The category Outstanding Achievement in a Daytime Drama was created in 1972. THE DOCTORS won. The other nominee was GENERAL HOSPITAL.
The first African-American performer to win a Daytime Emmy was Al Freeman, Jr. in 1979. He played police captain Ed Hall on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
An ebullient Shemar Moore (ex-Malcolm, Y&R) got to make a historic presentation in 1999. Everybody knew who won when he shouted: “The streak is over!"
After 19 nominations, AMC's Susan Lucci finally nabbed that Emmy for the role of Erica Kane. With plenty of time to practice, Lucci ended her 1999 acceptance speech with the words:
“I’m going to go back to that studio Monday, and I’m going to play Erica Kane for all she’s worth!"
In 2015, the awards were all tied up. DAYS and Y&R both won Outstanding Drama Series. The shows were up against B&B and GH. And the award for Special Guest Performer in a Drama Series went to Donna Mills (Madeline, GH), Fred Willard (John, B&B) and Ray Wise (Ian Ward, Y&R). The other noms in the category were Sally Kellerman (Constance, Y&R), Meredith Baxter (Maureen, Y&R) and Linda Elena Tovar (Rosalie, GH).
Photo credit: Steven Bergman