The Year In Review 2019: In Memoriam Soap World Tribute

The past year has seen the soap world lose a lot of beloved stars and behind-the-scenes people who bring us our favorite shows, day in and day out. Some were expected and some were shocking but either way, each loss to the community has been hard for everyone.

Soap World Losses

As 2019 comes to a close, Soap Hub remembers the many beloved members of the soap community who passed away during the year.

Bettina Bradbury
The writer worked on soaps like Santa Barbara, All My Children, One Life to Live and Days of our Lives and passed away on January 13.

Candice Earley Nolan
She was loved by soap audiences as Donna on AMC, especially for her love story with Chuck. She passed away on January 31.

Kristoff St. John
Soap fans were introduced to him when he played Adam on Generations but it was his role as Neil on The Young and the Restless which endeared him to fans everywhere. He passed away on February 3.

Julie Adams
She had an incredible career on both TV and the silver screen, but she was known to the soap world as Paula on Capitol. She passed away on February 3.

Carmen Duncan
She had a long career with her role as Helen on Number 96 as a highlight before U.S. soap fans got to know her as Iris on Another World. She passed away on February 3.

Morgan Woodward
He was best known as Punk on Dallas but the actor was also Phillip on DAYS. He passed away on February 22.

Luke Perry
The world loved him as Dylan on Beverly Hills, 90210 but he got his start as Ned on Loving. He passed away on March 4.

Jed Allan
The beloved actor was known for playing Don on DAYS, patriarch CC Capwell on Santa Barbara, and for a brief time, he was Edward on GH. He passed away on March 9.

Georgia Engel
The world knew her as Georgette on The Mary Tyler Moore Show but she was also Esmeralda on Passions. She passed away on April 12.

Ken Kercheval
While he was best known as J.R.’s nemesis on Dallas, the daytime soap world also knew him as Archie on The Secret Storm. He passed away on April 21.

Edith Gonzalez
She was known for being Niña Salomé on the soap La hora pico, and she passed away on June 13.

Arte Johnson
This funny man had a long career in Hollywood, but for GH fans, he was known for playing the role of Finian. He passed away on July 3.

Sally Spencer
She had an incredible smile — known for playing the role of MJ McKinnon on the NBC soap Another World. She passed away on July 13.

Robert Milli
He was known for playing Roger Thorpe’s father, Adam, on Guiding Light but he also originated the role of bad guy Lars Bogard on All My Children. He passed away on July 18.

David Hedison
He had an incredible career which included playing Felix Leiter in two James Bond films but he was also Spencer Harrison on Another World as well as Arthur on YR. He passed away on July 18.

Sy Tomashoff
He was the Production Designer at BB for decades but he worked on Dark Shadows, Capitol, Ryan’s Hope, and The Edge of Night. He passed away on July 28.

Valerie Harper
She was one of the most beloved stars to grace television, especially during her time as Rhoda, both on her own show and on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but she was also Mrs. Steiner on The Doctors. She passed away on August 30.

Phyllis Newman
She has appeared on TV and in films but the soap world knows her as the original Renee on OLTL. She passed away on September 15.

Leah Bracknell
The British actress is known for playing Zoe on Emmerdale for over 15 years. She passed away on September 16.

Suzanne Whang
She made a name for herself as a host of House Hunters but for GH fans she played Carol, Brenda’s wedding planner and was actress Vanessa Marcil’s BFF. She passed away on September 17.

Hogan Sheffer
He was a brilliant head writer who breathed new life into ATWT during his tenure. He also did amazing work on both DAYS and YR. He passed away on September 28.

Diahann Carroll
She was a groundbreaking actress who was beloved by so many. To the soap world, she will always be remembered as the original Dominique on Dynasty. She passed away on October 4.

John Clarke
The actor was part of the original cast on DAYS when he premiered as Mickey Horton, a role he played for almost 40 years. He passed away on October 16.

Bill Macy
While was in so many films and TV shows, he’s best known as Maude’s husband — but he was also a Cab Driver on The Edge of Night. He passed away on October 17.

Brian Tarantina
While audiences now are familiar with the actor from his work as Jackie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, he was also Lucky Lippman and Ray Castillo on OLTL. He passed away on November 2.

William Wintersole
The actor was best known for playing Katherine’s longtime lawyer, Mitchell on YR but he also played Robert’s WSB boss, Ballentine on GH in the early 1980s. He passed away on November 5.

Shelley Morrison
While best known as Rosario on Will & Grace, she was also Mrs. Ramirez on GH. She passed away on December 1.

Ron Leibman
The actor was Johnny on The Edge of Night and was also once married to actresses Linda Lavin as well as Jessica Walter. He passed away on December 6.

Lisa de Cazotte
She was the supervising producer on YR at the time of her death, but had also been a producer on OLTL, Santa Barbara, AMC, and was the executive producer of Passions during its entire run. She passed away on December 7.

Sheila Mercier
The British actress was best known for playing Annie on Emmerdale for over 35 years. She passed away on December 4.

Austin Luciano
He was the son of Daytime Emmy-winner/beloved member of the soap world, Judi Evans, and played her son Dante on AW for a couple of years when his mother played the role of Paulina Cory. He passed away on December 13.