These once-unknowns got their feet wet on sudsy soaps.
See which stars stirred up the pot on daytime TV before making it big.
When the episode aired in 1999, Banks was just getting started as an actress.
Brad Pitt on ‘Another World’; Bryan Cranston on ‘Loving’; Margot Robbie on ‘Neighbours’.Credit:NBC; ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Freevee/Courtesy Everett
Her character only appeared in one scene.
Bates played Phyllis Gillette, a role so small that two of her appearances were uncredited.
In 2011, Duhamel brieflyreprised his role as Leo, visiting Greenlee in a dream.
Elizabeth Banks; Inset: Elizabeth Banks on ‘All My Children’.Donato Sardella/Getty Images; Inset: ABC
From 1993 to 1995, the actress played troubled teen Kendall Hart onAll My Children.
In 2011,Gellar returned toAll My Childrenfor one episode.D.K.
In 1992, Stamos returned toGeneral Hospitalfor one episode this time playing himself.D.K.
Kathy Bates; Inset: Kathy Bates on ‘The Doctors’.Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Inset: ABC
The future Oscar winner (2015’sThe Revenant) appeared as the younger version of the character Mason Capwell.D.K.
He landed the role in 1997 and held it until 2000.
Athena Grant-Nash on Fox’s9-1-1, a character she’s portrayed since 2018.
Justin Hartley; Inset: Justin Hartley on ‘Passions’.Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBC via Getty Images; Inset: NBC
From 1980 to 1981, he played Tim Werner, a teenager with an alcohol problem, onGuiding Light.
Diggs played Adrian “Sugar” Hill, one of the men Dahlia Crede dated.D.K.
As Billy Douglas onOne Life to Live, he portrayed the first out gay teenager on daytime TV.
Guy Pearce on ‘Neighbors’; Guy Pearce arrives at the 97th annual Academy Awards nominees dinner in L.A. on Feb. 25, 2025.Tim Roney/Getty; VALERIE MACON/AFP
Hasselhoff played Snapper throughout the late-’70s and early-’80s.
He even reprised his role in several episodes in 2010.D.K.
The following year, Jordan was added to the cast ofAll My Children,where he stayed until 2006.
Amber Tamblyn; Inset: Amber Tamblyn on ‘General Hospital’.David Livingston/Getty Images; Inset: Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images
Rambin was in the second season of HBO’sTrue Detectivein 2015.
She also landed parts onHulu’sThe Path,NBC’sGonein 2017, andCBS’Fire Countryin 2024.M.
In the early ’90s, Hill appeared as Kira Johnson onAs the World Turns.D.K.
Shemar Moore; Inset: Shemar Moore on ‘The Young and the Restless’.Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Inset: Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images
Brewster found success once again on the small screen onDallasandLethal Weapon.M.
He briefly reprised the role in 2005.
She was nominated for three Daytime Emmys for the role.D.K.
Laurence Fishburne; Inset: Lauren Fishburne on ‘One Life to Live’.Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic; Inset: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
The actordied at age 93in September 2024.M.
Back in the mid-’90s, Martin was living la vida drama onGeneral Hospital.
He played Miguel Morez, a singer with a troubled past.D.K.
Julianne Moore; Inset: Julianne Moore on ‘As the World Turns’.C Flanigan/Getty Images; Inset: CBS via Getty Images
Hechedied following a tragic car accidentin August 2022 at the age of 53.M.
Of course, she also found further fame as Sgt.
Plus, she’s had major roles on TV shows likeI’m Dying Up HereandIKnow This Much Is True.
Josh Duhamel; Inset: Rebecca Budig and Josh Duhamel on ‘All My Children’.Noel Vasquez/Getty Images; Inset: Virginia Sherwood/ABC via Getty Images
Robot a role that earned him a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe in 2016 Peacock’sDr.
Death, andParamount+‘sDexter: Original Sin.
Davis’ first major role was as Nurse Betsy Chilson in 19 episodes ofGeneral Hospitalin 1991.
Sarah Michelle Gellar; Inset: Sarah Michelle Gellar on ‘All My Children’.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Inset: Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images
Later, she’d have notable parts onQuanticoandThe Edge of Sleep.M.
She has since become a year-round lead inHallmarkmovies.M.
She made her film debut inMean Girls, which launched a career including movies likeMamma Mia!
Margot Robbie on ‘Neighbours’; Margot Robbie attends the 35th annual Producers Guild Awards in L.A. on Feb. 25, 2024.Elyse Jankowski/WireImage
Melissa Fumero,One Life to Live
Playing Sgt.
Amy Santiago onBrooklyn Nine-Ninehas beenMelissa Fumero’s most famous role, but it hasn’t been her largest.
She also appeared as Adriana in a pair of episodes ofAll My Childrenin 2005.
John Stamos; Inset: John Stamos on ‘General Hospital’.Steve Granitz/WireImage; Inset: ABC
In 1991, she did a 19-episode stint as Julie Gibson on the Australian soap operaHome and Away.M.
Sulem
Ted Danson,SomersetandThe Doctors
A pair of daytime dramas kicked offTed Danson’s career.
Reeve was one of the actors who played Ben Harper, and was just 23 years old when cast.M.
Leonardo DiCaprio; Inset: Leonardo DiCaprio on ‘Santa Barbara’.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Inset: NBC
Alec Baldwin; Inset: Alec Baldwin on ‘The Doctors’.Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic; Inset: NBCU Photo Bank
Morgan Freeman; Inset: Morgan Freeman on ‘Ryan’s Hope’.Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images; Inset: ABC
Mark Hamill; Mark Hamill on ‘General Hospital’.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Inset: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives
Jensen Ackles; Inset: Jensen Ackles on ‘Days of Our Lives’.Phillip Chin/WireImage; Inset: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Demi Moore; Inset: Demi Moore on ‘General Hospital’.Joe Scarnici/Getty Images; Inset: Erik Hein/ABC via Getty Images
Angela Bassett on ‘Search for Tomorrow’; Angela Bassett attends 2024 Disney Upfront in NYC.NBC; John Nacion/FilmMagic
Hayden Panettiere; Inset: Hayden Panettiere and John Loprieno on ‘One Life to Live’.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images
Kevin Bacon; Inset: Kevin Bacon and Kristen Vigard on ‘Guiding Light’.Mike Pont/WireImage; Inset: CBS via Getty Images
Taye Diggs; Inset: Kevin Mambo and Taye Diggs on ‘Guiding Light’.D Dipasupil/FilmMagic; Inset: NBC
Ryan Phillippe; Inset: Ryan Phillippe on ‘One Life to Live’.Rachel Murray/Getty Images; Inset: Donna Svennevik/ABC via Getty Images
Brad Pitt; Inset: Brat Pitt on ‘Another World’.Jong-Hyun Kim/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images; Inset: NBC
Nathan Fillion; Inset: Robin Strasser and Nathon Fillion on ‘One Life to Live’.Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Inset: Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images
David Hasselhoff; Inset: David Hasselhoff and Trish Stewart on ‘The Young and the Restless’.Tim Whitby/WireImage; Inset: CBS via Getty Images
Michael B. Jordan; Inset: Michael B. Jordan on ‘All My Children’.George Pimentel/WireImage; Inset: Virginia Sherwood/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Leven Rambin; Inset: Leven Rambin on ‘All My Children’.Dominik Bindl/WireImage; Inset: ABC
Lauryn Hill; Inset: Lauryn Hill on ‘As the World Turns’.Shahar Azran/WireImage; Inset: CBS
Bryan Cranston on ‘Loving’; Bryan Cranston attends PaleyFest L.A. in 2023.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Monica Schipper/FilmMagic
Jordana Brewster; Inset: Jordana Brewster on ‘As the World Turns’.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images; Inset: CBS
Meg Ryan; Inset: Meg Ryan on ‘As the World Turns’.Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Inset: CBS via Getty Images
Paul Wesley; Inset: Paul Westley on ‘Guiding Light’.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images; Inset: CBS
Tom Selleck; Inset: Tom Selleck on ‘The Young and the Restless’.Ben Gabbe/WireImage; Inset: Archive Photos/Getty Images
Susan Sarandon; Inset: Susan Sarandon on ‘A World Apart’.Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Inset: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Kevin Kline attends the Chicago International Film Festival in 2014.Timothy Hiatt/WireImage
Chris Hemsworth on ‘Home and Away’; Chris Hemsworth attends the London premiere of ‘Transformers One’ on Sept. 19, 2024.Seven Network; Lia Toby/Getty
Robin Wright; Inset: Robin Wright and Stephen Meadows on ‘Santa Barbara’.Dave J Hogan/Getty Images; Inset: Everett Collection
Kelly Ripa; Inset: Kelly Ripa on ‘All My Children’.Vivien Killilea/Getty Images; Inset: Ann Limongello/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Mark Consuelos; Inset: Mark Consuelos on ‘All My Children’.Maury Phillips/Getty Images; Inset: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
James Earl Jones; Inset: James Earl Jones on ‘As the World Turns’.John Atashian/Getty Images; Inset: CBS
Kathleen Turner; Inset: Kathleen Turner on ‘The Doctors’.Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Inset: NBC
Ricky Martin; Inset: Ricky Martin and Lily Melgar on ‘General Hospital’.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images
Brittany Snow; Inset: Brittany Snow on ‘Guiding Light’.Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Inset: NBC
Lindsay Lohan; Inset: Tom Eplin and Lindsay Lohan on ‘Another World’.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Inset: NBC
Ray Liotta; Inset: Ray Liotta on ‘Another World’.Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images; Inset: Everett Collection
Judith Light; Inset: Judith Light on ‘One Life to Live’.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; Inset: Steve Fenn/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Anne Heche; Inset: Anne Heche on ‘Another World’.Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Inset: Alan F. Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Melissa Leo; Inset: Melissa Leo on ‘All My Children’.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Inset: Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Photo Archive
Christian Slater; Inset: Christian Slater on ‘Ryan’s Hope’.Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Inset: ABC
Lori Loughlin; Inset: Lori Loughlin on ‘The Edge of Night’.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage; Inset: Dianna Whitley/Getty Images
Kristin Davis; Inset: Kristin Davis on ‘General Hospital’.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Inset: ABC
Marcia Cross; Inset: Marcia Cross on ‘The Edge of Night’.Tibrina Hobson/WireImage; Inset: Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Lacey Chabert; Inset: Lacey Chabert on ‘All My Children’.Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic; Inset: Ann Limongello /Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Amanda Seyfried on ‘All My Children’; Amanda Seyfried attends the 2024 MoMA Film Benefit in NYC on Oct. 23, 2024.ABC/VIRGINIA SHERWOOD; Taylor Hill/WireImage
Melissa Fumero; Inset: Melissa Fumero on ‘One Life to Live’.Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images; Inset: Steve Fenn/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Kyra Sedgwick; Inset: Kyra Sedgwick on ‘Another World’.Desiree Navarro/WireImage; Inset: Everett Collection.
Tommy Lee Jones; Inset: Tommy Lee Jones on ‘One Life to Live’.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Inset: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Naomi Watts; Inset: Naomi Watts on ‘Home and Away’.Steve Granitz/WireImage; Inset: Seven Network
Isla Fisher on ‘Home and Away’; Isla Fisher attends the London premiere of ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ on Jan. 29, 2025.Seven Network; Mike Marsland/WireImage
Ellen Burstyn attends New York Women in Film and Television’s 39th annual Muse Awards in 2018.Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Ted Danson attends the FYC event for ‘The Good Place’ in 2019.Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Eva Longoria; Inset: Eva Longoria and Doug Davidson on ‘General Hospital’.Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Cliff Lipson/CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Christopher Reeve; Inset: Christopher Reeve on ‘Love Life’.Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images; Inset: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Marisa Tomei; Inset: Marisa Tomei on ‘As the World Turns’.Donato Sardella/Getty Images; CBS via Getty Images
