In Loving Memory: A Tribute to the Soap Greats That 2023 Has Taken From Us
Credit: John Paschal/JPI; Greg Doherty/WireImage/Getty Images; Harry Langdon/Getty Images
As we head toward the last few months of 2023, join us as we look back and remember those beloved daytime stars who we’ve lost since the beginning of the year. Back in April, we touched base on some of the news that left the soap community mourning, including the passing of actors such as Ryan’s Hope, All My Children and As the World Turns’ Michael Levin (Jack; Dr. Gould; John) and Passions’ Ben Masters (Julian), as well as the tragedies surrounding the loss of General Hospital actress Annie Wersching (ex-Amelia) and Days of Our Lives alum Cody Longo (ex-Nicholas).
And the following month, word came that daytime had to say goodbye to one of its greats when the son of As the World Turns and The Doctors star Elizabeth Hubbard (Lucinda; Althea) had announced that the actress had taken her final bow on April 8, 2023, at the age of 89.
“I’m sorry to say with a broken heart my mum passed over the weekend,” Jeremy D. Bennett stated two days following his mother’s passing. “Thank you for being an unmovable rock that guided me through life. I will try to honour your memory for as long as I live.”
At the end of April, news came that TV personality and talk show host Jerry Springer had died at 79. Though he’ll always be remembered for his talk show, in 2007, he turned up on Days of Our Lives in a scene with Nick and Chelsea as a Vegas gambler named Pete and also appeared briefly on Sunset Beach.
And in May, daytime was rocked to its core to learn of the sudden passing of beloved General Hospital vet Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie). Friends and fans of the late, great actress rushed to social media in disbelief and to express their sadness over the devastating loss that had been shared by the ABC soap’s executive producer, Frank Valentini. Of the actress who played the Port Charles role since 1977, he expressed, “Just like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and true professional that brought so much positive energy with her to work.”
News of Brett Hadley’s passing in June left his former Young & Restless castmate to recall to Soap Opera Digest that he had the “biggest smile, and the believability of he and Doug Davidson (ex-Paul) being father and son was like no other.” And we’ll never forget the many years watching him as Paul’s father Carl Williams.
More losses came, including soap hopper Nicolas Coster, as well as Jeffrey Carlson, who played glam-rock star Zarf on All My Children, and when news came of Andrea Evans’ passing, fans and former castmates mourned the death of the soap vet who lost her battle with cancer at 66. Erika Slezak, who played Evans’ onscreen sister Viki on One Life to Live, joined Michael Fairman for a special tribute to the actress who will always be remembered for her various daytime roles, including Llanview’s Tina Lord.
Then mid-September, daytime mourned the loss of soap vet and Emmy winner Biller Miller, who passed away at only 43, two days before his birthday. His fans and former castmates flooded the internet with their condolences to share memories of the actor who played Billy Abbott on Young & Restless, Drew Cain on General Hospital and Richie Novak on All My Children.
Jason Thompson, who currently plays the role of Genoa City’s Billy, expressed, “I’m so sorry and saddened to hear about my friend, Billy Miller. Heartbreaking. He was funny, had a great laugh and very talented. Light and love to his family and friends.”
And Elizabeth Hendrickson added, “This hole in my heart will never be filled. Goodnight, sweet Billy.”
As with those who have passed before them, the stars will never be forgotten and will live on through the characters they played… We invite our readers to leave their memories of the fallen in our comment section.