Today in Soap Opera History (December 5)

1966: Dark Shadows' Matthew took Victoria hostage.
1985: OLTL's Tina tried to sell Viki's story to a tabloid.
1988: Brenda Epperson debuted as Ashley on Y&R.
1996: Hayden Panettiere debuted as Lizzie on Guiding Light.

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Ellie Fitzgibbons reluctantly agreed to see Willy Bryan (Edward Holmes).

1966: On Dark Shadows, Matthew Morgan (Thayer David) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) hostage at the Old House, and hid her in a secret room behind the drawing room bookcase.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 5)

1966: Dark Shadows' Matthew took Victoria hostage.
1985: OLTL's Tina tried to sell Viki's story to a tabloid.
1988: Brenda Epperson debuted as Ashley on Y&R.
1996: Hayden Panettiere debuted as Lizzie on Guiding Light.

"History is a vast early warning system."
― Norman Cousins

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Ellie Fitzgibbons reluctantly agreed to see Willy Bryan (Edward Holmes).

1966: On Dark Shadows, Matthew Morgan (Thayer David) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) hostage at the Old House, and hid her in a secret room behind the drawing room bookcase.

Carly Schroeder Coming to 'General Hospital' as Serena for Lee Baldwin Tribute

Carly Schroeder, who played Serena Baldwin in General Hospital spinoff Port Charles, will be making an appearance on GH for this week's tribute to Lee Baldwin, Scott's (Kin Shriner) father and Serena's grandfather.

The show revealed the news in a tweet on Sunday, writing, "Surprise! @Carlyfries18 returns to #GH this week - for a special tribute to Lee Baldwin. @kinshriner @TheLynnHerring @thejonlindstrom"

Serena was born via surrogate mother Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) when it was discovered that her mother Dominique Stanton Baldwin was dying, but wanted to leave her husband Scott Baldwin with a child. Lucy made Scott and Dominique's dream possible by carrying Serena until birth.

Emmy Award-winning actor Peter Hansen, who died on April 9 at age 95, played the character of attorney Lee Baldwin off and on between 1965 and 2004. In 1997, he also played the character on Port Charles. He was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 1974 and 1979.

Peter Hansen Dead at 95

Emmy Award-winning General Hospital actor Peter Hansen died on Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Santa Clarita, California. He was 95.

Hansen played the character of attorney Lee Baldwin off and on the iconic ABC soap opera between 1965 and as late as 2004. In 1997, he also played the character on the spin-off series, Port Charles. He was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 1974 and 1979 for his work on General Hospital

He retired from acting soon after his 2004 appearance on General Hospital, when Lee and Gail Baldwin paid their respects at Lila Quartermaine's funeral.

Peter Franklin Hansen was born December 5, 1921, in Oakland, California. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, he joined the Pasadena Playhouse. By the 1950s, he was signed by Paramount. His film credits included supporting roles in Branded (1950), When Worlds Collide (1951), and The Savage (1952).

Hansen played numerous roles on television, including Science Fiction Theatre, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Simon & Simon, Gomer Pyle: USMC, and How the West Was Won. He also memorably played the guy who courted all three of the stars on The Golden Girls, and the CEO who owned the bar on Cheers. Other daytime roles included Peter Morrison on Ben Jerrod.

Hansen was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Florence "Betty," who died in 1993. He is survived by his longtime companion, Barbara Wenzel; a son, the Rev. Canon Peter Falconer Hansen; a daughter, Gretchen Hansen Chartier; three grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 5)

1966: Dark Shadows' Matthew took Victoria hostage.
1985: OLTL's Tina tried to sell Viki's story to a tabloid.
1988: Brenda Epperson debuted as Ashley on Y&R.
2006: Hayden Panettiere debuted as Lizzie on Guiding Light.

"More and more, I tend to read history. I often find it more up to date than the daily newspapers."
― Joe Murray

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Ellie Fitzgibbons reluctantly agreed to see Willy Bryan (Edward Holmes).

1966: On Dark Shadows, Matthew Morgan (Thayer David) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) hostage at the Old House, and hid her in a secret room behind the drawing room bookcase.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 5)

1966: Dark Shadows' Matthew took Victoria hostage.
1985: OLTL's Tina tried to sell Viki's story to a tabloid.
1988: Brenda Epperson debuted as Ashley on Y&R.
2006: Hayden Panettiere debuted as Lizzie on Guiding Light.

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"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...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Ellie Fitzgibbons reluctantly agreed to see Willy Bryan (Edward Holmes).

1966: On Dark Shadows, Matthew Morgan (Thayer David) took Victoria Winters (Alexandra Moltke) hostage at the Old House, and hid her in a secret room behind the drawing room bookcase.

Today in Soap Opera History (December 5)

1966: DARK SHADOWS' Matthew took Victoria hostage.
1985: OLTL's Tina tried to sell Viki's story to a tabloid. 1988: Y&R
debuted a new Ashley. 2006: GH's Skye made Alcazar an offer.

"That is the supreme value of history. The study of it is the best guarantee against repeating it."
- John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

"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...

1957: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Ellie reluctantly agreed to see Willy (Edward Holmes).

1966: On DARK SHADOWS, Matthew (Thayer David) took Victoria (Alexandra Moltke) hostage at the Old House, hiding her in a secret room behind the drawing room bookcase.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Classic Photo Of The Day (1969)

In honor of GENERAL HOSPITAL's upcoming 50th anniversary (GH50), We Love Soaps will be posting a "Classic Photo of the Day" for the rest of the month. Today's photo is from a backstage party circa 1969, with John Beradino, Peggy McCay, Elizabeth MacRae, Julie Adams, Sharon DeBord, Rachel Ames, Peter Hansen, Kim Hamilton (as Tracy Adams, GH's first black doctor) and Lucille Wall. Can anyone identify any of the other actors?

Thanks to Rob Wargo for the photo.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Classic Photo Of The Day (Baldwins)

In honor of GENERAL HOSPITAL's upcoming 50th anniversary (GH50), We Love Soaps will be posting a "Classic Photo of the Day" for the rest of the month. Today's photo is of Meg Baldwin, Tom Baldwin and Lee Baldwin, played by Elizabeth MacRae, Paul Savior and Peter Hansen in 1970.

Thanks to Rob Wargo for the photo.