Today in Soap Opera History (March 28)

On this date in...

1944: Tom O'Rourke was born. He would go on to play roles on SANTA BARBARA and ONE LIFE TO LIVE but is best known for his run as Justin Marler on GUIDING LIGHT. He died in September 2009, a few days before the GUIDING LIGHT finale. (O'Rourke appears on the new "Phillip Spaulding Collection" DVD set from SoapClassics in a 1977 episode where he is credited as Thomas O'Rourke.)

1969: On DARK SHADOWS, Barnabas discovered Dirk outside, and claimed that Jamison was missing.

1989: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Shannon received a disturbing phone call.



1997: THE CITY, a spin-off of LOVING, aired its final episode.

2008: On GUIDING LIGHT, Gus is brought into the hospital with a severe head trauma.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Ken Howard (George, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Garrett, DYNASTY) - 68
Richard Backus (ex-Ted, ANOTHER WORLD; ex-Barry, RYAN'S HOPE; ex-Jason, LOVERS AND FRIENDS; Writer for AS THE WORLD TURNS; ONE LIFE TO LIVE; DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 67
Janice Lynde (Peggy, DIARY OF A SINGLE MOM; ex-Leslie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Laurel, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Gloria, GENERAL HOSPITAL; ex-Tracy, ANOTHER WORLD) - 64
Reba McEntire (Reba, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) - 57
Todd Curtis (ex-Jordy, CAPITOL; ex-Skip, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 53
Siena Goines (ex-Callie, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Valerie, PASSIONS) - 43
Annie Wersching (ex-Amelia, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 35

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].

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