50 Greatest Soap Couples: #42 Jeff & Penny From AS THE WORLD TURNS

COUPLE: Jeff Baker & Penny Hughes
SHOW: AS THE WORLD TURNS
RANK: 42
PLAYED BY:
Jeff: Mark Rydell
Penny: Rosemary Prinz
YEARS: 1956-1962

STORY:
Jeff and Penny met in high school, quickly fell in love and eloped.  Penny's family had the marriage annulled because Penny was underage.  The couple couldn't be forced apart though and in 1959 they married again, this time with their families present.  Much drama would fill their lives as Jeff went on trial for murder, became an alcoholic, and joined his family's business which created a riff between him and Penny (Jeff wasn't a good businessman and his mother, Grace, and Penny both knew it).  Jeff left town and a pregnant Penny lost their baby.  When Jeff returned he had found his niche--as a singer.  He tragically died in a car wreck though causing Penny to develop amnesia.