Sometimes onscreen soap opera love stories blossom into real ones behind the scenes, and there have been many in the daytime world over the years that have managed to stay the test of time.
Check out our list of the top 10 real-life soap opera couples, who are happily together.
1. Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes
No supercouple list, on or off-camera, is complete without Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes, who play Doug and Julie on Days of our Lives. The pair met on the soap in 1970, and as their characters fell in love, so did they. They tied the knot in 1974 and have been happily married ever since.
2. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos
Long before she was a talk show queen, Kelly Ripa played Hayley on All My Children. When the powers-that-be cast Mark Consuelos as her love interest, Mateo, in 1995, the pair was instantly smitten. Soon, they began secretly dating, and, in 1996, eloped to Vegas. These days, they’re the proud parents of three.
3. Thorsten Kaye and Susan Haskell
Thorsten Kaye (Ridge, The Bold and the Beautiful) met Susan Haskell in 1995, when he began playing Patrick to her Marty on One Life to Live. For years, they went the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell route as “life partners.” The private couple eventually tied the knot on the beach, although they’ve kept the date a secret. Their love story includes two daughters.
4. Melissa Reeves and Scott Reeves
The short-term role of Jake on DAYS led Scott Reeves to meet future wife Melissa Brennan (Jennifer) in 1988. After a couple of years of dating, the young couple (they were both in their early 20s) decided to tie the knot in 1990. Over the years, they’ve had two children, and recently welcomed a pair of grandchildren, while settling down in their family home in Nashville.
5. Bryton James and Brytni Sarpy
Leaving her soap opera role as Valerie on General Hospital for the part of Elena on The Young and the Restless turned into a beautiful love story for Brytni Sarpy. Teamed with Bryton James (Devon), the pair developed instant rapport and chemistry. They celebrated their one-year anniversary in May 2020 and are happily living together in their newly purchased condo.
6. Kassie DePaiva and James DePaiva
Working together on One Life to Live sparked a flame between Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and James DePaiva (ex-Max), who met in 1993. The duo began dating within a couple of years and surprised co-stars when they eloped to Kentucky in 1996. They’ve been devoted to each other ever since and share a son, James Quentin.
7. Arianne Zucker and Shawn Christian
After years as co-stars on DAYS, a storyline brought Arianne Zucker (Nicole) and Shawn Christian (ex-Daniel) together, and something clicked between them in 2014. They kept their relationship hush-hush in the beginning, but, over time, acknowledged they were a couple. These days, they share a home and a joint passion for charity work.
8. Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom
It began back in New York when the two were on As the World Turns as Rosanna Cabot and Craig Montgomery. While Rosanna may have been better off without Craig, McClain and Lindstrom’s spark ignited. The couple married on Valentine’s Day in 2014. Now he’s back at General Hospital as twins Kevin and Ryan while she’s over at DAYS tackling the role of Jennifer Rose Horton. Each is a talented multi-hyphenate and fans love seeing them support each other’s careers.
9. Maura West and Scott DeFrietas
GH’s Maura West (Ava Jerome) met husband Scott DeFreitas on the As the World Turns set in 1995, where they played Carly and Andy. A relationship blossomed, and they married in 2000. Together they have five children, including one from West’s first marriage. In fact, their son Joseph’s birth was featured on the TLC series, A Baby Story.
10. Laura Wright and Wes Ramsey
Although they knew each other as co-stars on Guiding Light in 2000 – where he played Sam, and she played Cassie and was married – GH’s Laura Wright (Carly) and Wes Ramsey (Peter) didn’t connect until 17 years later at a Daytime Emmy party. Having long been smitten with the now-divorced Wright, Ramsey got her number, asked her out, and the rest is soap opera history. They’ve been filling up Instagram with photos of their love story ever since.
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