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15 Stars You Forgot Started on Soaps!

By Chris Eades

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Many Hollywood stars launched their careers in soap operas, and actors like Julianne Moore (Frannie, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and John Stamos (ex-Blackie, GENERAL HOSPITAL) are well known for their history in daytime.

But browse through this gallery to see some actors you may not have realized appeared on soaps, such as Susan Sarandon, Mark Hamill, and James Earl Jones!

For more on your favorite stars, keep reading Soaps In Depth magazine!

  1. Susan Sarandon

    ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Noam Galai/WireImage
    Susan Sarandon played Patrice Kahlman on A WORLD APART in the early '70s, as well as Sarah Fairbanks on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.

  3. Mark Hamill

    ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Mike Marsland/WireImage
    From 1972-73, Mark Hamill played the recurring role of Kent Murray on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

  5. Jackee Harry

    Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Maury Phillips/Getty Images
    Jackée Harry played Lily Mason on ANOTHER WORLD from 1983-86.

  6. Ray Liotta

    NBC Universal, Inc.; NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
    One of Ray Liotta’s earliest roles was ANOTHER WORLD’s Joey Perrini, which he played from 1980-81.

  7. Tommy Lee Jones

    Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Gary Miller/Getty Images
    Tommy Lee Jones played ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Dr. Mark Toland in the '70s.

  9. Jane Krakowski

    Alan Singer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic
    Jane Krakowski played Theresa Rebecca (T.R.) Kendall on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW from 1984-86.

  10. Laurence Fishburn

    ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
    From 1973-76, Laurence Fishburn played Josh Hall on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

  11. Lindsay Lohan

    Barry King/WireImage; David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
    At the age of 10, Lindsay Lohan debuted as Alexandra “Alli” Fowler on ANOTHER WORLD in 1996 and played the recurring role for a year.

  13. James Earl Jones

    CBS via Getty Images; Santiago Felipe/Getty Images
    James Earl Jones played Dr. Jerry Turner on AS THE WORLD TURNS as well as Dr. Jim Frazier on GUIDING LIGHT in the ‘60s.

  14. Jesse Mc Cartney

    Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images; Tom Briglia/Wireimage
    While also recording and performing as a pop star, Jesse McCartney played ALL MY CHILDREN’s JR Chandler from 1998-2001.

  15. Julian Mc Mahon

    E.J. Carr/NBCU Photo Bank; Kevin Mazur/WireImage
    Australian actor Julian McMahon made his American television debut as Ian Rain on ANOTHER WORLD, a role he played from 1993-95.

  17. Morgan Fairchild

    CBS via Getty Images; Angela Weiss/Getty Images
    Morgan Fairchild launched her acting career as Jennifer Pace on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, a role she played from 1973-77.

  18. Ryan Phillipe

    Steve Fenn/ABC via Getty Images; J. Countess/Getty Images
    Ryan Phillipe’s career began when he played daytime’s first gay teen, Billy Douglas, on ONE LIFE TO LIVE from 1992-93.

  19. Lacey Chabert

    Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images; Michael Tran/FilmMagic
    Lacey Chabert played Erica Kane’s daughter, Bianca Montgomery, on ALL MY CHILDREN from 1992-93.

  21. Lori Loughlin

    ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
    Lori Loughlin played Jody Travis on THE EDGE OF NIGHT from 1980-83.

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