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