What soap operas have ended?

Major soap operas that have ended include long-running favorites like Guiding Light (1937–2009), As the World Turns (1956–2010), All My Children (1970–2011), and One Life to Live (1968–2011). Others include Another World (1999), Passions (2008), and the Australian soap Neighbours, which concluded in 2022 after 37 years.
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What soap operas are no longer on TV?

Daytime soap operas have significantly declined, with only a few remaining on network TV (General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful). Major long-running soaps like As the World Turns, Guiding Light, All My Children, and One Life to Live ended due to low ratings and high production costs. Days of Our Lives notably moved from NBC to the Peacock streaming service.
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Which soap opera is ending after 37 years?

Australian Soap 'Neighbours' Canceled, Will End After 37 Years on the Air. After 37 years on the air, the Australian soap opera "Neighbours" will conclude its run later this year with production ceasing this summer after Fremantle failed to get financial backing from a UK broadcaster to continue the series.
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Which soap opera has the highest rating?

The Young and the Restless (Y&R) is currently the highest-rated daytime soap opera in the U.S., holding the #1 spot in households and viewers. It frequently battles for the top spot with The Bold and the Beautiful (B&B), which is often cited as the most-watched soap worldwide, having reached over 26 million viewers globally.
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What is the oldest soap opera still going?

General Hospital is the oldest American soap opera still on television, having premiered on ABC on April 1, 1963. It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running American soap opera in production, producing over 15,000 episodes. The show is set in the fictional city of Port Charles.
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Top 10 Soap Operas That Don't Exist Anymore

Who is currently the highest paid soap opera actor?

Lauralee Bell is often cited as the highest-earning soap opera actor due to her role as Christine Blair on The Young and the Restless, bolstered by her family's ownership of the show. Susan Lucci was historically the highest-paid during her run on All My Children, while Eric Braeden is regarded as one of the highest-paid active male soap stars.
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What soap opera ran for 72 years?

Guiding Light, the longest-running soap at 72 years, transitioned from radio to television, introducing iconic families and groundbreaking characters.
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Who is the queen of soap opera?

The Queen is a fast-paced South African telenovela (2016–2023) created by Ferguson Films for Mzansi Magic. It centers on Harriet Khoza (Connie Ferguson), who takes over the family logistics/drug business, navigating intense rivalry with police and other criminals. The drama is renowned for its high-stakes criminality and star-studded cast.
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What is the most watched soap opera episode of all time?

Luke and Laura's November 17, 1981 wedding brought in 30 million viewers; it remains the highest rated soap opera episode in American daytime television history.
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Which soap opera star has won the most Emmys?

Erika Slezak (left) has received the most wins, for her role as Victoria Lord on One Life to Live.
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What's the average salary of a soap opera actor?

Soap opera stars typically earn between $46,000 and $63,500 annually, though top-tier actors on long-running shows can earn significantly more, often ranging from $1,000 to over $5,000 per episode. Daily minimum rates for SAG-AFTRA members are roughly $1,517 as of 2024, with veteran stars potentially earning hundreds of thousands yearly.
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What show did CBS cancel for 2026?

CBS canceled “DMV” and “Watson” ahead of its 2026-2027 season. “DMV” ran for just one season, while “Watson” got two. “DMV” will wrap up Monday, April 20, and the “Watson” series finale airs on Sunday, April 19.
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Who is the longest running soap opera actor in America?

As of early 2026, Deidre Hall (Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives) is widely recognized as the longest-running American soap opera actor, having recently celebrated 5,000 episodes. Other notable long-term actors include Suzanne Rogers (49+ years, Days of Our Lives), Melody Thomas Scott (45+ years, The Young and the Restless), and Eric Braeden (40+ years, The Young and the Restless).
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What three shows did NBC cancel?

NBCUniversal is cancelling four of its first-run syndicated programs—Access Hollywood, Access Daily, The Steve Wilkos Show, and Karamo—as part of a major restructuring to exit the first-run syndication business. The move, driven by shifting station preferences and high costs, will stop production on these shows later in 2026, leading to layoffs.
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Who is leaving Days of Our Lives in 2026?

In a major 2026 cast shakeup, Days of Our Lives has fired four actors: Carson Boatman (Johnny DiMera), Raven Bowens (Chanel Dupree), Ashley Puzemis (Holly Jonas), and Leo Howard (Tate Black). Due to the soap's 10-month filming delay, these characters will remain on-screen until late 2026 or early 2027.
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What is considered the best soap opera of all time?

Guiding Light is widely regarded as the best and most historic soap opera, running for 72 years across radio and television (1937–2009). Other top contenders for "best ever" include As the World Turns for its longevity, General Hospital for its iconic storylines, and primetime titan Dallas.
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Who is the most watched person in TV history?

American actor David Hasselhoff has the distinction of being the most-watched man on television of all time.
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What caused the decline in soap opera viewership?

The soap opera's popularity declined as other genres adopted its signature storytelling techniques and as the television landscape became increasingly crowded with new content.
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Who is the oldest actress still alive today?

As of early 2026, Caren Marsh Doll (born April 6, 1919) is recognized as one of the oldest living actresses and Hollywood stars, having served as Judy Garland's stand-in in The Wizard of Oz. Another prominent, highly recognized centenarian is Oscar winner Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924), who is the oldest living Academy Award winner.
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Who is the highest paid actor in a soap opera?

1 earner on all of the top-paid soap opera royalty lists is Bell, a longtime cast member of “The Young and the Restless.” This is due, in no small part, to the fact that she is the daughter of the show's creators and began her career on the show at just 13 years old.
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Is Susan Lucci still married to her husband?

No, Susan Lucci is not still married. Her husband of 52 years, Helmut Huber, passed away in March 2022 at age 84. The soap opera legend has recently spoken about navigating life and grief after losing her husband, as detailed in her new 2026 memoir, La Lucci.
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Who were the most popular Guiding Light characters?

Kim Zimmer is often regarded as one of the most popular performers ever to appear on CBS' Guiding Light and on all of daytime television. Zimmer was with the show from 1983-1990 and 1995 until its final episode of 2009, spanning 21 years of storyline for the character.
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What was the first soap opera ever made?

The first radio soap opera was Painted Dreams, created by Irna Phillips and premiering in October 1930 on WGN radio in Chicago. The first television soap opera was These Are My Children, which debuted on NBC on January 31, 1949, also created by Phillips.
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Who has been on General Hospital the longest?

Leslie Charleson, who played Dr. Monica Quartermaine from August 17, 1977, until her death in January 2025, held the record for the longest-tenured cast member in General Hospital history. She starred on the soap opera for over 47 years. Other long-running stars include Genie Francis (Laura) and Kin Shriner (Scotty), both starting in 1977.
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