Five Things That Happened On January 23 In Soap History

In 1987, Larkin Malloy (pictured with Kim Zimmer as Reva Shayne, one of his on-screen love interests) aired for the final time as Guiding Light's Kyle Sampson, who would prove to be the surprise son of HB Lewis and half brother to Billy Lewis (but not Josh or Trish, who had a different mother). The actor made his GL debut in 1984 after a successful 1980-84 run on Edge of Night, where he portrayed Schyler Whitney. After wrapping up his time in Springfield, Malloy joined the cast of All My Children as Travis Montgomery, staying from 1987-91 and returning from 1997-98 and appearing as Travis's ghost in 2001. Additionally, he played Clay Alden on Loving in 1992 and Dr. Weston on As the World Turns in 2006. The actor passed away in 2016 at the age of 62.

In 1990, Bold and Beautiful's Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) and Caroline Spencer (Joanna Johnson) wed. The lovebirds made it official in an outdoor ceremony taped at the Gilmore Estate in Los Angeles, which the show customized with a flower-wrapped gazebo under which the duo said, “I do” (much to the chagrin of Brooke, who was blocked by the groom’s mother, Stephanie, from interrupting the nuptials). The bride wore a champagne-colored gown with a beaded bodice and 10-foot train that was created by the show’s costume designer, Sandra Bojin-Sedlik. She was escorted down the aisle by her father, Bill, and after they recited traditional vows, the minister told Ridge, “You may kiss your wife.” As he happily obliged, doves soared overhead and a mariachi band played; the gathering then moved indoors, where Eric offered a champagne toast to the newlyweds.

In 2009, Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall exited Days of Our Lives as John Black and Marlena Evans. The megastars were let go for budgetary reasons, sending shockwaves through the daytime industry. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Executive Producer Ken Corday shared, "The couple will be happily reunited after a long period of angst and separation and will be off-screen after January for an unknown period of time." In their final episode, John and Marlena remarried in his hospital room and departed Salem for Switzerland for John, who was paralyzed, to receive medical treatment. The actors returned to the show in 2011.

In 2004, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco) slept together for the first time on General Hospital. Sonny was reeling from having caught Carly, his wife, sharing a good-bye kiss with Alcazar (not that Sonny knew Carly considered it a good-bye kiss!). He told Carly they were through. He went down to the docks and tossed his wedding ring into the water. Enter Sam. Sonny glowered to her that he was no longer happily married, and when she noticed that he was bleeding, she took his hand in hers. Their eyes locked. Before long, they had retreated to a motel room, where they began to undress one another and fell into bed.

In 2014, Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) and Lucas Jones (Ryan Carnes) shared their first on-screen kiss on General Hospital. Reflecting on the importance of telling a same-sex love story on the show, Carnes told Soap Opera Digest in 2016, "I would say that gay couples and gay characters are more accepted and more the norm than ever, but we still have a ways to go. I am definitely honored to take part in bringing to life a relationship with two characters who are very real. They’re not stereotypes, they’re not caricatures, and I think that’s very important. I’m grateful for it."