Overview:
Set in the fictional East Coast suburb Pine Valley, All My Children is the decades-old, risk-taking soap that centers around Erica Kane and her long line of husbands and is one of the most famous soap operas of all time. That fame derives from the show's willingness to tackle issues that include abortion, drug use, the Vietnam War, homosexuality, and rape. Through good times (Susan Lucci finally receiving a Daytime Emmy) and bad times (including the losses of Ruth Warrick, Louis Edmonds and Frances Heflin), the show has always sustained momentum and remained popular.
Network:
ABC
First Broadcast:
January 5, 1970
Major Cast Members Over the Years:
- David Canary - Adam Chandler (1983-present)
- David Canary - Stuart Chandler (1984- present)
- Sarah Michelle Gellar - Kendall Hart (1993-1995)
- Susan Lucci - Erica Kane (1970-present)
- Ruth Warrick
- Phoebe Taylor Paige Rowland - Christine 'Kit' Montgomery (1998-1999)
- Daniel Cosgrove - Scott Parker Chandler (1996-1998)
- Andrew Jackson - Dr. Stephen Hamill (1991-1993)
- Amanda Seyfried - Joni Stafford (2002-2003)
- Peter Bergman - Dr. Cliff Warner (1979-1989)
- Ray MacDonnell - Dr. Joe Martin Leven Rambin - Ava Benton (2007- present)
- Leven Rambin - Lily Montgomery (2004- present)
- Jacob Young - J.R. Chandler (2003- present)
Awards:
Won Primetime Emmy. Another 160 wins & 457 nominations.
Trivia:
- Contrary to her on-screen character, Rebecca Budig (Greenlee) is far from an only child. In fact she has seven older siblings.
- Pine Valley lost its young vixen Liza Colby back in 1984 partly because portrayer Marcy Walker feared being typecast. Lucky for viewers, Marcy brought back Liza a decade later.
- If Gillian's "grandmama" Eugenia looks familiar, you might remember Meg Mundy from her previous soap roles as Mona Aldrich Croft on The Doctors and Isabelle Alden on Loving.
- The Pretty Woman herself - Julia Roberts - auditioned for the role of Cliff Warner's sister Linda. The actress admits that she blew the screen test but she still has ties to daytime as a fan of NBC's Days Of Our Lives.
- Mark Consuelos, born in Spain, learned to speak English partly by watching American soaps, including AMC.
- David Canary and brother John are descended from the legendary cowgirl Calamity Jane (aka Martha Jane Canary).