List of longest-serving soap opera actors
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Soap operas, by definition a serialised drama produced for radio and television, are specifically and uniquely known for their ensemble casts and long-running characters. Many of these characters have stayed in their respective series for decades, often played by the same actor.[1] The following is a list of the longest-serving actors from soap operas all over the world. It details those actors with ten or more years spent on one soap opera, despite itinerant breaks and in some cases with the actor portraying multiple roles.
As of 2021, William Roache holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving actor in a television soap opera, having played Ken Barlow on Coronation Street since 1960.[2] Patricia Greene holds a similar record as the longest-serving actor in a radio soap opera, having joined the cast of The Archers as character Jill Archer in 1957.[3]
Current longest-serving soap opera actors worldwide[]
Country | Rank | Actor | Character | Soap Opera | Years | Duration |
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1 | Patricia Greene | Jill Archer | The Archers | 1957– | 64 years |
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2 | June Spencer | Peggy Woolley Rita Flynn |
The Archers | 1950–1953, 1961– | 63 years |
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3 | Lesley Saweard | Christine Barford | The Archers | 1953–1962, 1968–2019, 2021– | 60 years |
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= | William Roache | Ken Barlow | Coronation Street | 1960–2013, 2014– | 60 years |
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5 | Angela Piper | Jennifer Aldridge | The Archers | 1963– | 58 years |
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6 | Judy Bennett | Shula Hebden-Lloyd | The Archers | 1971— | 50 years |
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7 | Barbara Knox | Rita Tanner | Coronation Street | 1964, 1972– | 49 years |
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8 | Brian Hewlett | Neil Carter | The Archers | 1973— | 48 years |
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9 | Helen Worth | Gail Rodwell | Coronation Street | 1974— | 47 years |
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10 | Suzanne Rogers | Maggie Horton | Days of Our Lives | 1973–1984, 1985–2003, 2004– | 46 years |
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11 | Charles Collingwood | Brian Aldridge | The Archers | 1975— | 46 years |
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12 | Patricia Gallimore | Pat Archer | The Archers | 1974–2019, 2021— | 45 years |
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13 | Susan Seaforth Hayes | Julie Olson Williams | Days of Our Lives | 1968–1984, 1990–1996, 1999– | 44 years |
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= | Leslie Charleson | Monica Quartermaine | General Hospital | 1977– | 44 years |
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15 | Doug Davidson | Paul Williams | The Young and the Restless | 1978–2018, 2019— | 42 years |
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= | Melody Thomas Scott | Nikki Newman | The Young and the Restless | 1979– | 42 years |
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= | Trevor Harrison | Eddie Grundy | The Archers | 1979– | 42 years |
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18 | Jacklyn Zeman | Bobbie Spencer | General Hospital | 1977–2010, 2013– | 41 years |
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= | Eric Braeden | Victor Newman | The Young and the Restless | 1980– | 41 years |
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20 | Bill Hayes | Doug Williams | Days of Our Lives | 1970–1984, 1986–1987, 1993–1996, 1999– | 40 years |
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21 | Deidre Hall | Marlena Evans Black | Days of Our Lives | 1976–1987, 1991–2009, 2011– | 39 years |
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= | Kate Linder | Esther Valentine | The Young and the Restless | 1982– | 39 years |
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= | Timothy Bentinck | David Archer | The Archers | 1982– | 39 years |
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24 | James Reynolds | Abe Carver | Days of Our Lives | 1981–1990, 1991–2003, 2004– | 38 years |
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= | Charlotte Martin | Susan Carter | The Archers | 1983– | 38 years |
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26 | Sue Nicholls | Audrey Roberts | Coronation Street | 1979, 1980–1981, 1982, 1984, 1985– | 37 years |
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= | Michael Le Vell | Kevin Webster | Coronation Street | 1983–2013, 2014– | 37 years |
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= | Alison Dowling | Elizabeth Pargetter | The Archers | 1984– | 37 years |
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29 | John Aniston | Eric Richards Victor Kiriakis |
Days of Our Lives | 1969–1970, 1985–1997, 1999– | 35 years |
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= | Sally Dynevor | Sally Metcalfe | Coronation Street | 1986– | 35 years |
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= | Chris Chittell | Eric Pollard | Emmerdale | 1986– | 35 years |
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= | Carole Boyd | Lynda Snell | The Archers | 1986– | 35 years |
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= | Graham Blockey | Robert Snell | The Archers | 1986– | 35 years |
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34 | Lauralee Bell | Christine Blair Williams | The Young and the Restless | 1983–2006, 2010– | 34 years |
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= | Derek Thompson | Charlie Fairhead | Casualty | 1986–2004, 2005– | 34 years |
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= | Felicity Finch | Ruth Archer | The Archers | 1987– | 34 years |
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= | Katherine Kelly Lang | Brooke Logan | The Bold and the Beautiful | 1987– | 34 years |
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= | John McCook | Eric Forrester | The Bold and the Beautiful | 1987– | 34 years |
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= | Jess Walton | Jill Fenmore Atkinson | The Young and the Restless | 1987– | 34 years |
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40 | Josh Taylor | Chris Kositchek Roman Brady |
Days of Our Lives | 1977–1981, 1982–1987, 1997– | 33 years |
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= | Ray Meagher | Alf Stewart | Home and Away | 1988– | 33 years |
Longest serving soap opera actors by country[]
Australia[]
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Belgium[]
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Canada[]
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Czech Republic[]
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Finland[]
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France[]
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Germany[]
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Greece[]
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Hungary[]
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Ireland[]
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Italy[]
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Netherlands[]
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New Zealand[]
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Norway[]
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Poland[]
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South Africa[]
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Spain[]
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United Kingdom[]
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United States[]
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See also[]
- List of American television actresses
- List of Belgians
- List of British actors
- List of Dutch people
- List of Germans
- List of Irish people
- List of New Zealand actors
- List of old-time radio people
- List of radio soaps
- List of soap operas
- Lists of Americans
- Lists of Australians
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- American soap opera actors
- Soap opera actors
- Entertainment-related lists of superlatives
- British soap opera actors
- Australian soap opera actors
- German soap opera actors
- Lists of longest serving people by occupation