Soap stars who left their marriages for a co-star

[Gray Bunny]

After reading the Beth Ehlers thread, I couldn't help but be reminded of how some soap stars have left their marriages (usually married to people not in the TV industry) for a co-star they fell in love with. While some decisions have proven successful, others ended messy (i.e. Ehlers). Let's dish

GL's Wendy Moniz (ex-Dinah) and Frank Grillo (ex-Hart). Still happily married with children today. I remember he was married and already had a son when he left her for Wendy. Don't remember what Wendy's status was before she met Frank.

DAYS' Crystal Chappell (ex-Carly) and Michael Sabatino (ex-Lawrence). I think one or both were married at the time they met and fell in love.

Who else?

[EricMontreal22]

Not a soap but this also just came up now that a very married Debra Messing and Will Chase both met on the set of Smash and divorced their partners so they could be with each other last month.

[ellabelle]

Eva LaRue left John O'Hurley for John Callahan. Kind of ironic that she and her ex were both on AMC again in the final week.

Charles Frank (ex Jeff Martin) left his wife for Susan Blanchard, who played his character's wife, Mary Kennicott. I think she may have been involved with someone else as well. They married in the late 70s and are still together.

[dragonflies]

Didn't Austin Peck & Terri Conn leave their respective spouses to be together?

[EricMontreal22]

And of course the case of the DePaivas...

[Paul Raven]

ATWT

Don Hastings and Leslie Dennison.She played Karen in 78 and I think Don was stil married at the time.

Colleen Zenk and Mark Pinter.

Larry Brygmann and Jacquie Shultz (not sure if LB was still married at this time)

[Gray Bunny]

...which is...?

[applcin]

Did Fiona Hutchison leave her husband for John Viscardi or were they already kaput by then?

Kristina Malandro Wagner.

[John]

James depavia was married to Hee Haw Star Misty Rowe from 1986-1995 and had one kid together. James & Kassie married in July 1996

[MissLlanviewPA]

She has said she fell in love with immediately, when she was still married to her first husband, but I'm not sure if it ended her marriage (trivia: she wore her first wedding dress onscreen when Gabrielle married Steve Holden). There were rumors her first husband abused her.

As for the DePaivas, I've never known how long it was before they got together, or if there was any affair when they were still married to their spouses. I do know that they have both said that once she joined the show, their chemistry was hard to avoid (which had to make their infamous first love scene in Atlantic City during the gambling storyline VERY interesting).

They eloped in 1996 in Kassie's hometown (Morganfield, KY), and then had a more formal ceremony a few weeks later so James' daughter Dreama could be there (she was about four--that's his daughter with Misty).

Interestingly enough, they actually met in about 1990 when she was performing at a bar. He complimented her on one of her songs, but she thought he was being cocky. And anyway, they were both married!

Did Misty Rowe ever remarry? Kassie's first husband was Richard Hankins, who was a production/crew member on GL when she was there (and later on NYPD Blue, which began around the same time Kassie joined OLTL).

Speaking of which, I guess the Gabrielle/Tony love scene occurred when they still in the attraction phase, too, when she was still with her first husband.

[~bl~]

Wendy Moniz was married when she and Frank Grillo started their relationship.

At Search for Tomorrow Peter Simon and Courtney Sherman (Simon) met and fell in love, both were married was a scandal back in the 70s.

[Soapsuds]

Not to be mean but who would find PS hot and marry him??....The guy was balding already when he first appeared back in the 80s. I find Robert Newman so much hotter..damn..he still looked good at the end of GL run.

[dragonflies]

Some people marry for love, not looks

[Paul Raven]

Not the clearest pic of Peter,but he was a lot cuter in the early 70's

[EastMA2]

You know, you're always an arrogant idiot. I've met Peter Simon and his wife Courtney and they have been married for over 30 years and love each other and are THE most kindest people. So, to answer your ignorant question, Courtney Sherman would find Peter Simon 'hot' and marry him, and they are still together. They have had a wonderful life together, thank you.