Today in Soap Opera History (October 27)

1982: GH's Luke and Robert searched for Holly in Canada.
1988: GL's Rusty shot Will and tried to save Mindy.
1995: Loving's Gwyneth was revealed to be the Corinth
Killer. 2009: ATWT's Brad died.

"History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future."
― Robert Penn Warren

"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...

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia (Grayson Hall) felt guilty about telling Barnabas (Jonathan Frid) to bite Vicky. She instead offered to sacrifice herself to restore Barnabas's appearance. Though touched, he declined, noting that he needed her to continue as his doctor. In the meantime, Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) decided -- over David's (David Henesy) protests -- to go to the Old House and investigate his claims. She snuck into the seemingly deserted basement and discovered the coffin but found it empty. Her relief quickly turned to horror as she came face-to-face with her worst nightmare.



1967: On The Guiding Light, Robin (Gillian Spencer) committed suicide by throwing herself in front of a moving truck.

1981: Tom Wiggin aired for the final time as Joe Foster in TEXAS.

1982: On General Hospital, Robert (Tristan Rogers) and Luke (Anthony Geary) searched for Holly (Emma Samms) in Canada.



1986: Kassie DePaiva (then Wesley) debuted as Chelsea Reardon on Guiding Light.

Thanks to Enrique for sending in the item above.

1988: Carmen Duncan made her first appearance on Another World as Iris Wheeler. The character of Iris, played by Beverlee McKinsey, was moved from Another World to spin-off series Texas in August 1980, and then written off that show in 1981.



1988: On the Season 10 premiere of Knots Landing, Bobby and Betsy found Val (Joan Van Ark) unconscious after Jill forced her to overdose on pills.



1989: On Guiding Light, Rusty (Terrell Anthony) shot Will (Joseph Breen), who fell over the balcony and tried to take Mindy (Kimberly Simms) with him.



1994: CBS aired 50 Years of Soaps: An All Star Celebration. This two-hour primetime special promised a "a galaxy of the biggest and brightest stars in the soap opera world" while it saluted a half-century of daytime drama, including clips tracing the origins of soap opera, its creators and evolution. Watch the entire show here:



Thanks to FoxCrane for sending in the item above.

1995: On Loving, Steffi (Amelia Heinle) found Tess (Catherine Hickland) slumped over her desk. When she turned on the lights she yelled at "Trisha" to stop before injecting Tess with poison, but it was Gwyneth Alden (Christine L. Tudor) that turned around, revealing herself to be the Corinth Killer.



1995: On One Life to Live, Dorian (Robin Strasser) asked Blair (Kassie DePaiva) to sleep with David (Tuc Watkins). Blair replied, "God! Yuck!"



2009: On As the World Turns, Katie (Terri Conn) returned to Brad's (Austin Peck) room with the baby, but he had already died.



Celebrating a birthday today are:
Lara Parker (ex-Angelique, Dark Shadows) - 76
Edmund Genest (ex-Vincent, One Life to Live)
Russ Anderson (ex-Christopher, Guiding Light; ex-Steve, One Life to Live) - 51
Deborah Moore (ex-Danielle, Days of our Lives) - 50
Bobby Eilbacher (ex-Mike, Days of our Lives) - 50
Tina Cesa Ward (Indie Series Award-winning Writer/Director/Producer, Producing Juliet; Anyone But Me)
Marty West (ex-Shayne, Guiding Light) - 35
Alexis Zibolis (ex-Lara, DeVanity) - 34
Kelly Osbourne (ex-Deborah, Life as We Know It) - 29
Bryan Craig (Morgan, General Hospital) - 22
Eddie Alderson (ex-Matthew, One Life to Live) - 19

Emmy-winning actor James Pritchett , best known for playing Dr. Matt Powers on the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors, was born 92 years ago today. He died in 2011 at age 88. The Doctors reruns are currently airing on Retro TV.

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like to submit a soap history entry for this date or a future date, email [email protected].