My List of Daytime Drama's Best Actors

45.

Terry Lester



The late actor created the role of Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless and later played Royce on As the World Turns before his untimely passing. This gifted actor was taken from us much too soon.

44.

Darnell Williams



Williams won two Emmys for playing Jesse Hubbard on All My Children. Williams stole more than his share of scenes during his time on the show.

43.

Marcy Walker



Marcy Walker first hit daytime playing the bitchy Liza Colby on All My Children, but she won an Emmy for her work as Eden Capwell Castillo on Santa Barbara and was half of one of daytime's greatest supercouples: Eden and Cruz (A Martinez).

42.

Tuc Watkins



This sexy scene stealer brightened up many episode of One Life to Live in his role as David Vickers. Prime time viewers might recognize him from his role as Bob on Desperate Housewives.

41.

Dorothy Lyman



In addition to being a producer, writer, and director, Lyman also created the role of the outrageous Opal Gardener on All My Children, a role which earned her two Emmys. Prime time fans should recognize her from her role as Naomi Harper on Mama's Family.

40.

Laura Wright



One of daytime's most underrated actresses first appeared as Ally Bowman on Loving, then played Cassie Winslow on Guiding Light before becoming the fourth actress to play her current role of Carly Corinthos on General Hospital and has won an Emmy for her work on that show.

39.
Joseph Mascolo



This richly talented actor has played roles on The Bold and the Beautiful and General Hospital but carved a place for himself in daytime history when he created one of the genre's most durable and bone-chilling villains...Stefano Di Mera on Days of our Lives.

38.

Tricia Cast



Cast played the Tatum O'Neal role in the TV version of The Bad News Bears and played Christy Duvall on Santa Barbara, before she made her mark on daytime playing Nina Webster on The Young and the Restless, a role that won her an Emmy. She has also done prime time guest shots on ER, Married...with Children, and Chicago Hope.

37.

Roger Howarth



This intense actor has been commanding soap screens ever since he played former rapist Todd Manning on One Life to Life. He also played Paul Ryan on As the World Turns and is currently playing Franco Baldwin on General Hospital.

36.

Beth Maitland



Beth Maitland won an Emmy for her role as Traci Abbott on The Young and the Restless where Maitland proved that you don't have to have a 15-inch waist to be a successful actor in daytime. This is another one of those soap actors who regularly ignited the tear ducts.

35.

Sean Kanan



One of the great soap-hoppers who has played roles on The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Sunset Beach, but probably made his biggest impression daytime playing AJ Quartermaine on General Hospital.

34.

Kin Shriner



He's played roles on As the World Turns and Texas, but Shriner is best known for playing the slightly slimy Scotty Baldwin on General Hospital.

33.
Jess Walton



Walton first hit daytime as a reformed hooker named Kelly Clegg on the CBS soap Capital but has a found home as the current Jill Foster Abbott on The Young and the Restless, a role which has earned her two Emmys. Jill's catfights with Katharine Chancellor have become part of daytime folklore, right up there with Krystle and Alexis.

32.

Ruth Warrick



This legendary actress is famous primarily for two roles...she played Orson Welles' first wife in Citizen Kane and thirty years later, she created the role of Phoebe Tyler Wallingford on ABC's All My Children, a role she played for more than 2 decades until her death. Warrick was one of daytime's greatest scene-stealers.

31.

Sharon Gabet



Before there was Erica Kane, there was Raven Alexander Whitney, the flighty absorbed leading lady who kept things buzzing on Edge of Night for more than a decade. I've always felt Erica Kane was partially inspired by Raven, one of daytime's most entertaining leading ladies, brought to life by this vivacious actress.

30.

Michael Muhney



Muhney was the second and best of the three actors to play the role of Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless...a brilliant and underrated actor who never got the acclaim he deserved and left the show under a cloud of controversy that I'm still unclear about.

29.
Debbi Morgan



This talented actress first hit daytime as Chantal Marshall on Generations, but made her mark playing Dr. Angie Hubbard on All My Children, a role she reprised on Loving, and earned her an Emmy. Morgan also played Dr. Ellen Burgess on Port Charles and has graced prime time TV with guest roles on Herman's Head, The Cosby Show, A Different World, Trapper John MD, Roc, and The Practice. Movie fans might recognize the actress from her roles in Love & Basketball, The Hurricane, and Eve's Bayou.

28.
Christian LeBlanc



This sexy and talented actors has spent a couple of decades playing former rapist turned attorney Michael Baldwin on The Young and the Restless, a role that has earned him two Emmys.

27.
Trent Dawson



Dawson stole more than his share of scenes playing Henry Coleman on As the World Turns. He recently resurfaced on daytime with a recurring role on General Hospital.

26.
Lynn Herring



This deliciously funny scene stealer has played roles on Days of our Lives and As the World Turns, but is best known for her over the top antics on General Hospital as Lucy Coe. Lucy's antics at the annual GH Nurses Ball have become part of daytime folklore.