Today in Soap Opera History (March 11)

1985: Santa Barbara's Mason interrupted C.C. and Gina's wedding.
1993: All My Children's Kendall Hart arrived in Pine Valley.
1994: All My Children's Maria and Edmund were married.
2013: Dallas' Ewing family mourned at J.R.'s funeral.

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1968: On PEYTON PLACE, Jill Smith (Joyce Jillson) and Joe Rossi (Michael Christian) were married.

1970: On ANOTHER WORLD, Missy Palmer Matthews (Carol Roux) told a devastated Liz Nancy Wickwire) that Bill drowned after his sailboat capsized during a storm.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Sam Dwyer released Draper (Tony Craig) during the train fire believing him to be innocent.



1982: Joseph Julian died at age 71. His soap roles included Joe in AS THE WORLD TURNS, and Vic in SOMERSET, He also played Wilbur Strake in the first two episodes of the original DARK SHADOWS.

1985: On SANTA BARBARA, Mason Capwell (Lane Davies) interrupted C.C. (Charles Bateman) and Gina's (Linda Gibboney) wedding. The clip below if from the beginning of the next episode where Mason explained that Sophia was never declared dead.



1988: On RYAN'S HOPE, Dakota (Christopher Durham) revealed to Ben (James Wlcek) that Delia was responsible for bringing Nancy Don to New York.



1993: Sarah Michelle Gellar debuted as Kendall Hart on ALL MY CHILDREN.



Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

1994: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Edmund Grey (John Callahan) and Maria Santos (Eva LaRue) were married.



1999: Longtime GUIDING LIGHT actor Stefan Schnabel died at age 87. He played Dr. Stephen Jackson (Leslie's father, Rick's grandfather) from 1965 to 1981.

2004: David Tom debuted as Paul Cramer on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

2013: On DALLAS, family, friends and enemies gathered to say goodbye to J.R. Ewing.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Sam Hall (Former Writer, DARK SHADOWS; ONE LIFE TO LIVE; SANTA BARBARA) - 93
Don MacLean (ex-Cy, CROSSROADS) - 70
Graeme Harper (Director, CORONATION STREET; EASTENDERS; GRANGE HILL) - 69
Mark Metcalf (ex-Stick, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-The Master, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) - 68
Gary Donatelli (Director, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ANOTHER WORLD) - 63
Barbara Alyn Woods (ex-Deb, ONE TREE HILL; ex-Barbara, THE GATES) - 52
Jeffrey Nordling (ex-Nick, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) - 52
Alex Kingston (ex-Jill, GRANGE HILL) - 51
Peter Berg (Executive Producer, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) - 50
Shane Richie (Alfie, EASTENDERS) - 50
Nancy Sloan (ex-Katie, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Sally, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 49
Gary Wolfe (Former ECW Wresteler) - 49
John Barrowman (Malcolm, ARROW; ex-Jack, TORCHWOOD; ex-Patrick, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES; ex-Peter, CENTRAL PARK WEST; ex-Peter, TITANS) - 47
Lindsey McKeon (ex-Marah, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Taylor, ONE TREE HILL) - 32
Jade Harlow (Lianna, THE BAY; ex-Jessica, PASSIONS) - 31

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a piece of soap opera history for this daily column, please email it to [email protected].