In Memoriam: Remembering Those We Lost in 2015

We said goodbye to a number of entertainment icons and legends in 2015 along with many other familiar faces in front of and behind the camera, including from the world of daytime and primetime soap operas. We Love Soaps remembers their contributions fondly.

H. Wesley Kenney

H. Wesley Kenney passed away on January 13. He was 85. In 1968, Kenney left a directing job at The Doctors when he landed on the series that he may well be most known for, Days of our Lives, for which he directed and produced for seven years. After leaving to pursue other directorial projects, Kenney returned to Days of our Lives as an Executive Producer to help transition the show from half-hour episodes to hour-long episodes. Kenney went on to work on many of the most prominent daytime serials, directing and serving as executive producer on The Young and Restless from 1982-87 and for General Hospital from 1987-89.

Anne Kirkbride

Longtime Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride passed away on January 19. She was 60. Kirkbride first showed up on Coronation Street, the world's longest-running active television soap opera, in 1972 as Deirdre Barlow, a teenager with a handful of lines. Within a few years, she had entered into a short-lived marriage with one character and then a romance and marriage with another, Ken Barlow.

Deirdre Barlow Dies on 'Coronation Street' (Video)

William Roache stars as 

Coronation Street was Wednesday's most-watched show in the UK as 6.3 million tuned in for Deirdre Barlow's death. Actress Anne Kirkbride played the role of Deirdre for 42 years, until her death on January 19, 2015.

In the episode, Deirdre's pal Bev (Susie Blake) returned to Weatherfield to deal the crushing news to Ken (Bill Roache) and Deirdre's daughter, Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), as the pair were finalizing plans for her welcome home party.

Roache is the longest running actor in the same role in soap opera history, breaking Don Hastings' run of nearly 50 consecutive years shortly after As the World Turns finished its run in 2010.

Watch the Barlows learn about Deirdre's death below:

'Coronation Street' Star Anne Kirkbride Dead at 60

William Roache spoke about co-star Anne Kirkbride at Wednesday night’s National Television Awards.

Longtime Coronation Street star Anne Kirkbride has died. She was 60.

"There are no words to describe the sense of grief we feel at Anne's passing," executive producer Kieran Roberts said in the post. "We know only too acutely how much Anne meant to the millions of people who watched her create the legendary character of Deirdre Barlow."

Kirkbride first showed up on Coronation Street, the world's longest-running active television soap opera, in 1972 as Deirdre Barlow, a teenager with a handful of lines. Within a few years, she had entered into a short-lived marriage with one character and then a romance and marriage with another, Ken Barlow (William Roache, who'd been on the show since its inception in 1960).