Today in Soap Opera History (December 6)

On this date in...

1974: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Phil Brewer was murdered.

1977: FOR RICHER, FOR POORER, the revamped version of LOVERS AND FRIENDS, debuted. Created by created by Harding Lemay and Paul Rauch, LAF replace SOMERSET in the NBC lineup in 1976. When the retooling occurred, the show's setting was still Point Clair but many changes were made to the storylines. The show only lasted until September 29, 1978.

1998: Emmy-winning actor Michael Zaslow passed away. Watch a clip of Zaslow in LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING below.



2010: ONE LIFE aired its first episode in 16:9 widescreen picture format.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Leon Russom (ex-Willis, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Jack, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Peter, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Joe, LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING) - 70
JoBeth Williams (ex-Brandy, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Carrie, SOMESET) - 63
Janine Turner (ex-Laura, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Katie, FRIDAY NIGHT NIGHTS) - 49
Lindsay Price (ex-Victoria, LIPSTICK JUNGLE; ex-Janet, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210; ex-Michael, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL ex-An Li, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Mary, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 35
Ryan Carnes (ex-Justin, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES; ex-Lucas, GENERAL HOSPITALS) - 29
Nora Kirkpatrick (ex-Katherine, GREEK) - 29

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a piece of soap opera history for this daily column, please email it to editor@welovesoaps.com.