Today in Soap Opera History (May 18)

On this date in...

Eileen Fulton

1960: Eileen Fulton debuted in the role of Lisa Miller on AS THE WORLD TURNS. She would play the iconic role for most of the next 50 years until the show's cancellation in 2010.  The character was also was used as the focal point of the primetime spin-off OUR PRIVATE WORLD in 1965.  Read our 2011 interview with Fulton here.

1967: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Tom (Macdonald Carey) called Susan (Denise Alexander) to get her back to the hospital because there were complications with Dickie.

1982: At the 9th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included GUIDING LIGHT (Drama Series, Writing), Anthony Geary, Robin Strasser, David Lewis and Dorothy Lyman.





1985: Former ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE director Del Hughes died at age 75.

1990: The series finale of FALCON CREST aired on CBS.

1991: On THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Jack (Peter Bergman) and Brad (Don Diamont) wanted Neil (Kristoff St. John) to decide who he worked for at Jabot. Elsewhere, Nina's (Tricia Cast) trial continued.



2001: At the 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, winners included AS THE WORLD TURNS (Drama Series, Writing), David Canary, Martha Byrne, Michael E. Knight, Lesli Kay, Justin Torkildsen and Adrienne Frantz.





Celebrating a birthday today are:
Priscilla Pointer (ex-Rebecca, DALLAS) - 89
Robert Morse (Bertram, MAD MEN; ex-Harry, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 82
Gail Strickland (ex-Dorcas, DARK SHADOWS; ex-Veronica, DALLAS; ex-Katherine, MELROSE PLACE) - 66
Cynthia Preston (ex-Faith, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 45
Freddy Hernandez (Officer Parker, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 45
Matt Long (ex-James, PRIVATE PRACTICE; ex-Jack, JACK & BOBBY; ex-Joey, MAD MEN) - 33
Allen Leech (Tom, DOWNTON ABBEY) - 32
Sean Douglas (Vargas, DAYS OF OUR LIVES)
Ryan Cooley (ex-J.T., DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION) - 25
Luke Kleintank (ex-Noah, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Elliot, GOSSIP GIRL) - 23

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a tip on a bit of soap history on this date or future dates, let us know. Send an email to [email protected].