Today in Soap Opera History (July 15)

On this date in...

1925: Actor Philip Carey was born. He died on February 6, 2009, but not before leaving his mark as Asa Buchanan on ONE LIFE TO LIVE for many years.  Among his many credits was a memorable first season appearance in ALL IN THE FAMILY in which he played gay in an episode that also featured Anthony Geary.

1948: Writer James E. Reilly was born. He died October 12, 2008, after an award-winning run at soaps GUIDING LIGHT, DAYS OF OUR LIVES and PASSIONS, among others.

1949: John Haggart's A WOMAN TO REMEMBER, an early television soap opera on the DuMont Television Network, aired its final episode.

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, the Collins family learned Roger was in an accident.

1968: Agnes Nixon creation ONE LIFE TO LIVE premiered on ABC.  The original planned title for the show was BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL.  This was still the plan as of late April, and Don Wallace was expected to be the executive producer. The show aired until January 13, 2012.



1977: Soap opera spoof ALL THAT GLITTERS from Norman Lear, aired the last of 65 episodes. Linda Gray, Gary Sandy and Louise Shaffer were among the stars.

1983: On ALL MY CHILDREN, Phoebe fretted over her "dreadful brawl" with Opal, and Opal took to the streets to make her case.



1992: Celeste Holm taped her last episode as Isabelle after being dismissed from LOVING.

1996: On ANOTHER WORLD, Gabe (John Bolger) ordered a forensics report on Yvette's body and learned the person who killed Yvette is the same one who committed the other murders.  The same killer would murder Frankie Frame on August 19.

2002: On PASSIONS, Beth accepted Luis' marriage proposal.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Ken Kercheval (Cliff, DALLAS; ex-Nick, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW; ex-Archie, THE SECRET STORM) - 77
Terry O'Quinn (ex-John, LOST; ex-Jerry, THE DOCTORS) - 60
Anne Rose Brooks (ex-Stephanie, THE DOCTORS; ex-Diana, ANOTHER WORLD) - 49
Shari Headley (ex-Mimi, ALL MY CHILDREN; ex-Heather, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Felicia, GUIDING LIGHT) - 48
Kristoff St. John (Neil, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Adam, GENERATIONS) - 46
Scott Foley (Patrick, TRUE BLOOD; ex-Henry, GREY'S ANATOMY) - 40
Brian Austin Green (ex-David, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210; ex-Brian, KNOTS LANDING) - 38
Lana Parrilla (Regina, ONCE UPON A TIME; ex-Trina, SWINGTOWN) - 35
Tristan Wilds (Dixon, 90210) - 23