From Day Player to Long-Running Character

[YRfan23]

Yeah he was a friend of her husbands, haha. Very odd yet fascinating connection!

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Besides the 1984 wedding I’d be curious to know if Paul and Leslie were in the same room together….oh yeah Steve and Peggy’s wedding would be the only other time? In 1981. 

[SteelCity]

I still wish he would have.

[Paul Raven]

Leanna on Y&R was a short term obstacle to Ashley & Steven until Bill Bell revamped her character from psycho to troublemaker.

Douglas went from blackmailer to long term friend and confidante of Victor.

[BingCherry]

RJ on OLTL was originally supposed to go back to prison after his initial arc, but HW Michael Malone become such a fan of Timothy Stickney’s performance it was quickly decided to keep him around

[will81]

Y&R - Alex Donnelly (Diane) was only supposed to be on for 2 days.

[DRW50]

Corrie: 

Julie Goodyear appeared in less than a dozen episodes in 1966. Pat Phoenix, then the biggest icon of the show, encouraged her to spend more time on the stage to hone her acting skills. She returned in 1970 and became a huge icon herself for decades to come.

Anne Kirkbride appeared in one 1972 episode. 3-4 months later, she was brought back, and remained on the show until her death in 2014.

Helen Worth joined in 1974 as a supporting friend to Tricia, a character who was meant to be the hot new thing. Tricia only lasted a few years, but Worth is still there, with her kids and grandkids driving major story for years. 

Sarah Lancashire had a bit part in 1987. In early 1991, she returned for a part that was only meant to last a few weeks, but the writers enjoyed her work and kept writing for her. She became one of the main faces of the show until Lancashire left in 1996.

Lynne Perrie appeared for most of the '70s as a supporting figure/antagonist in the factory. Near the end of the decade, the show decided to expand her part, giving her a son and permanent husband (ignoring past continuity as a result). She stayed on the show until she was let go in 1994.

Liz Dawn joined not long after Perrie, also as a factory worker. Her part was also steadily built up, cemented by finally making her husband Jack (played by Bill Tarmey, himself responsible for several Corrie bit parts over the years). Jack and Vera would go on to become beloved by viewers until they left in 2007 and 2010.

Julie Hesmondhalgh joined Corrie in early 1998 as Hayley, in what was initially treated as a transphobic joke. The show decided to keep her on and she became a firm viewer favorite until she chose to leave in 2013.

Edited September 7, 2023 by DRW50

[Contessa Donatella]

ATWT

I am told of 2 short-term that grew.

Larry Bryggman's role was minor. It was because he had chemistry with Kathryn Hays that the role increased. (I would think she'd have had chemistry with a turnip!)

Trent Dawson was meant to be short term. (And, Henry really was eccentric.)

[Contessa Donatella]

GH: Maurice Benard. Wendy Riche & Shelly Curtis let him choose between 2 roles - Damian, for 2 years or Sonny for 6 months. He chose the shorter time & he thought it was a cool name.

GH: Jane Elliot read for a recast of Gina Dante which she was all wrong for, so Gloria Monty created Tracy Q. for her.

A little bit different: GH: Laura Wright. Brian Frons called her agent when she still had a year and a half owed to GL. When she was up they reached out & they wanted her to send a reel immediately. She thought it was for someone at AMC or OLTL probably because she was on the East Coast. Nope, they wanted her to be the next GH Carly & they gave her 10 days to move her family & show up on the other side of the country!

A little different: GH: Jackie Zeman. She was playing Lana on OLTL & Jackie Smith called her because Douglas Marland had created this new gal for GH & they weren't finding anyone. He came to Jackie's apartment in Manhattan & they talked for 3 hours & without a reading or screen test he said she was the girl.

GH: Kristina Wagner was hired on a trial basis which turned out to last 13 weeks, at which point they made her permanent cast.

A little different: GH: Rebecca Herbst read for Sarah Webber & was all wrong for it but they liked her so they created Liz for her.

GH: Jon Lindstrom was hired for 3 months to play Ryan, a serial killer. They created his twin Kevin & he played a dual role longer than anyone else.

Also a bit different: GH: Kelly Monaco. At the end of PC multiple soaps wanted her. Frank at OLTL was very persuasive. Frons said GH would create a character for her but they were offering the least money. GH had been her grandmother's soap & she preferred West Coast. 

GH: Reâl Andrews. Det. Taggert was an under-5. He had his first & supposedly only scene with Maurice. After,,  they offered him a contract. 

Another, a bit different: GH: Lisa Locicero. She read for Lois. NO. She read for Connie/Kate. NO. Someone told her agent they had something coming up that was perfect for her. She did not believe it & wrote GH off in her mind. Then they called with Olivia. 

GH: Parry Shen, Brad. Hired for 4 episodes. Worked 40 episodes & they started comedy & Britt ... 

 

[Paul Raven]

Days- Stephen Nichols as Patch. Originally a thug to harass Kayla but response had them create a whole new storyline.

Charles Shaughnessy was on as Shane the butler and again the response lead to long term story.

[Contessa Donatella]

Kathleen Gati was hired at GH for 2 days work. She was in 2 scenes with Luke who was pretending to be someone with an accent & she of course was using an accent. They had great fun & that was the gig. Later she was in Vancouver working on ARROW & they called. They wanted her back & were going to give her a daughter. Some daughter! Britt! And as they say the rest is history.

[ClassicsSoapFan]

I have started watching recently and it is better when she is on and behind the nurses desk. She adds a lot to the scene and I suspect it is not all written on the page!

[Liberty City]

Monaco auditioned for All My Children and As the World Turns. One Life was never reported.

[Contessa Donatella]

I took it from the GH60 mag that SOD put out & they're quoting Kelly Monaco. I just double checked it. "Frank was really convincing and I wanted to work with Frank really bad back in the day but ..." and her reason was choosing West Coast over close to home.

[te.]

Beverly Hills 90210:

Luke Perry as Dylan - Fox kept wanting to kick him off the show in season one and only wanted him to be a one episode character, but Aaron Spelling persisted and paid for his salary out of his own pocket to keep him on.

 

Melrose Place: 

Laura Leighton as Sydney was supposed to be a two episode arc, but was brought back in season 2. 

Marcia Cross as Kimberly was supposed to be a one episode character, but Marcia and Thomas Calabro ended up playing it somewhat flirty in outtakes and they took notice. 

Edited September 9, 2023 by te.

[DRW50]

You're right. I think Carolee said she ad-libbed much of it, like the conversations with her mother.