• Business
  • California
  • Climate & Environment
  • Entertainment & Arts
  • En Español
  • Food
  • Housing & Homelessness
  • Image
  • Lifestyle
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Travel & Experiences
  • World & Nation
  • All Sections
  • _________________
  • Newsletters
  • Photography
  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • _________________
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Archives
    • Company News
    • eNewspaper
    • For the Record
    • Got a Tip?
    • L.A. Times Careers
    • L.A. Times Store
    • L. A. Times Studios
    • News App: Apple IOS
    • News App: Google Play
    • Newsroom Directory
    • Public Affairs
    • Rights, Clearance & Permissions
    • Short Docs
    • About Us
    • Archives
    • Company News
    • eNewspaper
    • For the Record
    • Got a Tip?
    • L.A. Times Careers
    • L.A. Times Store
    • L. A. Times Studios
    • News App: Apple IOS
    • News App: Google Play
    • Newsroom Directory
    • Public Affairs
    • Rights, Clearance & Permissions
    • Short Docs
  • Advertising
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Coupons
    • People on the Move
    • Find/Post Jobs
    • Local Ads Marketplace
    • Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times?
    • Hot Property Sections
    • Place an Open House
    • Sotheby’s International Realty
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Coupons
    • People on the Move
    • Find/Post Jobs
    • Local Ads Marketplace
    • Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times?
    • Hot Property Sections
    • Place an Open House
    • Sotheby’s International Realty
  • Bestcovery
  • B2B Publishing
  • Business Visionaries
  • Hot Property
  • Crossword & Games
  • L.A. Times Events
  • L.A. Times Store
  • Subscriptions
    • Manage Subscription
    • EZPAY
    • Delivery Issue
    • eNewspaper
    • Students & Educators
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Terms
    • Gift Subscription Terms
    • Manage Subscription
    • EZPAY
    • Delivery Issue
    • eNewspaper
    • Students & Educators
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Terms
    • Gift Subscription Terms
  • Special Supplements
    • Best of the Southland
    • Healthy Living
    • Las Vegas Guide
    • Philanthropy
    • Best of the Southland
    • Healthy Living
    • Las Vegas Guide
    • Philanthropy
Copyright © 2023, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • California
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Food
  • Climate
  • Image
  • Opinion
  • |
  • Bestcovery
  • Coupons
  • Crossword
  • eNewspaper
Years on TV: 1963- Channel: ABC Noteworthy actors: James Franco's (pictured) portrayal of a creepy performance artist named (what else?) Franco has gotten lots of recent press, but the cast over the years has also included "Jessie's Girl" singer Rick Springfield and actress Amber Tamblyn. "Star Trek's" Leonard Nimoy was in the series' early episodes. Noteworthy characters: Possibly the most famous soap opera lovebirds of all time: Luke and Laura Spencer (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis) The plot: What started as a story about a nurse named Jessie (Emily McLaughlin) who worked with good-looking do-gooder Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and was trapped in a troublesome marriage has included several romantic trysts, broken marriages and backstabbing before soap opera super couple Luke and Laura Spencer tied the knot in 1981. The show has also conquered serious issues like HIV and AIDS.
1 Images

10 long-running soap operas

'General Hospital'

Years on TV: 1963-
Channel: ABC
Noteworthy actors: James Franco’s (pictured) portrayal of a creepy performance artist named (what else?) Franco has gotten lots of recent press, but the cast over the years has also included “Jessie’s Girl” singer Rick Springfield and actress Amber Tamblyn. “Star Trek’s” Leonard Nimoy was in the series’ early episodes.
Noteworthy characters: Possibly the most famous soap opera lovebirds of all time: Luke and Laura Spencer (Anthony Geary and Genie Francis)
The plot: What started as a story about a nurse named Jessie (Emily McLaughlin) who worked with good-looking do-gooder Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and was trapped in a troublesome marriage has included several romantic trysts, broken marriages and backstabbing before soap opera super couple Luke and Laura Spencer tied the knot in 1981. The show has also conquered serious issues like HIV and AIDS.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

1/1

10 long-running soap operas

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print
Advertisement