Wow this is hard and I always go back and forth on this. It is hard for me to say a best of all time overall. I would say the following though:

1) Michael Zaslow

2) Beverlee McKinsey

3) George Reinholt

4) Eileen Fulton

5) Jane Eliot

And as I said it goes back and forth.

For me the top 5 individual performances of all time would go something like this:

1) Judith Light on the witness stand, One Life To Live

2) Jacqueline Courtney for One Life To Live when she learned her son had been hit and died

3) Joan Copeland on the witness stand. Her pearls broke and as she moved around the floor to pick them all up. Very moving. That was on Search For Tomorrow

4) Donald May giving the closing argument in the Julie Jamison trial in 1968. He was the only actor to speak for the entire 30 minute episode.

5) Louise Shaffer on the court house steps as Serena/Josie of The Edge of Night in 1975.

Beverlee McKinsey

Victoria Rowell

Jean Carol

Melody Thomas Scott

Eric Braeden

Let me guess, SteveFrame -- you're really into courtroom scenes.

Edited May 7, 200917 yr by Khan

Let me guess, SteveFrame -- you're really into courtroom scenes.

I like them yes, but those just happen to be some great scenes.

I love family drama the most but mystery and court room stuff comes in 2nd.

Marcy Walker

A Martinez

Victoria Wyndham

Beverlee McKinsey

Douglas Watson

Dorrie Kavanaugh: Cathy Craig OLTL

Valerie Starrett: Diana Taylor GH

Kate Dezina: Estelle La Tour AMC

Jane Badler: Melinda Cramer OLTL

Holland Taylor: Denise Cavanaugh EON

Maybe not the biggest stars or on any Best Actress lists, but they made lasting impressions for me.

Hmm No mention of Genie Francis at all. I mean interestingly enough I thought about her but then thought about others I would put ahead of her. I saw clips of her from back in the day she was a bit green, but I loved her potrayal when she came back in the 90s. Laura was absolutely endearing and she made me feel her pain and her being torn

Edited May 7, 200917 yr by classicmoment

Hmm No mention of Genie Francis at all. I mean interestingly enough I thought about her but then thought about others I would put ahead of her. I saw clips of her from back in the day she was a bit green, but I loved her potrayal when she came back in the 90s. Laura was absolutely endearing and she made me feel her pain and her being torn

I find her extreamly overrated.

Shes good. But far from greatness, IMHO.

Erika Slezak - Viki, OLTL

Judith Light - Karen, OLTL

Lee Patterson - Joe, OLTL

Roger Howarth - Todd, OLTL

Brian Kerwin - Charlie, OLTL

James Mitchell (Palmer Cortlandt AMC)

In the 1980s, JM as Palmer was just perfect as rotten and nasty Palmer blended with a comedic touch thanks to over the top crankiness he exhibited with his mother-in-law/maid Myra. Then he added another layer with his deep love for Daisy/Monique. But it was the outright villainy that was JM's strong suit going so far as to laugh at and taunt when he found Adam Chandler paralyzed from a stroke.

Kin Shriner (Scotty Baldwin GH)

Another perfect villain. KS takes obnoxiousness to ridiculous heights, and Scotty never met a character he couldn't work against entertainingly. If any character, be it Rick Webber, Anna Devane, Robert Scorpio..whoever, wanted something good for someone, Scotty would inevitable oppose them and KS would always make it work.

Susan Lucci (Erica AMC)

Not the best actress, but has she ever met a scene she didn't own? It doesn't make a difference who she is opposite, she just brings a spark to any scene.

Those are the first three that come to mind for me.

Edited May 7, 200917 yr by quartermainefan

My Top Five:

A Martinez: Cruz Santa Barbara, Ray OLTL

Charles Keating: Carl Hutchins AW

Tristan Rogers: GH-Robert Scorpio

David Canary-Adam Chandler, Vincent Irizarry-David Hayward, Thortsen Kaye-Zach Slater AMC

To many more to name.

Edited May 7, 200917 yr by reallyhateskateonlost

My Top Five:

A Martinez: Cruz Santa Barbara, Ray OLTL

Charles Keating: Carl Hutchins AW

Tristan Rogers: GH-Robert Scorpio

David Canary-Adam Chandler, Vincent Irizarry-David Hayward, Thortsen Kaye-Zach Slater AMC

To many more to name.

Oh Charles Keating is phenomenal. I loved Carl because of him. I saw him in Hercules (Legendary Journey) and Xena as Zeus, perfect casting

Susan Lucci

Marcy Walker

Debbi Morgan

Bobbie Eakes

Susan Flannary

The dearly departed...

1.) Beverlee McKinsey

2.) Michael Zaslow

3.) Phil Carey

4.) Darlene Conley

5.) Douglas Watson

I find her extreamly overrated.

Shes good. But far from greatness, IMHO.

Agreed.

1. Beverlee McKinsey

2. Cynthia Watros

3. Michael Zaslow

4. Nancy Lee Grahn

5. Jess Walton or Grant Aleksander

Edited May 8, 200917 yr by AllAboutAngst