Before They Were Famous: Mega A-list Celebs Who Got Their Start On Soaps

Who doesn’t love a soap opera? Minute for minute this fantastic genre is packed with enough drama, emotion, surprise, and angst to fuel decades of daytime shows that cater to loyal fans.

The landscape has changed, with only a handful of soaps surviving whereas there once were tons. Most readers had a soap watching partner, usually an older female relative and watching their “story” together was a wonderful, daily bonding experience.

Soaps Have Changed

With so many soaps airing at one point in time, they provided a fertile training ground for some of today’s biggest, most beloved stars. Here are just a few of the world-famous actors who got their start in daytime.

Alison Sweeney Started On Days Of Our Lives

Allison Sweeney is a Hallmark favorite, but she began acting on Days of Our Lives as firecracker teenager Samantha “Sami” Brady. Sami set the fictional town of Salem on fire from 1993 until 2003! Luckily fans do get to catch a glimpse of the tv goddess every now and again.

To give you an idea of how powerful Sweeney is, she had 13 daytime award nominations over the years and she won eight. Some of her wins include the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, a Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite New Couple, and a Daytime Emmy Award for America’s Favorite Villain — Special Fan Award.

John Stamos Was On General Hospital

Today John Stamos is known as uncle Jesse Katsopolis from the sitcom Full House but he, too, got his start in daytime. Stamos debuted on the longest-running serial drama, General Hospital as Blackie Parrish.

Blackie was Rick and Lesley Webber’s foster child, a role he played from 1982 until 1984. During his stint, Stamos wowed fans and earned consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1983 and 1984.

Ryan Phillippe Was On One Life To Live

Ryan Phillippe is a huge star on the big screen but before that he played the first openly gay teenager on television. Phillippe starred on One Life to Live as Billy Douglas, a closeted athlete who was also the high school class president.

Not many people remember Phillippe’s breakthrough role, but it was that role that launched him into the stratosphere and on to blockbusters like Cruel Intentions, I Know What You Did Last Summer, the USA series Shooter, and the up-and-coming series Big Sky.

Meg Ryan Was On As The World Turns

Meg Ryan has been called “America’s Sweetheart” but would her career be where it is today if she hadn’t got her start in 1984, as Betsy Stewart on the popular soap opera As The World Turns? Since then she’s made tons of highly successful movies including the iconic Sleepless in Seattle.

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Sarah Michelle Gellar Was In All My Children

Sarah Michelle Gellar is synonymous with her character Buffy Summers, from the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Before fame came, Gellar starred as Kendall Hart on the soap opera All My Children.

Her appearance earned her the 1995 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series and two years later she went on to her leading role as Buffy Summers.

Leonardo DiCaprio Was In Santa Barbara

Say the name “Leo” in acting circles and everyone knows you’re talking about Leonardo DiCaprio. Before the Academy Award winner starred in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and Titanic, he starred on daytime from July 30, 1984, to January 15, 1993 where he appeared in five episodes as young Mason Capwell.

Tell us soap fans, do you have another favorite actor who got their start on soaps? Let us know in the comment section!

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