Today in Soap Opera History (October 14)

1980: Larkin Malloy made his EDGE OF NIGHT debut. 1980: GH's
Laura didn't stay on the bus after she said goodbye to Luke.
1985: Tina figured out Viki was Niki Smith. 2001: DEGRASSI:
THE NEXT GENERATION premiered.

"We should always be aware that what now lies in the past once lay in the future."
― F.W. Maitland

"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...

1975: Actor Angus Cairns, who appeared as the often recast Sheriff George Patterson on DARK SHADOWS in 1967, died at age 65.

1980: Larkin Malloy made his first appearance on THE EDGE OF NIGHT as "Schuyler Whitney."



1980: On GENERAL HOSPITAL, Jennifer Smith (Lisa Marie) was thrown a surprise birthday party, while Hutch (Rick Moses) pulled a gun on Laura (Genie Francis).



1985: On ONE LIFE TO LIVE, Tina (Andrea Evans) figured out Viki was really Niki Smith.  Niki (Erika Slezak) gave Tina a check for $5,000 to show her appreciation for Tina's silence.



1986: Actor Keenan Wynn, who played the second Digger Barnes in DALLAS, died at age 70.

1991: Frank Runyeon aired for the final time as Michael Donnelly in SANTA BARBARA.

1999: Laura Bell Bundy debuted in GUIDING LIGHT as Marah Lewis.  After Marah and Shane arrived home from their trip, Reva (Kim Zimmer) wasn't thrill with the new and improved Marah, who got mad when Reva mentioned Richard and Jonathan.

2001: DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION premiered on CTV.



2002: On GUIDING LIGHT, Marina (Aubrey Dollar) managed to hit redial on her phone which called Ben (Matt Bomer), who followed Harley (Beth Ehlers), Gus and Eden after the left to go rescue Marina at Laurel Falls.



2008: CBS aired the 9,000th episode of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

2008: On GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT, Robert (Tristan Rogers) came out of his coma.



2010: Actor Simon MacCorkindale died at age 58. He played Greg Reardon in FALCON CREST from 1984-1986.

2011: Soap Classics released its first AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD which featured 20 episodes spanning the years 1979 to 2010.

Celebrating a birthday today are:
Lee Lawson (ex-Bea, GUIDING LIGHT; ex-Wanda, ONE LIFE TO LIVE; ex-Barbara, LOVE OF LIFE) - 72
Greg Evigan (ex-Dan, MELROSE PLACE; ex-Robert, PACIFIC PALISADES; ex-Charles, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) - 60
Arleen Sorkin (ex-Calliope, DAYS OF OUR LIVES) - 57
Usher Raymond (Raymond, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) - 35
Jon Seda (ex-Dino, OZ; ex-Nelson, TREME) - 33
Shelley Bennett (ex-Vivian, AS THE WORLD TURNS) - 32
Daniel Clark (ex-Sean, DEGRASSI) - 28
MacKenzie Mauzy (ex-Phoebe, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; ex-Lizzie, GUIDING LIGHT) - 25
Max Thieriot (Dylan, BATES MOTEL) - 25
Mia Wasikowska (ex-Sophie, IN TREATMENT) - 24
Teresa Castillo (Sabrina, GENERAL HOSPITAL)
Shona McGarty (Whitney, EASTENDERS) - 22
Alisyn Griffith (ex-Lulu, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 19
Kelli Griffith (ex-Lulu, GENERAL HOSPITAL) - 19
Jaden Harmon (ex-Andre, ONE TREE HILL) - 13

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].