NEWS: Alex Stevens, Greg Rikaart, Stuart Damon, Mary Beth Evans, Matt Cedeño, Tyler Christopher

'Dark Shadows' stuntman Alex Stevens dead at 79
Born Alex Poulos in Connecticut in 1936, Stevens got his start at Wild West City, a western theme park in Netcong, N.J. He performed stunts for Broadway shows while tending bar before landing his most famous role as the werewolf on Dark Shadows. Despite appearing in just 23 episodes of the series, Stevens managed to create one of the show's most iconic characters. (Well, two of its most iconic characters, since he played the werewolf incarnations of both Chris Jennings and Quentin Collins.) It was a popular enough gig to earn him a spot — in full werewolf drag — on the television game show What's My Line in 1970.

Out actor Greg Rikaart wants his character, Kevin, on 'The Young and the Restless' to be revealed as gay
"I want him to come out," the actor told Gay Star News on the red carpet at the Daytime Emmys. "I think it would be a super interesting story to tell,' he says. 'I think it would be more socially responsible than just bringing on a gay character - to have someone on the canvas that the audience knows and thinks of as family and takes that (coming out) journey."

How a 'General Hospital' Star and Three Other Hollywood Veterans Began Swapping Stories (and Busting Balls) Every Morning
The ball-busting quartet sitting in the corner by the window in the dining commissary at the MPTF Country House's Fran and Ray Stark Villa started as a table for two: David Kramer, 81, began dining with Mickey Callan, 79, soon after the latter moved to the campus. "Then Bridget [Hanley Swackhamer] showed up and Mickey hit on her and then changed his mind, then I hit on her and I wasn't going to let her go," Kramer says. "We left our original table and took a place where the three of us could be together, and Stuart [Damon] asked one day, 'Could I join your table?' and we just stood up and we applauded and he sat down and that was it."

Mary Beth Evans Back on Contract with 'Days of our Lives'
"I am back on contract, working like crazy and loving the stories I am playing. It is crazy how it turned around."

SoapFest benefit May 22-25 features TV soap-opera actors
SoapFest charity weekend kicks off with A Night of Stars, Saturday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at Bistro Soleil at the historic Old Marco Inn, 100 Palm St.

Actors scheduled to appear: Days of our Lives' Melissa Archer (Serena) and Christopher Sean (Paul); The Young and the Restless' Jeff Branson (ex-Ronan), Christian LeBlanc (Michael), Sean Carrigan (Stitch) and John Driscoll (ex-Chance); and General Hospital's Ryan Carnes (Lucas) and Ryan Paevey (West)/

Sister Act: Hayley and Juliet Mills (Passions) bring "Legends" to Australia
The pair are taking on roles as feuding, fading stars in the vein of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in James Kirkwood’s 1986 comedy "Legends!," which will tour to Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne throughout 2015. In the play, which originally starred Broadway icons Carol Channing and Mary Martin, Hayley plays a former ingenue Leatrice Monsee, while Juliet plays her rival Sylvia Glenn.

'EastEnders' actor who lost father at sea assists in migrants rescues
Kristian Kiehling is in Malta to participate in the Moas search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean. His connection with Moas came about not only because he was a migrant in real life and a migrant in a TV series, but the 38-year-old also lost his father at sea.

Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Joins TNA Wrestling
Said Corgan: "Some of the biggest money-drawing feuds in the history of professional wrestling were based on 'real things.' You start with that foundational level, then you put that with a systemic way a wrestling company works, and somewhere in-between you get into real, sustained drama."

'Z Nation' Cast Adds Matt Cedeño for Season 2
Z Nation centers around a group of survivors who are crossing the country with a possible cure for the zombie apocalypse. Per Deadline, Cedeño (ex-Brandon, Days of our Lives) will play Vasquez, a mysterious, rugged bounty hunter with questionable motives who joins our ragtag team of zombie-fighting heroes.

Stagnant viewership for South Africa's SABC raises concerns
There's ongoing concern over the SABC's audience share which is flat at 53%, with the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi who cautioned that the public broadcaster will have to grow its audience. On SABC3, the Days of our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful provide strong lead-ins into the primetime schedule

'General Hospital' star Tyler Christopher welcomes daughter with wife Brienne
According to a May 3 tweet from Christopher, he and his wife Brienne welcomed a baby girl on Sunday.

Jayne Meadows Dies at 95; Widow of Steve Allen Was Nominated for 3 Emmys
Meadows guest-starred on The Bold and the Beautiful in 1993.

Amber Tamblyn Celebrates GENERAL HOSPITAL's 50th Anniversary: 'Where I Learned Everything About My Craft'

Amber Tamblyn with Stuart Damon, Leslie Charlson and
John Ingle on the set of GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1999.
- Photo: ABC

Amber Tamblyn, who originated the role Emily on GENERAL HOSPITAL and played it for six years, posted a beautiful message on her Facebook page Tuesday in honor of the show's 50th anniversary:

Yesterday was General Hospital's 50th Anniversary and I couldn't be more proud to call myself part of their family. GH is where I learned everything about my craft- the art of emotional intelligence, of listening, of interpreting, of setting a scene on fire. Its where I held Stuart Damon and wept when my real life Grandmother passed away, and where Stuart Damon held me and wept when Anna Lee passed away.

Its where I learned how to be disciplined in what I do. Where I found myself, as an actress, as a woman, and as veteran. Its where I learned what having REAL fans in your corner can do for you: carry you into a confidence that most actresses only dream of.

GENERAL HOSPITAL 50th Anniversary Episode Is Flawless (Many Spoilers!)

John Beradino played Dr. Steve Hardy for 33 years

GENERAL HOSPITAL's 50th anniversary was Monday but the actual anniversary show aired on Tuesday due to a March pre-emption. The episode was worth the wait, a flawless tribute to the past 50 years in Port Charles which started with a portrait of Dr. Steve Hardy (the late John Beradino) which was going to be hung in the General Hospital boardroom.

Below are some thoughts on the episode (spoilers for those on the west coast)

In the very first episode of GENERAL HOSPITAL on April 1, 1963 head nurse Jessie Brewer (the late Emily McLaughlin) uttered the show's first line. On Tuesday, head nurse Epiphany Johnson (Sonya Eddy) said the first line, and it was a nod to GH creators Frank and Doris Hursley.

Chris Robinson & Stuart Damon Returning To GENERAL HOSPITAL

GH's Rick, Monica & Alan in 1980

Chris Robinson has been added to the list of GENERAL HOSPITAL actors returning for the soap's 50th anniversary, according to TV Guide Magazine.

Robinson's character, Rick Webber, will air April 1 in scenes with Rick's former love Monica (Leslie Charleson).

"I could never have predicted I'd be rejoining the group but I guess anything is possible on a soap, even when you've been dead 10 years!" says Robinson, whose GH character was killed off in 2002. "I looked pretty scruffy when I showed up at GH," he says. "I had long hair and a flavor saver on my chin because of the movie, so they tried to clean me up. They wanted me to look as much like Rick as possible, so they bring out this old photo they found in the files. It was me 35 years ago before I was cast on GH! I said, 'You want me to look like that?'"

GENERAL HOSPITAL Classic Photo Of The Day (1980 Cast)

In honor of GENERAL HOSPITAL's upcoming 50th anniversary (GH50), We Love Soaps will be posting a "Classic Photo of the Day" for the rest of the month. Today's photo was taken in December 1980 and features the large cast the show had during its ratings heyday.

Kneeling: Philip Tanzini (Jeremy), Bradley Green (Tommy)

Front Row: (L-R): Shell Kepler (Amy), Louise Hoven (Beverly), Brooke Bundy (Diana), Genie Francis (Laura), Gail Ramsey (Susan), Susan Pratt (Anne), Emily McLaughlin (Jessie), John Beradino (Steve), Rachem Ames (Audrey), Loanne Bishop (Rose), Denise Alexander (Lesley), Bob Hastings (Burt)

Second Row: Todd Davis, Lisa Lindgren (Kathy), Bianca Ferguson (Claudia), Frank Maxwell (Dan), Lieux Dressler (Alice), Robin Mattson (Heather), Tristan Rogers (Robert), Chris Robinson (Rick), Richard Sarradet (Howard)

Third Row: Rick Moses (Jefferson), Anthony Geary (Luke), Anna Lee (Lila), Norma Connolly (Ruby), Shelby Hiatt (Jane), Richard Dean Anderson (Jeff), Doug Sheehan (Joe), Pat Renella (Dr. Nelson)

Back Row: Jacklyn Zeman (Bobbie), Susan Brown (Gail), Stuart Damon (Alan), David Lewis (Edward)

GENERAL HOSPITAL Classic Photo Of The Day (Gloria Monty and the 1981 Cast)

In honor of GENERAL HOSPITAL's upcoming 50th anniversary (GH50), We Love Soaps will be posting a "Classic Photo of the Day" for the rest of the month. Today's photo was taken in September 1981 and features executive producer Gloria Monty surrounded by the cast.

50 Greatest Soap Couples: #20 Alan & Monica From GENERAL HOSPITAL

COUPLE: Alan Quartermaine & Monica Bard Webber
SHOW: GENERAL HOSPITAL
RANK: 20
PLAYED BY:
Alan: Stuart Damon
Monica: Leslie Charleson
YEARS: 1977-2008

STORY:
Alan came to Port Charles to determine if his foundation would support building a new cardiac wing at General Hospital.  Monica was smitten with the wealthy doctor and the two of them began a romance.  Monica had a complicated history with Dr. Rick Webber, Alan was incredibly jealous and things became even more complicated in a hurry.  Despite questions about their relationship, Alan and Monica were married.  Eventually Monica had an affair with Rick which tore the couple apart.  AJ was born and eventually it was revealed he was Alan's son and not Rick's.  Alan refused to divorce Monica, afraid of losing his son.  So they stayed together, and bickered, and life at the Quartermaine mansion would never be the same.

CLASSIC CLIP: Alan & Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL 1997

Alan gave Monica another anniversary gift in 1997 and then they talked about their relationship following by a musical montage of their highlights. Watch the clip below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Alan & Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL 1977

Rick came to GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1977 to determine if his foundation would finance a new cardiac wing at the hospital. Watch the clip below in which Monica says, "I'm totally non-combative." (famous last words):

CLASSIC CLIP: Alan & Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL 2007

In 2007, a month before Alan died, Alan and Monica Quartermaine discussed what happened the night Rick Webber died. Watch the clip below:

CLASSIC CLIP: Alan & Monica in GENERAL HOSPITAL 1983

Monica was furious with Alan in 1983 on GENERAL HOSPITAL when he brought Jason to the mansion. Watch the clip below:

50 Greatest Soap Actors: #22 Stuart Damon

NAME: Stuart Damon
RANK: 22
SOAP ROLES: Jim Ford, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (2010); Ralph Manzo, AS THE WORLD TURNS (2009); Alan Quartermaine, GENERAL HOSPITAL (1977-2008); Alan Quartermaine, PORT CHARLES (1997-2002)

AWARDS:
1999 Daytime Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1999 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Favorite Veteran
1997 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1996 Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1996 Soap Opera Digest Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor: Daytime
1991 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1990 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Comic Actor: Daytime
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actor: Daytime
1988 Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actor: Daytime
1984 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1983 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
1982 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

COMMENTS FROM THE PANEL:
Damon L. Jacobs:  Rarely has an artist excelled in illuminating the subtle yet complicated motivations of his character.  Mr. Damon spent 30 years treating us to his brilliant yet deceptively simple interpretation of Dr. Alan Quartermaine on GENERAL HOSPITAL.  He could infuse outrageously fascinating subtext to the very best and worst dialogue at his disposal, and had plenty of opportunities to do both during his tenure on this ABC soap.  His recent short-term stints as a sociopathic mob boss on AS THE WORLD TURNS, and as a politically corrupt official on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, both demonstrate that we have only scratched the surface of this artist's genius.  With any luck his beloved audience will continue to witness the unraveling layers of Damon's gravitas.