Seeing those clips of B-52's on Guiding Light prompted me to start this topic.

 

The whole celebrity guest thing took hold in the early 80's, whether it be musical acts performing, celebs playing themselves or in limited 'guest star' appearances.

 

Let us know who you recall...

 

Being a soap history nerd I'll start with two that pre dated the trend.

 

Love of Life

Sammy Davis Jnr performed at Rick Latimer's club. Sammy was a big LOL fan at the time.

 

General Hospital

Mamie Van Doren as herself. I never saw this but apparently Lesley's husband Cameron arranged for Miss Van Doren to meet young Laura. What 12 yr old in the mid 70's didn't dream of meeting a 50's b movie starlet?

 

Mamie on GH kinda plays into the fact that with a few exceptions, a lot of the celeb guests were strictly second tier - musicians and actors slightly past their prime...

 

Edited February 15, 20196 yr by Paul Raven

Joan Rivers guest starred on two soaps:

 

On Another World, in 1996, she played Grant's campaign manager, Meredith Dunston.

 

On All My Children, in 1999, she appeared as herself running into Erica and David in New York:

 

 

Of course Queen Betty White on B&B

60's pop star Lesley Gore guested on AMC as June Gordon. Lucci seems to be channeling a lesbian vibe in her honor...

Joan Collins, Guiding Light.  Julianne Moore returned to play Frannie for a couple of days years later for an anniversary for some kind on World Turns.  

34 minutes ago, dragonflies said:

Of course Queen Betty White on B&B

Speaking of Betty ...

 

Talk show host Dick Cavett played a magician named  "Oliver Twist" who hypnotized Felicia, in September 1988 on Another World.

 

 

Dick Cavett also appeared on AMC and GL as himself.

Dick just couldn't get enough the soaps, I guess. He appeared at least twice on GL (judging the Sampson Girl contest with James Coco and Tammy Grimes, then interviewing Mindy) and on Texas (as a celebrity guest on the game show Texas Tall Tales). 

Rick Springfield was known before joining GH but I think his being on the show at a time in the early 80s when it was extremely popular helped in terms of his visibility for his music career. 

Ricky Martin was also famous before GH, having been in Menudo. I don't know that being on the show necessarily helped much but, of course, post GH, his music career reignited.

Well-known character actor John Fiedler did double stints on OLTL, first as Virgil (the angel that guided Viki to Heaven) and then as just regular guy, Gilbert. 

Les Tremayne, another old Hollywood actor, was Victor Lord in that same Heaven storyline and also subbed for David Lewis (himself also an old character actor) for a time on GH. Frank Maxwell (Dan Rooney, GH) can also be seen on many old tv shows prior to starting on GH in the 70s. We may not always remember their names or watch some of those old shows & movies anymore but these guys had extensive bodies of work before the soaps. Larry Gates (HB Lewis, GL) would be another one. Joseph Campanella & Nita Talbot others.

Kim Hunter was Nola Madison on EON. Arlene Dahl came to OLTL for several years in the 80s. Anne Meara on AMC.


 

Edited February 18, 20196 yr by applcin

For some reason, I'm remembering Michael McDonald (the singer, not the "MADtv" cast member) being on Y&R.  Did that actually happen, or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

 

Also, didn't Jeffrey Osborne appear on (I think) SB, and Johnny Mathis and Patti Austin on ATWT?

4 hours ago, applcin said:

Well-known character actor John Fiedler did double stints on OLTL, first as Virgil (the angel that guided Viki to Heaven) and then as just regular guy, Gilbert.

 

To me, though, he'll always be the voice of Piglet and Mr. Peterson on "The Bob Newhart Show."

Yeah, Jeffrey Osborne was on SB. I remember seeing that clip.

 

https://youtu.be/mawtIqAwVl0

 

Celine Dion on AMC as mentioned:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALSO (lol) ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has a recurring role on GH as a Sonny cohort:

 

 

Edited February 18, 20196 yr by Faulkner

11 hours ago, Khan said:

Am I wrong, or didn't Mary J. Blige appear on OLTL along with Snoop? 

I believe MJB performed at Starr's birthday party. Snoop made an additional appearance to perform "Sexual Eruption" at Adriana's bachelorette party, complete with Layla and Adriana "dancing" on either side of him.

 

Michael McDonald performed on Y&R's 'It's OK TO Say No' concert featuring the Rock On Danny Romalotti with support from Lauren Fenmore and Traci Abbott.

Scissors Sisters on Passions Feb 2007

 

On 2/16/2019 at 4:18 PM, teplin said:

Crystal Gayle appeared on AW a bit later, in early 1987. She was menaced by the Sin Stalker and her week-long role culminated in her singing the new AW theme at Felicia's restaurant, along with her duet partner Gary Morris.

IIRC, Gary Morris also sang on GH for Scotty & Dominique. Shaun Cassidy was famous before appearing on GH, as were Jimmy McNichol, Lois Nettleton, Beverly Garland (on PC). Dame Judith Anderson was on Santa Barbara. Carolyn Jones on Capitol. Richard Roundtree on Generations.

Oh, and how could I forget...after Rosalind Cash's death (herself a familiar face guest starring on tv), GH went all out for Mary Mae's funeral. As it served as a memorial also for Rosalind, several of her real-life friends were part of it. Lou Rawls sang in the choir, Andrae Crouch, Phillip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire) along with other gospel singers...I think Bebe Winans among them? Richard Roundtree again. Esther Rolle sat in one of the pews. They were just part of the mourners. They were never acknowledged as celebrities or even had dialogue, for that matter.
 

 

Edited February 18, 20196 yr by applcin