Today in Soap Opera History (January 1)

On this date in...

1968: On DARK SHADOWS, Angelique (Lara Parker) woke up just as Jeremiah (Tim Gordon) started to bury her alive.

1973: On ANOTHER WORLD, John (Michael M. Ryan) told Steve (George Reinholt) he was cutting back on his workload.

1981: On KNOTS LANDING, Diana (Claudia Lonow) talked to her friends about having sex.



1982: On DALLAS, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) learned Jock was presumed dead after a helicopter crash in South America.

1982: On FALCON CREST, Julia's (Abby Dalton) husband, Tony, who deserted her and Lance twelve years ago, suddenly reappeared.

1985: Former ONE LIFE TO LIVE co-stars Robert Desiderio and Judith Light were married.  Light will be featured in the upcoming second season of TNT's DALLAS.

1987: On EASTENDERS, Sharon (Letitia Dean) and Pat (Pam St. Clement) advised Angie (Anita Dobson) to be practical.



1991: Actor Ted Demers, who briefly played Dan Wolek on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, passed away at age 42. He died after a hypoglycemic seizure due to the type 1 Juvenile Diabetes he suffered throughout his life.

2002: Actress Meg Wyllie passed away at age 84.  She played Doris Roach on GENERAL HOSPITAL  in 1975, the nurse who was involved with switching Lesley's baby (Laura) years earlier.  In 1994, she subbed for Anna Lee in the role of Lila Quartermaine.

2007: A Greek adaption of BETTY LE FEA (MARIA, I ASCHIMI) debuted.

2007: On DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Abe (James Reynolds) tried to reassure Lexie (Renee Jones) after she was interrogated by Roman.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Sheila Mercier (ex-Annie, EMMERDALE) - 94
Alexia Robinson (ex-Alex, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Claudia, RITUALS; ex-Meg, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 43
Kimberly Page (ex-Kimberly, WCW) - 42
Nina Bott (Julia, VERBOTENE LIEBE; ex-Celine, ALLES WAS ZAHLT) - 34
Eden Riegel (ex-Heather, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; ex-Bianca, ALL MY CHILDREN) - 32
Colin Morgan (Merlin, MERLIN) - 27

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].