Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

"History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

Generations included Martin Luther King Jr.
in its opening sequence.

1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old.

The Peyton Place episode scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET that night was preempted.

21 years later, in 1989, Generations became the first daytime soap opera to premiere with an African-American core family. The show's opening sequence included a shot of Dr. King.

1975: On Another World, Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) came over for the first dinner with Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wydham) at the Cory mansion.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

Generations included Martin Luther King Jr.
in its opening sequence.

1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old.

The Peyton Place episode scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET that night was preempted.

21 years later, in 1989, Generations became the first daytime soap opera to premiere with an African-American core family. The show's opening sequence included a shot of Dr. King.

1975: On Another World, Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) came over for the first dinner with Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wydham) at the Cory mansion.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

"All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

Generations included Martin Luther King Jr.
in its opening sequence.

1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old.

The Peyton Place episode scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET that night was preempted.

21 years later, in 1989, Generations became the first daytime soap opera to premiere with an African-American core family. The show's opening sequence included a shot of Dr. King.

1975: On Another World, Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) came over for the first dinner with Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wydham) at the Cory mansion.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

"The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect is already in the cause."
― Henri Louis Bergson

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

GENERATIONS included Martin Luther King Jr.
in its opening sequence.

1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old.

The PEYTON PLACE episode scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET that night was preempted.

21 years later, in 1989, GENERATIONS became the first daytime soap opera to premiere with an African-American core family. The show's opening sequence included a shot of Dr. King.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) came over for the first dinner with Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wydham) at the Cory mansion.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

"There is no present or future, only the past happening over and over again - now."
- Eugene O'Neill

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

GENERATIONS included Martin Luther King Jr.
in its opening sequence.

1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old.

The PEYTON PLACE episode scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET that night was preempted.

21 years later, in 1989, GENERATIONS became the first daytime soap opera to premiere with an African-American core family. The show's opening sequence included a shot of Dr. King.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) came over for the first dinner with Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wydham) at the Cory mansion.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

On this date in...

GENERATIONS included Martin Luther King Jr.
in its opening sequence.

1968: Just after 6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. was fatally shot while standing on the balcony outside his second-story room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader was in Memphis to support a sanitation workers' strike and was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the jaw and severed his spinal cord. King was pronounced dead after his arrival at a Memphis hospital. He was 39 years old.

The PEYTON PLACE episode scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET that night was preempted.

21 years later, in 1989, GENERATIONS became the first daytime soap opera to premiere with an African-American core family. The show's opening sequence included a shot of Dr. King.

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Dennis (Mike Hammett) and Iris (Beverlee McKinsey) came over for the first dinner with Mac (Douglass Watson) and Rachel (Victoria Wydham) at the Cory mansion.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 30)

On this date in...

1958: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Bill and Mike tried to convince Dalton there may be mitigating circumstances in the case, but he insisted on moving forward with the prosecution as quickly as possible.

1976: On ANOTHER WORLD, John told Pat he was foolish to believe they ever shared their lives, and insisted Pat never loved him.

1981: Liz Smith ran side-by-side pictures of Joel Crothers and mustache look-a-like Tom Selleck in her New York Daily News column. "I suggest somebody rustle up a story about two brothers, or two guys who look too much alike, as a feature movie for [them]," she wrote.

2001: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Rose was sure Holden was going to pick her over Lily.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 20)

On this date in...

1930: The soap opera was born, with the debut of the first episode of Irna Phillips’ PAINTED DREAMS on WGN Radio in Chicago. The show is widely recognized by broadcast historians as the very first soap opera. The show ran on WGN and later CBS Radio until July 1943.

Click here to read Rob Wargo's in-depth feature from the 80th anniversary of the show in 2010.

Today in Soap Opera History (April 4)

On this date in...

1975: On ANOTHER WORLD, Dennis and Iris came over for the first dinner with Mac and Rachel at the Cory mansion.

1980: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Logan and Raven had it out over Jaimey.

Today in Soap Opera History (January 30)

On this date in...

1911: Two future soap stars were born. Ronald Long played Evans Baker on LOVE OF LIFE in the 1950s. He died in 1986 at age 75. Hugh Marlowe played Jim Matthews on ANOTHER WORLD for many years. He died in 1982 at age 71.

1958: On THE EDGE OF NIGHT, Bill and Mike tried to explain to Dalton that there may be mitigating circumstances, but he cut them off and insisted on moving forward with the prosecution as quickly as possible.

1976: On ANOTHER WORLD, John told Pat he was foolish to believe they ever shared their lives, and insisted Pat never loved him.

1981: Liz Smith ran side-by-side pictures of Joel Crothers and mustache look-a-like Tom Selleck in her New York Daily News column. "I suggest somebody rustle up a story about two brothers, or two guys who look too much alike, as a feature movie for [them]," she wrote.

1985: On AS THE WORLD TURNS, Kim's absence was driving Bob crazy.

Today in Soap Opera History (October 20)

On this date in...

1930: The soap opera was born, with the debut of the first episode of Irna Phillips’ PAINTED DREAMS. Although the series had a relatively brief network run, compared to Ms. Phillips’ other triumphs, it is widely recognized by broadcast historians as the first very soap opera. Click here to read Rob Wargo's feature on the anniversary from last year.

April 4 Birthdays

Luke Halpin (ex-Pete, YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE) - 64
Derek Thompson (Charlie, CASUALTY) - 63
Phil Morris (ex-Tyrone, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 52

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Dorothy Malone (ex-Constance, PEYTON PLACE) - 86
Bernard Lloyd (Joe, CASUALTY) - 77
Tammy Grimes (ex-Mrs. Haversham, LOVING) - 77
Daphne Ashbrook (ex-Kathryn, FALCON CREST) - 48
Zoe Dawson (ex-Louise, DOCTORS) - 32

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Daytime veteran Barbara Berjer (ANOTHER WORLD, AS THE WORLD TURNS, GUIDING LIGHT) died on this day in 2002 at age 81.

Find out who is celebrating a birthday today below.

Simon MacCorkindale Has Died At Age 58

British actor Simon MacCorkindale, who starred in the BBC series Casualty and the U.S. primetime soap Falcon Crest, has died of cancer at age 58.

Publicist Max Clifford said MacCorkindale died on Thursday of bowel cancer in a London clinic.

MacCorkindale appeared in 59 episodes of Falcon Crest from 1984 to 1986 as womanizing lawyer Greg Reardon, and took the lead in the short-lived series Manimal. In Britain, he appeared in the long-running hospital drama Casualty as consultant Harry Harper from 2002 to 2007.

He played Captain Georg von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" on stage in London in 2008-2009.

MacCorkindale's first marriage to Fiona Fullerton ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife and fellow actor, Susan George. He had no children.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Luke Halpin (ex-Pete, YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE) - 63
Derek Thompson (Charlie, CASUALTY) - 62
Phil Morris (ex-Tyrone, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 51

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Dorothy Malone (ex-Constance, PEYTON PLACE) - 85
Bernard Lloyd (Joe, CASUALTY) - 76
Tammy Grimes (ex-Mrs. Haversham, LOVING) - 76
Daphne Ashbrook (ex-Kathryn, FALCON CREST) - 47
Zoe Dawson (ex-Louise, DOCTORS) - 31

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Sandra Dickinson (ex-Debbie, CASUALTY) - 61

Michael N. Harbour Has Passed Away

The actor Michael N. Harbour, who has died of cancer aged 63, was a well-known face on television and the West End stage for more than 30 years, forging a special relationship with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Royal in Stratford, east London, and winning the approval of Arthur Miller for his portrayal of John Proctor in a BBC production of The Crucible in 1980.

Harbour also played Alan on DOCTORS and Trevor on CASUALTY.

Today's Soap World Birthdays

Derek Thompson (Charlie, CASUALTY) - 61
Phil Morris (ex-Tyrone, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS) - 50