Entertainment

Then & Now: 14 Famous Actors Who Started Out on Soap Operas (PHOTOS)

EntertainmentPublished Sep 1, 2015
By Michele Marin
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As hard as it may be to believe, some of the most famous actors in Hollywood used daytime TV to springboard their careers. From Genoa City to Pine Valley, these hot Hollywood studs played drunken boyfriends, long-haired heartthrobs, and more OMG roles on daytime drama at one time.

Many of these famous actors went on to enjoy award-winning film and television careers, proving once again that no one should ever discount the daytime drama genre. Check out these 14 famous male actors who started out on soap oepras. 

Images via ABC; Jennifer Currell/Corbis

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Alec Baldwin
NBC; Photo Image Press/Corbis

Alec Baldwin

Between 1980 and 1982, Baldwin played a blackmailing sweet-talker named Billy Allison Aldrich on The Doctors. He graduated to nighttime soaps with a role on Knots Landing before joining SNL and later becoming a major movie star.

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Brad Pitt
NBC; Frank Trapper/Corbis

Brad Pitt

Join any Hollywood bus tour, and you'll likely swing by El Pollo Loco, where Pitt once wore a chicken suit to lure customers. Not long after, he snagged a role on Another World before finally breaking into major motion pictures. Today he's one of Hollwyood's most bankable stars.

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Christian Slater
ABC; Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Corbis

Christian Slater

This '80s heartthrob payed D.J. LaSalle on Ryan's Hope, the boyfriend of another up-and-coming actress, Baywatch's Yasmine Bleeth. He went on to score a lead role in the Legend of Bille Jean, which opened a slew of doors. Untamed Heart, True Romance and more movies are signature Slater films from the '90s, when he was at his peak.

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Christopher Reeve
CBS; Gregory Pace/Corbis

Christopher Reeve

America's favorite Superman was once on the long-running daytime series, Love of Life. Despite the gig, he continued with his acting lessons, and they paid off. He nailed his Superman screen test, and the rest is history. 

More from The Stir: Then & Now: 15 Famous Actresses Who Started Out on Soap Operas (PHOTOS)

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John Stamos
ABC; PG/Corbis

John Stamos

After an intense three-day audition, Stamos landed the role of Blackie on General Hospital and rose to teen idol status. He eventually left Port Charles to help raise his three fictional nieces as Uncle Jesse on Full House. These days he's producing the Netflix Full House revival as well as a new show on Fox titled Grandfathered.

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Josh Duhamel
ABC; Frank Trapper/Corbis

Josh Duhamel

Fergie's hubby won a Daytime Emmy for his portrayal of Leo du Pres on All My Children. The star of Transformers, Safe Haven and TV's Las Vegas is also dad to a son, Axl.

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Ryan Phillippe
ABC;Jennifer Currell/Corbis

Ryan Phillippe

Back in the day, Reese Witherspoon's ex played gay Billy Douglas on One Life To Live, starring in daytime TV's first gay sex scene. He hit it big with films such as Cruel Intentions and now stars on ABC's Secrets and Lies.

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Kevin Bacon
CBS; Andrew Kelly/Corbis

Kevin Bacon

Long before anyone was figuring out their six degrees to Kevin Bacon, he played the role of young alcoholic T.J. Werner on Guiding Light. He also had a stint on another soap, Search for Tomorrow, but Bacon left daytime drama when he scored his big film break in the 1982 movie, Diner. Like his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, he's one of Hollywood's most respected film and television stars. 

More from The Stir: 13 Oscar Winners Who Started Out on Soap Operas (PHOTOS)

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Leonardo DiCaprio
NBC; Photo Image Press/Corbis

Leonardo DiCaprio

This Hollywood heartthrob with a penchant for dating supermodels started out as young Mason Capwell on the soap opera Santa Barbara. Today he's an Academy Award winner and a conservationist.

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Ricky Martin
ABC; Frank Trapper/Corbis

Ricky Martin

Oh the hair! Back in the day, Martin was shaking his "bon bon" as Miguel Morez on General Hospital. The former Menudo singer has racked up multiple Grammys for several records since, discovering that his talents might be better suited to the stage.

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Shemar Moore
CBS; Byron Purvis/Corbis

Shemar Moore

This gorgeous actor heated up Genoa City as Malcom Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1995 to 2005. The current star of Criminal Minds resurfaced on the soap in September 2014, to the delight of fans. In addition to his acting career, he has a clothing line named "Baby Girl" (who knew?), and he's dating professional soccer player Shawna Gordon.

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Taye Diggs
CBS; Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Corbis

Taye Diggs

Long before he helped Stella get her groove back, Taye starred on the longest-running soap opera of all time, Guiding Light. He later enjoyed critical acclaim as Benny in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show, Rent. Roles on television shows such as Will & Grace and Private Practice followed, and he recently announced his return to Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Itch.

More from The Stir: 17 Celebrities Who You Won't Believe Used to Live In Their Cars (PHOTOS)

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Tommy Lee Jones
ABC; Infusla-41?Corbis

Tommy Lee Jones

Oh, the sideburns! Jones played Dr. Mark Toland on One Life to Live from 1970 to 1975, but eventually became known for film roles, such as that of U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard in The Fugitive. Today he's a major player in Hollywood.

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David Hasselhoff
CBS; Simon Earl/Corbis

David Hasselhoff

This TV star played Dr. Snapper Foster for six years on The Young and the Restless -- long before Knight Rider and Baytwatch. He made a soap opera comeback in 2010, much to the delight of YNR fans.

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