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Never Forgotten: Paying Tribute to Soap Stars Lost in 2026
Friday, September 25th, 2026
It’s already fall and 2026 is coming to an end because, sadly, time doesn’t stop for anyone… As our longtime readers know, on a few occasions throughout the year we like to look back and pay tribute to the soap stars lost during this time. Back in June, we revisited fallen actors and actresses who the industry said goodbye to during the first half of the year so now join us as we continue to honor others who have since passed on…
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In June, tragedy stuck when All My Children alum Paul Avery and his wife passed away in a house fire. Fans will remember the actor from his time playing Hughie, the bartender at Foxy’s, in the 80s. Later that month, many said goodbye to soap-hopper Tom Ligon, best known for playing Lucas Prentiss on The Young and the Restless.
July brought more deaths, including that of Joanna Pettet, who played Detective Janet Baines on the primetime soap Knots Landing. ABC fave Randolph Mantooth, known for his roles as Alex Masters on Loving and The City as well as Richard Halifax on General Hospital, passed away at 80 and beloved As the World Turns and One Life to Live actor Scott Bryce (Craig Montgomery, Dr. Crosby) did as well a few days later.
In August, a couple of popular primetime stars who also appeared on soaps passed on, including The Sopranos‘ Vincent Pastore, who once did a stint on General Hospital as Maximus Gaimbetti and played Arthur “Rack ‘em up” Ross on One Life to Live. Soon after, word came that As the World Turns and Santa Barbara’s Jon Cypher (Dr. Alexander Keith, Arthur Donnely) had passed away as did Dukes of Hazzard’s Ben Jones (Cooter Davenport, As the World Turns’ Judge Manning) and on the 16th of the month, daytime and primetime alike were devastated to learn that Nashville star Hayden Panettiere had been found unresponsive at just 36…
With over 70 credits, she played Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light. In an audio post on her official Instagram, Beth Chamberlin, who appeared as her mom on the Springfield soap shared, “She was the most brilliant child actor I’ve ever seen.”
And while the stars will always live on through the characters they played, they will forever be missed by those who loved them, including their many fans.
Look back at some of the career highlights of the above mentioned, as well as other soap stars lost in 2026, by opening up the tribute photo gallery below.
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Image: Courtesy of The Everett Collection, J. Graylock/JPI
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<p>Ann Robinson’s granddaughter, Tori Bravo, confirmed to our sister site, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ann-robinson-dead-war-of-the-worlds-1236598147/" Hollywood Reporter</a>, that her grandmother, <em>The War of the Worlds</em> star, had passed away at 96 back on September 26, 2025. The actress turned up in daytime over the years on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> as Bobbie Jeannine Anderman and in a guest role on <em>General Hospital</em>. </p>
Image: Everett Collection / Everett Collection
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<p><em>One Life to Live</em> vet Erika Slezak (Victoria) <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/814839/lynn-benish-benesch-dead-one-life-to-live-meredith/" tribute to her fallen friend</a> Lynn Benesch, who played her character’s sister Meredith Lord on the Llanview soap. Benesch also had roles on <em>The Doctors</em> (Bonnie Evans) and <em>The Young and the Restless</em> (Beverly Stark).</p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
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<p><em>Dawson’s Creek</em> star James Van Der Beek <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/817282/james-van-der-beek-cause-of-death/" away at 48</a> on February 11, 2026. Though he will always be remembered for the leading role in the teen drama series, the actor also appeared in daytime on <em>As the World Turns</em> as Stephen Anderson in 1995.</p>
Image: Warner Brothers/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Actress Maria O’Brien passed away on February 24, 2026 and appeared on many series and films such as <em>Ave 43, Matlock</em> and <em>Protocol</em>. And in the daytime world, she will always be remembered for being an acting coach to many on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, whose <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/819594/stars-tribute-acting-coach-maria-obrien/" paid tribute to their dear friend</a>, <em>Sunset Beach</em> and <em>Passions</em>. </p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
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<p>Daytime fave Jennifer Runyon <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/820095/soap-star-dead-jennifer-runyon-sally-another-world/" away on March 6, 2026</a> at 65. The actress played Cindy on <em>A Very Brady Christmas</em> and had various other parts on series and films such as 1984’s <em>Ghostbusters</em>. However, one of her first roles was playing Sally Frame on <em>Another World</em> from 1981 to 1983.</p>
Image: Gene Trindl/TV Guide/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
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<p>Actress and model Judy Pace passed away on March 11, 2026 at 83. The first Black female actress to receive a long-term contract by Columbia Pictures, she starred in numerous series and will be remembered by daytime fans for playing Miss Kenneth on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> and Vickie Fletcher on <em>Peyton Place</em>.</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>An Oscar nominee for her portrayal of Lenny Bruce’s wife Honey in <em>Lenny</em>, the versatile actress passed away on March 23 at age 82 following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. In daytime, she is fondly remembered for her star turn as Delores Pierce, the Snyder brothers’ mom on <em>As the World Turns</em> in the late 1990s.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>The <em>Young & Restless</em> alum, who played both a judge and a nurse on the soap, died April 3 at age 66 of lung cancer. The actress, a familiar face in primetime, also appeared in the indie sudsers <em>Anacostia</em> and <em>Pretty the Series</em> (with Michael Taylor Gray above).</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>The veteran actor who played both Mary Mae’s son David in the ’90s and Nixon Falls’ Lenny on <em>General Hospital</em> passed away at age 73 on April 18 after a yearlong battle with cancer. He also appeared on <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> and nearly every primetime show under the sun.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson (2), Paul Skipper (3)/JPI
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<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Patrick Muldoon <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/824731/patrick-muldoon-dead-57/" away at 57</a> on April 19, 2026. Though he will always be remembered by daytime fans for playing <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Austin Reed, the actor appeared on <em>Melrose Place, Starship Troopers</em> and had over 90 credits to his name.</p>
Image: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
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<p>Jennifer Harmon passed away on May 9, 2026 at the age of 82. The Broadway star appeared on several daytime soaps, including <em>One Life to Live</em> (Cathy Craig Lord), <em>Guiding Light</em> (Jean Wetherwill), <em>Another World</em> (Judge Trullinger) and <em>Loving</em> (Lucretia Jones).</p>
Image: Courtesy Everett Collection, Aaron Montgomery/JPI (2)
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<p>Donald Gibb, best known for playing Ogre on the <em>Revenge of the Nerds</em> franchise, passed away on May 12, 2026, due to health complications as learned by <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/05/12/donald-gibb-dead/" The actor, who had over 100 credits to his name, also did a few stints in daytime, appearing as Worm on <em>The Young and the Restless</em> and as a leader on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>.</p>
Image: Buena Vista/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Charles Cioffi passed away on May 22, 2026 at the age of 90. The veteran actor had over 100 credits to his name and starred in Tom Cruise’s 1983 film <em>All the Right Moves</em>. Over the years, he turned up in daytime as well on such soaps as <em>Another World</em> (Kirk Laverty), <em>Ryan’s Hope</em> (Claudius Church), <em>As the World Turns</em> (Howard Lansing), <em>Days of Our Lives</em> (Ernesto Toscano) and <em>All My Children</em> (Lionel Glynn), not to mention a few of the older dramas. </p>
Image: 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved, Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>The actor best known to soap viewers for his 1980’s role as Jeremy Wendell on <em>Dallas</em> passed away on May 26, 2026. He was 98. With over 75 credits, one of Smithers’ first roles was on <em>Guiding Light</em> as Stan Norris. He also was a mainstay on <em>Peyton Place</em> as David Schuster and turned up in numerous primetime series. </p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
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<p>Ellen Weston passed away on May 28, 2026. Daytime fans may recall her roles on<em> Guiding Light</em> as Robin Fletcher, <em>Another World</em> as Karen Gregory (as well as Carol Pearson and Miss Parson) and <em>Young & Restless</em> as Suzanne Thurston. She was 87.</p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Singer, songwriter Peabo Bryson passed away as a result of a stroke on June 2, 2026. He will always be remembered in daytime for appearing on <em>One Life to Live</em> in 1985. It was then when he sang a lyrical version of the ABC soap’s theme song, which was added to the original a year later and used until 1992. His 1984 hit “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again” was used on <em>Santa Barbara</em> during the iconic helicopter scene featuring Kelly Capwell and Joe Perkins and his 1983 duet with Roberta Flack, “Tonight I Celebrate My Love,” was the theme song for Hope and Bo on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>. He also appeared on <em>All My Children</em> and his hit, “I Found Love,” which was nominated for a Daytime Emmy, often was played during scenes with Erica and Dimitri.</p>
Image: Universal Studios/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, Aaron Montgomery/JPI
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<p>On June 3, 2026, James Handy was found with a stab wound to his chest, murdered outside his home. The veteran actor, with over 141 credits to his resume, appeared on <em>Ryan’s Hope</em> as Red, <em>Search for Tomorrow</em> as Sergeant Leland Curry and as a governor on <em>Young & Restless</em> in scenes with Jess Walton’s Jill. Most recently, he played bartender Jimmy in the 2022 film <em>Top Gun: Maverick</em>. Handy was 81.</p>
Image: Bruce McBroom (2), Mario Casilli/TV Guide/Courtesy Everett Collection
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<p>Longtime TV actor Ronnie Schell passed away on June 12, 2026. He was most recognized for playing Private Duke Slater on <em>Gomer Pyle: USMC</em> and appeared as Frank Armsted on <em>Santa Barbara</em>. The star was 94. </p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>Another tragedy hit when Paul Avery, along with his wife, passed away on June 16, 2026 as a result of a house fire. The actor’s daughter announced the devastating news on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10116739991185279&set=a.10101193855251309" Daytime fans may recall Avery for playing Hughie, the bartender at Foxy’s, on <em>All My Children</em> in the 80s. </p>
Image: CBS/Getty Images
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<p>The beloved soap-hopper died on June 26, 2026, at age 85. Over the course of his decades-long career, he appeared on <em>A World Apart</em>, <em>Loving</em> and <em>Another World</em> but made perhaps his greatest impact on <em>Young & Restless</em>, where he played Lucas Prentiss in the ’80s (opposite Victoria Mallory as love interest Leslie Brooks and K.T. Stevens as Mommie Dearest Vanessa).</p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>A staple in primetime TV from the ’60s through the ’80s, the English-born actress died on July 7 at age 83. Though her roles spanned everything from miniseries <em>Captains and Kings</em> to the 007 spoof <em>Casino Royale</em> (pictured), soap fans will probably most vividly remember her from her recurring role as Det. Janet Baines on <em>Knots Landing</em>. Why the Dallas spinoff never paired her with Mac or Ben, we’ll never understand!</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (2)
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<p>The veteran actor, iconic owing to his work as John Gage on <em>Emergency!</em>, passed away at age 80 on July 9. In daytime, he played <span style="text-decoration: line-through">Clay Alden</span> Alex Masters on <em>Loving</em> as well as <em>The City</em> and Richard Halifax on <em>General Hospital</em>.</p>
Image: George De Sota/JPI (5)
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<p>Beloved soap vet <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/834260/scott-bryce-died/" Bryce passed away</a> on July 12, 2026 at 68. Daytime fans will always remember him for playing Craig Montgomery on <em>As the World Turns</em> from 1982 to 2008 and Dr. Crosby on <em>One Life to Live</em>.</p>
Image: Carsey-Werner/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
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<p>James Sloyan, best known for roles on <em>The Sting, Xanadu</em> and <em>Oh Madeline</em>, passed away on July 22, 2026. The actor also turned up on daytime soaps such as <em>The Doctors</em> as Al, <em>General Hospital</em> as Henry, <em>Young & Restless</em> as Harvey and played Faith Coleridge’s boyfriend, detective Mitch Bronski, on <em>Ryan’s Hope</em>. He was 86.</p>
Image: Shelly Doss/JPI
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<p>Vincent Pastore passed away on August 1, 2026. The veteran actor, best known for his role as Salvatore Bonpensiero on the hit series <em>The Sopranos</em>, also appeared on <em>General Hospital</em> for six episodes as Maximus Gaimbetti in 2008, as well as Arthur “Rack ‘em up” Ross on <em>One Life to Live</em> from 2003 to 2004. </p>
Image: Warner Bros. Television/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p>Ben Jones, best known for playing Cooter Davenport on <em>The Dukes of Hazzard</em>, passed away on August 9, 2026, as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10164904834969802&set=a.10151583078464802" by his wife</a> Alma Viator. The actor played Judge Manning on <em>As the World Turns</em> and also appeared on the primetime soap <em>Dallas</em>.</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (3)
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<p>August 3 marked the final curtain call for the prolific actor who was perhaps best known for walking the beat on <em>Hill Street Blues</em>. But Cypher, who died at the ripe old age of 94, had also made an impact on daytime, having passed through <em>As the World Turns</em> (as Dr. Alexander Keith),<em> General Hospital</em> (as Cassadine cohort Max Von Stadt) and<em> Santa Barbara</em> (as Michael and Heather’s father, Arthur Donnely). His primetime credits included recurring roles on <em>Dynasty</em> and <em>Knots Landing.</em></p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI (3)
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<p>Soap opera vet and Hollywood star Hayden Panettiere <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/838677/hayden-panettiere-dead/" away at 36</a> on August 16, 2026. With over 70 credits to her name, daytime fans will remember her for playing Tina and Cord’s daughter Sarah Roberts on <em>One Life to Live</em>, Lizzie Spaulding on <em>Guiding Light</em> and Juliette Barnes on the primetime soap <em>Nashville</em>.</p>
Image: Arthur Cohen/© NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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<p><em>Another World</em> alum Mark Mortimer passed away on September 23, 2026 after a battle with cancer, as first reported by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLocherRoom/posts/pfbid0DEjNuG2EgtDQTtiWBgcbMSxYKDwt2PrFWvdTu87kDFkgGWj7jH66FKgYbCCoGLL5l" Locher Room</a>. The actor played Nick Hudson from 1996 to 1999. He was 59 years old.</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC/Courtesy of the Everett (2), Sean Smith/JPI
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<p>Dennis Haskins passed away on September 27, 2026. Though best known for playing Principal Belding on <em>Saved by the Bell</em>, and with over 100 credits to his name, the actor appeared on <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> as <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/845715/dennis-haskins-dead/" exterminator who helped Pam trap Donna</a> in 2010.</p>
Image: CBS
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<p>On October 14, the <em>As the World Turns</em> leading man — who played Kim’s husband Nick Andropoulos in the early ’80s — died at age 97. He also appeared on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> and <em>Young & Restless</em> and was the god Apollo in a classic episode of the OG <em>Star Trek</em> series.</p>
Image: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
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<p>Alan Dysert passed away on October 23, 2026, as first reported by his wife Michele via the actor’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/actorsschoolusa/posts/pfbid0532L9nfgNq3DrZuTZC6UtMF2NzLwUR1Q9jsUBY7uGqMTxRE9uqJYt4qn4koNPYEBl" Soap fans will forever remember the actor for playing <em>All My Children’</em>s Sean Cudahy from 1980 to 1990. He was 75. </p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (4), Scott Enyart/TV Guide/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
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