Rebecca Herbst made her General Hospital debut as Elizabeth Webber, Laura Wright made her first appearance as Guiding Light’s Cassie, Diane was killed on Young and Restless (or so it seemed for many years) and other memorable soap moments that took place on August 1.
1 of 5
In 1985, winners at the 12th Annual Daytime Emmys included Darnell Williams (ex-Jesse, All My Children) as Outstanding Lead Actor, Kim Zimmer (ex-Reva, Guiding Light) as Outstanding Lead Actress, Larry Gates (ex-H.B., GL) as Outstanding Supporting Actor, Beth Maitland (Traci, Y&R) as Outstanding Supporting Actress and Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren, Y&R) as Outstanding Ingenue.
2 of 5
Photo credit: CRAIG SJODIN/ABC
In 1997, fan fave Rebecca Herbst debuted on General Hospital as Elizabeth Webber, Audrey Hardy's (Rachel Ames) granddaughter. The actress recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2017, "I had gone in only once before, to play a friend of Robin’s. Then [Casting Director Mark Teschner] brought me back a couple of years later for the role of Sarah and I ended up screen-testing with, like, five blonde girls. I remember thinking, “'What am I doing here? This is so weird!' They called and said, 'You didn’t get the role,' and then about a month later they called back and said, 'We would like to write you a part to play, Sarah’s sister.' And that’s how I ended up being Elizabeth."
3 of 5
Photo credit: PGP
In 1997, Laura Wright (now Carly, General Hospital, r., pictured with Cynthia Watros, GH's Nina, as Annie Dutton and Ron Raines as Alan Spaulding) debuted on Guiding Light as Cassie Layne, Reva's half sister. Prior to joining the Springfield ranks, Wright was well-known to daytime fans for her 1991-97 run on Loving and The City as Ally Rescott. Wright remained with GL until 2005, when she left to assume the role of Carly.
4 of 5
Photo credit: JPI
In 2008, Emily (Kelley Menighan) wed Casey (Billy Magnussen) on As The World Turns. The short-lived union was annulled later in the month.
5 of 5
Photo credit: JPI
In 2011, Diane (then-Maura West) was “killed” by Nikki, in self-defense — or at least, that was what was believed until Diane (now played by Susan Walters) returned from the dead in 2022.
In 1985, winners at the 12th Annual Daytime Emmys included Darnell Williams (ex-Jesse, All My Children) as Outstanding Lead Actor, Kim Zimmer (ex-Reva, Guiding Light) as Outstanding Lead Actress, Larry Gates (ex-H.B., GL) as Outstanding Supporting Actor, Beth Maitland (Traci, Y&R) as Outstanding Supporting Actress and Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren, Y&R) as Outstanding Ingenue.
In 1997, fan fave Rebecca Herbst debuted on General Hospital as Elizabeth Webber, Audrey Hardy's (Rachel Ames) granddaughter. The actress recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2017, "I had gone in only once before, to play a friend of Robin’s. Then [Casting Director Mark Teschner] brought me back a couple of years later for the role of Sarah and I ended up screen-testing with, like, five blonde girls. I remember thinking, “'What am I doing here? This is so weird!' They called and said, 'You didn’t get the role,' and then about a month later they called back and said, 'We would like to write you a part to play, Sarah’s sister.' And that’s how I ended up being Elizabeth."
Photo credit: CRAIG SJODIN/ABC
In 1997, Laura Wright (now Carly, General Hospital, r., pictured with Cynthia Watros, GH's Nina, as Annie Dutton and Ron Raines as Alan Spaulding) debuted on Guiding Light as Cassie Layne, Reva's half sister. Prior to joining the Springfield ranks, Wright was well-known to daytime fans for her 1991-97 run on Loving and The City as Ally Rescott. Wright remained with GL until 2005, when she left to assume the role of Carly.
In 2008, Emily (Kelley Menighan) wed Casey (Billy Magnussen) on As The World Turns. The short-lived union was annulled later in the month.
In 2011, Diane (then-Maura West) was “killed” by Nikki, in self-defense — or at least, that was what was believed until Diane (now played by Susan Walters) returned from the dead in 2022.