Soap Opera Alumni: Respected Film, TV Actors and Actresses with Soaps on Their Resumes

For decades, soap operas have always labored under the impression that its actors are either melodramtic or simply can't act, but nothing could be further from the truth. While daytime has cultivated many terrific actors whose legend is well-known even among young soap fans (the indomitable Beverlee McKinsey comes to mind), there have been many well-known actors and celebrities who cut their teeth on daytime drama. Here's a list of some actors who make up of the soap opera alumni.

All My Children has a wealth of alumni who was done everything from theater, film, and television. Some of the more well-known alumni from this soap include:

Mischa Barton (The O.C.)
Kathy Bates (The Titanic, Fried Green Tomatoes, Misery)
Timothy Busfield (Studio 60, The West Wing)
Kim Delaney (NYPD Blue)
Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas)
Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica)
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Lauren Holly (Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigation Service, Dumb & Dumber)
Debbi Morgan (The Hurricane, Eve's Bayou)
Kelly Ripa (Live with Regis & Kelly)

Another World, though now dearly departed, has cast a lot dynamic and award-winning actors that have lit up the big screen and very big ways. They include:

Morgan Freeman (Batman Begins, Million Dollar Baby)
Ray Liotta (Wild Hogs, Smith, Goodfellas)
Lindsey Lohan (Georgia Rule, A Prairie Home Companion)
Brad Pitt (Mr & Mrs. Smith, Ocean's Eleven)

Under the direction of legendary headwriter Douglas Marland, As the World Turns became a training ground for a stunningly diverse group of actors (and one rapper/singer) that now include Academy award winners, Grammy winners, and well-known indie stalwarts. They are:

William Fichtner (Prison Break, Invasion)
Lauryn Hill (The Fugees, solo career)
Julianne Moore (Children of Men, Far From Heaven)
Ming Na (E.R.)
Parker Posey (For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind)
Meg Ryan (Against the Ropes, When Harry Met Sally)
Marisa Tomei (Wild Hogs, My Cousin Vinny)

Days Of Our Lives has cast some actors whose faces are now well-known. They include: