Life imitates art: Dozens of soap stars die in recent months

The drama and bad news isn’t stopping with the end of their roles. In the world of soaps, it seems like an iconic star is leaving us every week. Some are older, but most are tragically young…. Here are some of the most recent deaths.

Also known as the ‘Daytime Diva of Dirt’ Evans died of cancer in July 2023. She was just 66, and will forever be remembered for playing the extra spicy Tina Lord on ‘One Life to Live.’

This actress, best known for her role as Terry Brock in 'General Hospital,' this former star's life ended in tragedy. With reports of her struggling in her later years, she was found dead in a field in March 2024 at the age of 64.

This Puerto Rican actor was best known for portraying the criminal Antonio Vega from 1995-1998 and from 2000-2009 on ‘One Life to Live.’ He died Christmas Eve 2023 in Los Angeles of cancer… he was just 56 years old.

Known for playing the wacky but loveable Calliope Jones on ‘Days of Our Lives’ from 1984 to 1990 and then 1992 and 2001, she was one of the show's biggest stars, even acting as inspiration for the DC comic character Harley Quinn when she played a jester in one of the show’s dream sequences. She died at 67 in Aug. 2023 from complications from pneumonia and multiple sclerosis.

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While this actress may be best known for playing Wednesday in the original ‘Addams Family,’ she also starred as Cricket Montgomery in ‘As the World Turns’ for many years. She died of cancer in Jan. 2023 at 64.

This hunky star of ‘All My Children’ died at the young age of 50 in January 2024. His fiance, who broke the news, was devastated, writing on Instagram that she would never take off her ring. A California medical examiner later revealed that he took his own life.

While he was known for many roles, soap fans loved him as Charley Spangler on 'As the World Turns. In it, he was a kidnapper. He died at age 65 in Dec. 2023 of cancer.

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This actress well known for playing Amelia Joffe on ‘General Hospital’ died in Jan. 2023 of cancer, at the young age of 45. She was also beloved for other roles, including voicing the popular video game that just got remade by HBO – ‘The Last of Us.’

The Emmy-winning actor died of a “cardiac event” in November 2023, shocking his fans, friends and family. He was well-known for playing Nikolas Cassadine on ‘General Hospital’ as well as Stefan DiMera on ‘Days of Our Lives.’ He was an advocate for mental health issues as well. He was just 50 years old.

In Feb. 2023, fans were shocked when the actor who played Nicholas Alamain on ‘Days of Our Lives’ died at the age of 34. After four months the cause of death was revealed, and it turns out it was due to alcohol abuse.

Her death in May 2023 sent shockwaves through the soap world, as she portrayed Bobbie Spencer on ‘General Hospital’ for 45 years. She died at the age of 70 after a short battle with cancer.

Brazil was shocked in May 2023, when authorities found the body of the soap star Machado in a chest, buried under two meters (6’5 feet) of concrete in the backyard of a house in Rio de Janeiro. He had been missing for months and starred in the show ‘Reis.’

Image: jeffmachadocosta/instagram

He made television history by playing one of the first trans characters on daytime television, in the series 'All My Children', on ABC (USA), but passed away in July 2023 at just 45. His cause of death is not known.

Billy Miller suddenly died on September 15, 2023, at the age of 43, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He started off in ‘All My Children’ but then was best known for playing Billy Abbott in 'The Young and the Restless.’

The 'One Life to Live' star died "suddenly" at the age of 42 in 2024. She was the daughter of soap star Erika Slezak and even played the teenage version of the character "Viki" Lord on the show in 2003.

The ‘One Life to Live’ star died of ampullary cancer in April 2023 at the age of 59. She played Andy Harrison, Max Holden’s sister in the show.

In March 2023, the Canadian actress known for appearing on ‘Texas’ as Judith Wheeler, on ‘Days of Our Lives’ as Pamela Fouchier, and on ‘The Young and the Restless’ as Dr. Grace Sundell, passed away in Toronto. She was 87.

While she was known for acting in all types of roles and as a general cultural icon, Welch appeared on the primetime soap ‘Central Park West,’ in a final attempt to save the show from cancellation in 1996.

Best known for playing the straightfaced anchorman Jim Dial on ‘Murphy Brown,’ Kimbrough died at the age of 86 in California. His years on the series earned him an Emmy Award in 1990 and he came back for a revival in 2018.

At just 75, the actor best known for playing the powerful Julian Crane on ‘Passions’ passed away while battling dementia and COVID. He was on ‘Passions' from 1999 to 2008 and died in 2024.

Known as the first Black soap opera superstar, Holly (center) was actually scouted by ‘One Life to Live’ creator Agnes Nixon after she wrote a letter to the New York Times about how hard it was to be a light-skinned black actress. She went on to play the iconic Carla Benari and died in Dec. 2023 at 92.

While she is known for other iconic roles, soap fans love her for playing NIna Webster’s disaster of a mom on ‘The Young and Restless’ from 1991-1996. She died at the age of 82 in May 2023.

This soap opera icon, who won the first-ever Daytime Emmy for her work on ‘The Doctors’ is perhaps most beloved for playing the go-getting businesswoman Lucinda Walsh on ‘As the Word Turns.’ She died of cancer in April 2023 at the age of 89.

In June 2023, the Emmy-winning soap star passed at the age of 89. He starred in several soaps including ‘All My Children’ but he is perhaps best associated with playing the devious Lionel Lockridge on ‘Santa Barbara.’

Of course, he is best known for playing ‘Shaft,’ but Roundtree will be remembered by soap fans for his roles on ‘As the World Turns’ and ‘Generations.’ He died in October of pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.

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