayed a character consistently for more than 20 years on a soap opera, and she's also talking to creative poeple who worked with a particular show for more than 20 years and fans who have watched a particular show for more than 20 years. I wanted to see if anyone who posts here on SON might be interested in participating. I'm only 24, and I've technically been watching ATWT for more than 20 years, but I don't think my memory as a 4-year-old is what it should be. If you are interested in talking with Lee about your relationship with any of the eight shows that have been on the air this long, please e-mail me at [email protected]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sam Ford Posted July 25, 2007 Members Share Posted July 25, 2007 This is a really fascinating topic, and it reminds me of a really interesting project I heard about that I thought some of you might be interested in. Lee Harrington is doing a project researching aging in relation to soap operas and the relationship longtime viewers and actors have with a soap. She is interviewing a variety of the talent you have listed here who have portrayed a character consistently for more than 20 years on a soap opera, and she's also talking to creative poeple who worked with a particular show for more than 20 years and fans who have watched a particular show for more than 20 years. I wanted to see if anyone who posts here on SON might be interested in participating. I'm only 24, and I've technically been watching ATWT for more than 20 years, but I don't think my memory as a 4-year-old is what it should be. If you are interested in talking with Lee about your relationship with any of the eight shows that have been on the air this long, please e-mail me at [email protected]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FrenchFan Posted July 25, 2007 Author Members Share Posted July 25, 2007 I have read all your posts : - Peter Hansen: was he on contract on Port Charles? I thought it was recurring. - Clint Ritchie was on "One Life to Live" from 1979 to 1998 [on contract status] - I corrected Jacklyn Zeman and Victoria Wyndham. I added Frances Heflin and Walt Willey. I've also thought of the 4 original cast members of B&B, Jess Walton and Frank Dicopoulos. - Jennifer Bassey was on contrat only from 1998 to 2003 / Michael O'Leary : 1983-1986, 1987-1991, 1995-2005, 2006-present so 18 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MichaelGL Posted July 25, 2007 Members Share Posted July 25, 2007 Thanks so much for this list! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NYC123 Posted July 25, 2007 Members Share Posted July 25, 2007 Wasn't Ruth Warrick on AMC for 35 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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