Today in Soap Opera History (December 2)

On this date in...

1924: Jonathan Frid (Barnabas, DARK SHADOWS) was born.  He died earlier this year, on April 14, at age 87.

1964: On ANOTHER WORLD, Pat (Susan Trustman) agreed to see a psychiatrist.

1975: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT's second ABC episode, Serena Faraday (Louise Shaffer) shot her husband Mark on the courthouse steps. Watch below:



1983: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Davis (Michael Zaslow) was in the line of fire.



1983: The cast of ANOTHER WORLD finished a five-day "Battle of the Soap Stars" against the cast of SEARCH FOR TOMORROW on the game show GO.



2009: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, it was karaoke night. Diane (Carolyn Hennesy) belted out "Signed, Sealed, Delivered".  Mac (John J. York) and Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) performed "Dancing In The Streets".  Luke (Anthony Geary) and Ethan (Nathan Parsons) sang "Stray Cat Strut".

Sharon DeBord (right) pictured with Emily McLaughlin,
Martin West, John Beradino and Rachel Ames

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Julie Harris (ex-Lilimae, KNOTS LANDING) - 87
Sharon DeBord (ex-Shraon, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 73
Ron Raines (ex-Alan, GUIDING LIGHT) - 63
Steven Bauer (ex-Eduado, HACIENDA HEIGHTS) - 56
Dan Gauthier (ex-Kevin, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Jeff, MELROSE PLACE; ex-Dick, BEVERLY HILLS 90210) - 49
Brendan Coyle (John, DOWNTON ABBEY) - 49
Lisa Connor (Writer, GENERAL HOSPITAL; DAYS OF OUR LIVES; THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; AS THE WORLD TURNS; ALL MY CHILDREN) - 49
Rena Sofer (ex-Rocky, LOVING; ex-Lois, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Joyce, ANOTHER WORLD) - 44
Jennifer Bransford (ex-Carly, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Georgie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Pamela, ANOTHER WORLD) - 44
Lucy Liu (ex-Nola, DIRTY SEXY MONEY) - 44
Nelly Furtado (Herself, 90210) - 34
Melissa Archer (Natalie, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 33
Daniela Ruah (ex-Gigi, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Constanca, FILHA DO MAR; ex-Daniela, TU E EU) - 29
Cassie Steele (Abby, THE L.A. COMPLEX; ex-Manny, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) - 23

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.