News

James Houghton, an original cast member of The Young and the Restless and a Daytime Emmy-winning soap opera writer, has passed away at the age of 75.

A Legacy on Screen and Behind the Scenes

Houghton’s wife, Karen Houghton, recently shared the sad news with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that she had chosen to keep his passing private until now. Houghton died on August 27, 2024, from peritoneal mesothelioma.

Born on November 7, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, Houghton was raised in a show business family. His father, Buck Houghton, was a renowned television producer, best known for his work on The Twilight Zone. It was no surprise that James followed in his father’s footsteps, carving out his own legacy in television.

Rest In Peace

In 1973, when The Young and the Restless first premiered, Houghton was part of its original ensemble, portraying Greg Foster, the ambitious attorney and brother to Jill and Snapper Foster.

The Young and The Restless news and updates are sad to report soap vet James Houghton, also a vet of primetime series has passed away at the age of 75.

Houghton passed away from peritoneal mesothelioma on August 27, 2024, but the news of his death has only just been made public today.

James Houghton Played Greg Foster

Born on November 7, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, he embarked on his acting journey with roles in various television series. Houghton was part of the original cast of the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, portraying the character Greg Foster from 1973 until 1976.

He was later a scriptwriter on the soap, writing 1808 episodes between 1991 and 2006, and on the Bold And The Beautiful in 2006.

He also was a scriptwriter on Days of Our Lives, Tales From The Darkside and Knots Landing. Houghton’s remarkable career also features his portrayal of Kenny Ward in the first four seasons of Knots Landing,...

In the late '70s and '80s, audiences were obsessed with the TV show "Dallas," prime time western soap opera about the Ewings. The series became so popular that the network CBS began developing a spin-off centered around one of the Ewings we saw very little of in the original series.

The new project -- titled "Knots Landing" -- followed Ted Shackelford's Gary Ewing and his wife Valene (Joan Van Ark) after they moved to a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. We recently checked back in with the cast of the 1978 series "Dallas" to see where they ended up after all these years. But that stroll down memory lane got us thinking -- what happened to the cast of "Knots Landing" after the show was over? 

Read more: 13 Times Film Or TV Actors Were Deliberately Kept Apart During Production

Teri Austin (Jill Bennett)

Jill Bennett -- the...

James Houghton, known for his role as Kenny Ward on Knots Landing and his work as a writer for The Young and the Restless, died on August 27 at his home in Encino, California. His wife, Karen Houghton, confirmed that he had been battling peritoneal mesothelioma. He was 75.

Houghton played Kenny Ward, a record producer whose troubled marriage was a key storyline in the first four seasons of Knots Landing. The show, which debuted in 1979 as a Dallas spinoff, originally focused on four couples living in a Southern California cul-de-sac. By 1983, his character and his on-screen wife, Ginger (Kim Lankford), were written out, with their departure explained as a move to Nashville.

Before his time on Knots Landing, Houghton played attorney Greg Foster on The Young and the Restless from 1973 to 1976. He later transitioned to writing for the show in 1991, earning four Daytime Emmy Awards as part of the writing team.

James Houghton, best known to soap fans for his role as Kenny Ward on “Knots Landing” and a four-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning writer on “The Young and the Restless,” has died. He was 75 years old.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the beloved actor and writer passed away at his home in Encino, California on August 27, 2024 of peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. His death was only recently disclosed by his wife, Karen Houghton, the outlet reported, stating, “She did not want to discuss his death until today.”

Born James Carter Houghton on November 7, 1948 in Los Angeles, Houghton was the son of Buck Houghton, a producer on the first three seasons of CBS’ “The Twilight Zone.” That connection helped land the then younger Houghton a role in a 1962 episode of “The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank,” marking one of his first onscreen appearances.

James Houghton, who starred as Seaview Circle resident Kenny Ward on the first four seasons of Knots Landing and received four Daytime Emmys as a writer on The Young and the Restless, has died. He was 75.

Houghton died Aug. 27 at his home in Encino of peritoneal mesothelioma, his wife, Karen Houghton, told The Hollywood Reporter. She did not want to discuss his death until now.

Houghton also portrayed the fiancé of Nancy Allen’s character in Robert Zemeckis’ I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), and he played U.S. senator Cash Cassidy — a bitter rival of Charlton Heston’s oil mogul Jason Colby, on the second season (1986-87) of the ABC primetime soap The Colbys, a spinoff of Dynasty.

Houghton starred as Kenny, a record producer who often fooled around on his wife, Ginger (Kim Lankford), before they had a baby on 66 episodes of CBS’ Knots Landing from 1979-83.

The young...

Michael Preece, the script supervisor turned director who called the shots on multiple episodes of series including Hunter, Dallas and Walker, Texas Ranger, died Thursday. He was 88.

Preece died of heart failure at his Brentwood home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Gretchen Preece-Newman — wife of two-time Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Randy Newman — told The Hollywood Reporter.

Preece directed 19 episodes of NBC’s Hunter from 1984-90 during the show’s first six seasons; 62 installments of CBS’ Dallas from 1981-91 (seasons four through 14), plus the 1997 reunion telefilm War of the Ewings; and 70 episodes of CBS’ Walker, Texas Ranger during its nine-season, 1993-2001 run.

Preece also worked on The Bionic Woman, Barnaby Jones, Fantasy Island, Flamingo Road, T.J. Hooker, The New Mike Hammer, Riptide, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, MacGyver, 7th Heaven and many other series before calling it a career in 2007.

Michael Conway Preece was born in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 1936. His mother, Thelma, founded...

John Lawlor, known for his roles in the sitcoms Phyllis and The Facts of Life, has died at the age of 83.

Lawlor died on Feb. 13 at a veterans’ hospice facility in Albuquerque, N.M., with his daughter Riel by his side, per an obituary posted by his family. A cause of death was not disclosed.

More from TVLineMSNBC Removes Joy Reid and Alex Wagner From Lineup - Who Is Replacing Them?Lynne Marie Stewart, Pee-wee's Playhouse and It's Always Sunny Actress, Dead at 78Peter Jason, Deadwood Actor, Dead at 80 - Read Tributes From Castmates

Born in Troy, N.Y., Lawlor...

John Lawlor, who portrayed one of Cloris Leachman’s co-workers on the CBS sitcom Phyllis and the Eastland School for Girls headmaster on the first season of the NBC comedy The Facts of Life, has died. He was 83.

Lawlor died Feb. 13 at a veterans’ hospice facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, his family announced.

His 60-plus years as an actor also included turns in such films as Blake Edwards’ S.O.B. (1981) and Lawrence Kasdan’s Wyatt Earp (1994).

Lawlor played the inept Leonard Marsh, who works with Leachman’s Phyllis Lindstrom in the San Francisco City Supervisor’s office, on the second and last season (1976-77) of Phyllis, one of the many Mary Tyler Moore Show spinoffs. (He had portrayed a cop on a first-season episode.)

When The Facts of Life — a Diff’rent Strokes spinoff — premiered in August 1979, Lawlor was there as headmaster Steven Bradley. He appeared on all 13 installments...

Peter Jason, the prolific character actor best known for his work on Deadwood and his numerous John Carpenter collaborations, died at 80 on Thursday, February 20. Jason's career spanned decades and encompassed everything from Westerns to horror films and video games.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Peter Jason passed away in his West Hollywood home following a long battle with cancer. Jason was born on July 22, 1944, in Hollywood, CA, and began working on stage while he studied drama at Carnegie; his passion for theater continued throughout his life, with participation in over 150 plays. In the 1960s, he began making television appearances with roles in shows including The F.B.I., Cimarron Strip, and Here Come the Brides, with his film debut arriving in 1970, when he briefly appeared in Howard Hawks' western Rio Lobo as Lieutenant Forsythe.

Throughout his decades-long career, Jason amassed over 250 credits across film, television and video games. On screen, Jason often portrayed military and authority figures,...

Over the course of a career that stretched back to 1967, Peter Jason racked up more than 270 screen acting credits, turning in performances that inspired legendary filmmaker John Carpenter to name him “one of the great character actors in cinema” – and to cast him in seven different projects: Prince of Darkness, They Live, Body Bags, In the Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, Escape from L.A., and Ghosts of Mars. Sadly, Carpenter has now had to take to social media to break the news to his fans and followers that Jason has passed away at the age of 80. Carpenter wrote, “His first movie was Howard Hawks’ Rio Lobo. He was a dear friend and I’ll miss him terribly.“

It is true that the 1970 film Rio Lobo was Jason’s first theatrical feature, but he already had three years of TV acting to his name at that point, with credits...

All 14 seasons of the cult classic primetime soap opera “Knots Landing” will soon be available for digital purchase, courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.

For fourteen years, the residents of the seaside community of Knots Landing, a coastal suburb of Los Angeles, were buffeted by lust, greed and betrayal as passions exploded as four married couples in the suburban paradise struggled with the conflicts and passions that struck every marriage. Storylines centered on infidelity, health, murder, kidnapping, drug smuggling, corporate intrigue, and criminal investigations, among other issues.

Beginning Monday, February 24, every season of the series will be available to purchase digitally on such services as Amazon (Prime Video), AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango at Home, and more. All episodes are also currently streaming on Prime Video and the Primetime Soaps by WBtv channel on Plex TV, among other services.

Premiering December 27, 1979 on CBS, “Knots Landing” is a spinoff of the cultural phenom that was “Dallas,...

Best known to daytime fans for his portrayal as Father Lonigan on “Passions,” actor Bruce French has died. He was 79 years old.

French died Friday, February 7 in Los Angeles of complications from Alzheimer’s, his wife of 34 years, Eileen Barnett (“Days of our Lives”), told The Hollywood Reporter. French was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around four years ago, Barnett shared with the outlet.

On “Passions,” French made a memorable impression on the show playing a priest who had lost his sight after a church he had been in burned down while he was looking to save a statue of an angel. His primary role in Harmony was advising citizens on the problems they sought solutions to, particularly those told to him by the young adult characters.

French appeared in several hundred episodes of the drama series from its debut on NBC in July 1999 and into its run on DirecTV’s 101 Network.

Long before the Roys of New York or the Sopranos of New Jersey, one family dominated television: the Ewings of "Dallas." The genre-shaking soap opera aired for 14 seasons from 1978 to 1991, chronicling the dramatic, twist-filled epic saga of the Ewing Oil dynasty. 

On a picturesque ranch in Dallas, Texas, the family used their money, connections, and cunning to bat away threats from outside and within. Whatever threats that rival oilman, spurned lovers, or wannabe politicians think they can pose, "Dallas" always reminds us that there's nothing stronger -- or more dangerous -- than family. 

Over 30 years have passed since the final episode of the original series, and there's been well over 10 years of silence from this world following a brief revival on TNT. As such, many are curious about what happened to the cast of "Dallas," so we tracked down as much information about its massive ensemble cast as we could.

Harvey Laidman, a veteran television director who helmed episodes of such shows like The Waltons, Matlock and Magnum P.I., died Jan. 3 at the age of 82.

Per previous reporting by The Hollywood Reporter, his son, Dan Laidman, said his father died of cancer in a hospice facility in Simi Valley, Calif.

Laidman, who worked as a TV director across three decades, was born in 1942 in Cleveland to a librarian mother and an electrical contractor father. In his youth, he spent three formative summers working with the legendary Kenley Players theater company in Warren, Ohio, which hosted numerous productions with big-name Broadway, film and TV stars.

Laidman studied electrical engineering at Kent State University before transferring to USC, where he earned a degree in cinema in 1964. Thereafter, he worked at Kttv and Lorimar Productions and graduated from the Directors Guild of America Producer Training program. In 1975, he got his first directing assignment on The Waltons.

Harvey Laidman, a veteran TV director who helmed multiple episodes of such series as The Waltons, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, the original Matlock and 7th Heaven, has died. He was 82.

Laidman died of cancer on Jan. 3 in a hospice facility in Simi Valley, his son, Dan Laidman, told The Hollywood Reporter.

During his three-decade-plus career, he also directed installments of The Blue Knight, Family, Hawaii Five-o, Hunter, Kojak, Eight Is Enough, The Incredible Hulk, Lou Grant, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, Airwolf, Knight Rider, Magnum, P.I., Jake and the Fatman, Silk Stalkings and Jag.

Laidman served as assistant director and unit production manager on the second and third seasons of CBS’ The Waltons from 1973-75, then advanced to the director’s chair to call the shots on 11 episodes of the beloved period drama from 1975-81.

He also helmed 10 episodes of CBS’ Scarecrow and Mrs. King from 1985-87; 33 episodes of NBC...

Gwen Van Dam, a veteran character actress of seven decades whose 140 credits spanned television, film and the Los Angeles stage, died Dec. 19 at her home in West LA. She was 96.

Per previous reporting attributed to her son Dirk Smillie, the cause of death was a recurrence of cancer.

Throughout her long-tenured career, Van Dam appeared in 1978’s Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis, 1994’s Star Trek Generations with Patrick Stewart, the romantic war drama Coming Home featuring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight and the Sidney Poitier-helmed Gene Wilder pic Stir Crazy.

Among her television credits are illustrious series like Days of Our Lives, Gilmore Girls, Knots Landing, ER, Moonlighting, The Brady Bunch, Maude, Owen Marshall, New Girl, Modern Family and Criminal Minds.

On the music video side of things, she appeared in visual works for U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Panic! At the Disco and heavy metal band Mastodon.

Gwen Van Dam, whose 70-year career as a character actress for film, television and the stage included turns in True Confessions, Halloween, Coming Home, Stir Crazy and The Trip to Bountiful, has died. She was 96.

Van Dam, who compiled about 140 acting credits on IMDb, died Dec. 19 at her home in West Los Angeles after a recurrence of cancer, her son, Dirk Smillie, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Van Dam remained a busy actress until the end, appearing on the first five episodes of Prime Video’s Homecoming in 2018, on Netflix’s Grace and Frankie in 2019 and on two installments of Hulu’s Interior Chinatown last year. She recently finished a play, too.

Her TV résumé included The Brady Bunch, Mannix, Maude, House Calls, Days of Our Lives, Moonlighting, 227, Knots Landing, Star Trek: Generations, ER, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, New Girl, Criminal Minds, Angie Tribeca and Modern Family.

Meanwhile, she spent the...

Baby, it’s cold outside. Now is the perfect time to sit on the couch and catch up on some classic soapy series you may have missed the first time around. Here are some oldies but goodies.

Scandal

Scandal isn’t exactly an “oldie”. It ran on ABC from 2012-2018 and starred Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope. Olivia is a “fixer” who makes problems disappear for powerful people in DC. She and her team handle crisis after crisis while dealing with their own drama. And there is plenty of it.

Olivia’s relationship with President Grant (Tony Goldwyn) and those in his inner circle make this Shonda Rhimes hit as soapy as can be.

Lost

Soapy may not be the first word you think of when describing Lost. This science fiction adventure drama ran from 2004-2010. It centered around survivors of a plane crash surviving on a mysterious island.

While...

Character actor John Capodice, whose roles included a memorable performance as a law enforcement officer in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, has died. He was 83 years old.

Capodice's death was confirmed by a post on the website of the Pizzi Funeral Home in Northvale, New Jersey. A cause of death was not divulged, though Capodice died on Monday, Dec. 30, according to his obituary. It was noted that the actor "was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to meet him."

Born in Chicago on Christmas Day in 1941, Capodice had just celebrated his 83rd birthday. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he began performing as an actor on the stage. He found early success by appearing in the play Getting Out, which won two Outer Critics Circle Awards in 1979. He also performed alongside John Lithgow and George Segal in a Broadway...

General Hospital spoilers and updates reveal John Capodice, celebrated for his portrayal of Carmine Cerullo from 1994 to 1996, passed away at the age of 83 on Monday, December 30, 2024. Born on Christmas Day in 1941 in Chicago, Illinois, Capodice embarked on his film and television journey in the late 1970s.

General Hospital Spoilers – First TV Role In Ryan’s Hope

His debut came with a role in Ryan’s Hope, where he captivated audiences in six episodes as Lloyd Lord. His extensive career spans decades and boasts an impressive array of guest appearances on a multitude of television series.

They include such shows as Seinfeld, Murder, She Wrote, Another World, Knots Landing, Law & Order, Will & Grace, and many others.

He amassed more than 150 acting credits throughout his career, as noted by IMDb. Capodice carved out a unique niche for himself, often portraying three distinct archetypes: intimidating mobsters, tough-as-nails police officers, and rugged working-class characters.

John Capodice, a character actor best known for roles in “Ace Ventura” and “General Hospital,” died on Monday. He was 83.

The news was confirmed on the website for Pizzi Funeral Home in New Jersey, although no cause of death was given.

Born in 1941 in Chicago, Ill., Capodice fought for the U.S. Army in Korea from 1964-1966 before moving into an acting career in the late 1970s.

His first role was on the ABC soap “Ryan’s Hope,” appearing in six episodes as Lloyd Lord. A lengthy array of TV guest star credits would follow, including “Seinfeld,” “CSI,” “Ellen,” “Another World,” “Knots Landing,” “Law & Order,” “Will & Grace,” “Spenser: For Hire,” “Kate & Allie,” “As the World Turns,” “Moonlighting,” “Murphy Brown,” “Melrose Place,” “Mad About You,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Six Feet Under,” “The West Wing” and “Murder, She Wrote.”

On “General Hospital,” Capodice played Carmine Cerullo from 1994-1996 in six episodes of the soap opera.

The 1980s are remembered for their long-running soaps like Dallas, Dynasty, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest, all of which are now available to stream on Amazon Prime. But those require a long-term commitment.

But what if you haven’t got that kind of time? What if you want to one and done it? In that case, we’ve got three 1980s soaps that deserved longer runs….but never them, which is good news for you now!

Paper Dolls

Just check out the cast on this 1984 sudser, Paper Dolls! The one and only Morgan Fairchild, the one and only Lloyd Bridges, Roscoe Born hot off Ryan’s Hope, Dack Rambo hot off All My Children, Jonathan Frakes pre-Star Trek, and two fresh faces, Nicollette Sheridan pre-Knots Landing, Desperate Housewives, and the Dynasty reboot, and Terry Farrell, pre-Deep Space 9 and Becker.

The story takes place in the world of high-stakes, high-fashion modeling,...

While Dallas and Dynasty might have very concrete cultural icons and high points, and Knots Landing offers multiple places to start watching depending on what kind of show you’re interested in, Falcon Crest only has one place to kick off watching if you don’t want to do it from Season One, Episode One.

The Grapes of Boredom

Falcon Crest premiered on December 4, 1981, with Dallas, a year post-Who Shot Jr? as its lead-in. It should have been a massive hit. And it did well enough. Except for one minor problem: It was kind of boring.

Following his father’s mysterious death, Chase (Robert Foxworth) returns to the Tuscany Valley, his wife, and two grown kids in tow to battle with his aunt Angela (Jane Wyman) for the family grapes and winery. Angela snarled, Chase self-righteously pontificated, and his wife, Maggie (Susan Sullivan), simpered. Chase’s son, Cole (William R. Moses...

Dallas‘ spin-off, Knots Landing, ran for 14 seasons, from 1979 to 1993, and got a two-part sequel movie in 1997. Dynasty’s spin-off, The Colbys, barely squeaked out two years on the air, from 1985 to 1987. Knots Landing may be streaming on Amazon. But The Colbys is perfectly positioned for a weekend binge. The complete run is available on DVD on Amazon. Here’s why it’s worth your while to give it a watch.

Soap Hub may receive a commission on orders placed through retail links.

Super Soap Stars

Dallas launched with The Man From Atlantis and Major Nelson from I Dream of Jeannie in the lead. Dynasty had Bachelor Father and John Derek’s ex-wife, then hired the woman who’d starred in Empire of the Ants. The Colbys, on the other hand, burst out of the gate with a cast that included Katherine Ross, who’d co-starred opposite Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate,...

Here’s a fun fact to blow your minds: Yes, technically, Knots Landing is a spin-off from mega-hit Dallas. Gary Ewing is the middle brother of Jr and Bobby Ewing, who made one appearance on the Mother Ship show, played by David Ackroyd before Ted Shackelford took over the role for the next decade-plus.

But the original Kl concept pre-dated Dallas. It was supposed to be an American version of the Swedish series Scenes From a Marriage by Ingemar Bergman. That series didn’t get picked up. But when CBS wanted a Dallas spin-off, Lorimar made one of the characters a Ewing, and we were off to the races! You can watch the entire series from the start right here on Amazon Prime. Here’s why you should definitely do that.

Soap Hub may receive a commission on orders placed through retail links.

More People, More Romance

Dallas, Falcon Crest,...

Bradford English had a screen acting career that spanned from 1971 to 2010, and over those 39 years he racked up more than 70 credits – but for many of us, he’s best remembered for playing the drunk, abusive blowhard John Strode in the 1995 horror sequel Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. Sadly, we lost English right before Halloween this year, as it has been reported that he passed away on October 25th in Pasadena, California at the age of 82.

English was born in South Orange, New Jersey on January 16, 1942. His obituary can be found online and says he “was a true force of life and was filled with love. He was a husband and a family man who was survived by his loving wife and high school sweetheart Cecelia Gail English. Together they created a beautiful family of four children: James Bradford English Jr., Jeffrey Brennan English, Kristin Lunney English and Colleen Margaret Theresa English.

Actress Maree Cheatham was part of Days of Our Lives since the very start. While she’s appeared off and on over the years, she’s set to make a return during an upcoming milestone episode for the soap. The actress recently spoke out about her upcoming appearance. While doing so, she also shared some kind words that late actor Bill Hayes shared with her during their time together.

Maree Cheatham Was On Days Of Our Lives From The Start

Cheatham was one of the original cast members of Days of Our Lives back in 1965. As Marie Horton, she was one of the soap’s original heroines. Since 1973, she’s appeared on and off the series throughout the years.

Cheatham has actually had quite a career in soaps. She also appeared in General Hospital, Port Charles, Passions, and Knots Landing. Outside of soaps, she also had a notable role as...

Morgan Lofting, who helped bring to life multiple iconic characters with her voiceover work, has died. She was 84 years old.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Lofting died "unexpectedly" on Wednesday at her home in Burbank, California. No additional details were shared about her passing, though Lofting's death was confired by her agents, Nery Lemus and Christopher Arsaga of CelebWorx. In a statement, the two noted, “As one of the 10 founding actors at our agency, she meant the world to us and our company."

Lofting was born on Feb. 2, 1940, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her career as a voiceover artist began in 1979 when she started voicing the role of Princess Invidia for the TV series Star Blazers. She followed this up with her casting at the voice of Aunt May Parker in the animated Spider-Man series that aired in the early 1980s; Lofting also provided the voice of Black Cat for the cartoon show.

Morgan Lofting, the veteran voice actress best known for her turn as the Baroness, the ruthless Cobra chief intelligence officer who brought chaos to G.I. Joe animated series and movies, has died. She was 84.

Lofting died unexpectedly Wednesday at her home in Burbank, her agents Nery Lemus and Christopher Arsaga of CelebWorx announced. “As one of the 10 founding actors at our agency, she meant the world to us and our company,” they said in a statement.

The voice actress also portrayed Aunt May and the Black Cat for a 1981-82 Spider-Man series and Moonracer and Firestar for a 1985 Transformers series, and she did voice work on the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring Total Recall (1990), too.

Lofting came up with a European accent for the dark-haired Baroness, a sexy master of disguise and expert in weapons and hand-to-hand combat who sported black-rimmed eyeglasses and a tight black leather outfit.

She voiced the terrorist...

Maree Cheatham, an original cast member of Days of our Lives, is reprising her role as Marie Horton. She will be joined by other fan favorites who are coming back to Salem to celebrate the life of Doug Williams, played by the late, great Bill Hayes. The actress holds the distinction of having appeared on Days’ premiere episode in 1965 when it debuted on NBC (it’s now exclusively on the streaming platform Peacock). She played the part on and off until 1973 and has visited Salem a few times over the decades. Soap fans also recall Cheatham for her memorable stints as Aunt Charlene on General Hospital, Stephanie on Search for Tomorrow, and Aunt Mary on Knots Landing. Now, she’s going back to where it all began. Cheatham will appear on Days’s Monday, December 2 episode, which also happens to be the show’s 15,000th show. TV Insider caught up...

Ray Wise is back on The Young and the Restless canvas as master manipulator Ian Ward. Perhaps best known for his role as Leland Palmer on Twin Peaks, Wise initially debuted on the soap in 2014 as the New World Cult leader with a history of tormenting Nikki. Although sent to prison in 2016, he’s now back to wreak more havoc.

Need To Know

The veteran actor has had an impressive career in film and television. Some of his most memorable roles include henchman Leon C. Nash in RoboCop (1987), Jack Taggart Sr. in Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003), and the Devil in The CW series Reaper (2003).

Want to learn more about the actor? Here are seven things to know about Ray Wise.

1. Wise was born in Akron, Ohio, and is of Romanian descent on his mother’s side. He attended Garfield High School before enrolling at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Upon graduation,...

Even if you've never seen "All in the Family," there's a high probability that you're at least somewhat familiar with the character of Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), his well-meaning albeit shrill wife Edith (Jean Stapleton), and his constant conflict as a conservative patriarch against a progressively evolving world. If that sounds like the set-up for every family sitcom ever made, it's because, well, it is. "All in the Family" is one of the most influential TV shows in history, and that's not even factoring in the web of spin-offs it inspired like "The Jeffersons," "Maude," "Gloria, "704 Hauser,' "Good Times," and "Archie Bunker's Place."

The latter was a direct continuation of "All in the Family," set primarily in the neighborhood tavern purchased by Archie in the eighth season of the flagship sitcom. "Archie Bunker's Place" starts when he takes in a Jewish business partner named Murray Klein after co-owner...

NCIS Season 22, Episode 3 features powerhouse guest stars, namely Knots Landing star Donna Mills and Sweet Magnolia alum Justin Bruening, in the series' Halloween episode. 

"The Trouble with Hal" sees the team being tapped to investigate a surprise party gone wrong after a lieutenant returns to his home only to find out that someone else is being celebrated and not him. 

Things take a turn for the worse after the team found a dead body on the premises.

Read full article on The Direct.

When Donna Mills guest stars on NCIS, you know the drama is about to get real.

The legendary actress, best known for her iconic role as Abby Ewing on Knots Landing, brings her signature flair to NCIS Season 22 Episode 3.

With a touch of classic TV magic, Mills fits right into a lineup of unforgettable guest stars like Robert Wagner and Lily Tomlin.

(Photo: CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. )

As one of the original queens of TV drama, Mills has always been glamorous, ruthless, and never afraid to shake things up.

Abby didn’t just play the game; she wrote the rules and broke them whenever it suited her.

Now, as Wanda Prescott, a high-society antiques collector with a mysterious past, Mills brings that same magnetic energy to NCIS.

If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that when Donna Mills steps onto the screen, she’s not here...

Haunted houses have always been a staple of horror, and TV has delivered some of the creepiest ones you’ll ever see.

From eerie mansions with dark secrets to ghost-filled homes that trap anyone who enters, these haunted houses will make your skin crawl.

Whether they’re filled with malevolent spirits, supernatural forces, or just the unsettling unknown, these TV haunts take terror to a whole new level.

(Steve Dietl/Netflix)

So, grab a flashlight, lock your doors, and get ready to explore the creepiest haunted houses ever seen on TV.

The Three Sisters House — Knots Landing Season 3 Episode 10, “The Three Sisters” (YouTube Screenshot)

In this soap opera’s twist on the haunted house trope, Karen Mackenzie gets more than she bargained for when she becomes obsessed with an old house haunted by three grief-stricken sisters.

What starts as simple curiosity turns into a nightmarish experience as Karen and her...

Donna Mills is coming to NCIS for its Halloween episode! TV Insider has exclusively learned that the Knots Landing star will guest star in the October 29 episode of the long-running drama’s 22nd season. Mills plays Wanda Prescott, an antique collector and the widow of a billionaire investment guru. She loves her family and would do anything for them. Check out the full versions of our exclusive first look photos of Mills as Wanda Prescott, alone and with Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) below. CBS In the episode, titled “The Trouble with Hal,” NCIS is called in to investigate when a lieutenant returns home on Halloween Eve to find a surprise party being thrown for someone else at his home. We’ll have to wait to see how Mills’ Wanda Prescott fits into the case, but based on these photos, it’s safe to say she has some sort of connection...

Knots Landing, an American primetime soap opera that aired from 1979-1993, is available for streaming and fans should easily be able to access the long-running series. The popular Texas-based soap opera Dallas ended up leading to a reboot in 2012, but it was spinning off shows long before that. In 1979, Knots Landing premiered on CBS. Set in a fictional coastal suburb of Los Angeles, Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford) and his wife Valene "Val" Clements (Joan Van Ark), live in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle, alongside three other couples around their age.

Like Dallas, Knots Landing is filled with marital strife, murder, corporate intrigue, and all the other tropes that viewers come to soap operas for. Though Knots Landing didn't end up lasting as long as some of the most long-lived soap operas on television, it still had the notable accomplishment of running just as long as the show it was spun off from,...

“It’s really not often that you get to see everyone in the same place,” Jason Oppenheim of The Oppenheim Group said Wednesday. “It’s pretty much just The Hollywood Reporter Power Broker Awards that I get to see everyone in one room. That’s really cool. That makes this special.”

Oppenheim was joined by colleague and Selling Sunset co-star Mary Bonnet to present THR‘s fourth annual Power Broker Awards. Neither was apprehensive. Instead, they were thrilled to be able to present awards of merit to friends and associates. “I would say I’m way more nervous at some other award shows,” Oppenheim said. “But I feel comfortable in front of these people. We do deals with them. I see them every day.”

Eclectic brokers, dressed in everything from evening gowns to well-worn jeans, mingled outdoors at the serene and elegant Swan Lake and the Hotel Bel- Air, where the awards ceremony was held.

The 1975 TV series "Wonder Woman" is deeply beloved by dutiful Gen-Xers who watched it as children. The show's combination of silly action, funky music, and campy humor hit a sweet spot, presenting the title heroine as bold, strong, and capable, but also upbeat, happy, and capable of whimsy. Also, because lead actress Lynda Carter is so dazzling, many Gen-Xers may confess to having a crush on Wonder Woman at some point. The series was a hit, lasting 59 episodes over three seasons. Along with 1952's "The Adventures of Superman," 1966's "Batman," and 1978's "The Incredible Hulk," "Wonder Woman" was, for many decades, one of the most celebrated superhero TV shows ever made. 

"Wonder Woman" began its life as a 1974 pilot starring Cathy Lee Crosby, as a reimagined version of the character. That pilot didn't fly, but ABC was eager to do something successful with the character and launched a second pilot...

In the mood for some classic television? Fans can now watch all episodes of Dallas spinoff Knots Landing, as well as soap opera Falcon Crest and family drama Sisters, on the free streaming platform Plex. Knots Landing, which ran for 14 seasons between December 27, 1979, and May 13, 1993, had been streaming on Warner Bros.’ Primetime Soaps Fast channel (on Freevee and Plex) throughout August. However, this marks the first time all 344 episodes of the classic soap have been made available to stream episode-by-episode. Plex is described as “a one-stop destination to stream movies, TV shows, and music” and “free for everyone, no credit cards or subscription costs or hidden fees.” All users have to do is download the Plex Media Server on their computer or the Plex app on practically any device and sign up for a free account. In addition to Knots Landing, all nine seasons of the popular 1980s soap opera...

If you’re looking to get tangled up in some big drama — and some even bigger hair — we’ve got just the cul-de-sac for you.

Knots Landing, the long-running spinoff of Dallas — and the third most sought-after, non-streaming show in a July 2023 TVLine poll — is now available to binge in all its 344-episode glory on Plex. The sudser has been streaming this month on Warner Bros.’ Primetime Soaps Fast channel (available via Freevee and Plex), but it has not been available to binge episode-by-episode until now.

More from TVLine<em>The Drew Carey Show</em> Is Streaming for the Very First Time...

We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about Ted Lasso, Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone and more!

1 | We know this question comes a week late, but… for those of you who only recently watched the Evil series finale, were you caught off guard by the obvious use of a stunt double when Kristen tasered Leland? ▼

More from TVLineBig Brother Eviction Recap: Did Season 26 Lose One of Its Scene Stealers?Only Murders in the Building Boss on [Spoiler]'s Long-Awaited Cameo and the Debut...

John Aprea, a veteran character actor known for roles in films like The Godfather Part II and on television shows such as Full House, died on August 5 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 83. Aprea’s long career spanned over 50 years in Hollywood.

Born in 1941 in New Jersey, Aprea began acting in New York City in the early 1960s before moving to Los Angeles. His breakthrough came in 1968 with a role in the hit film Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen. This opened the door for many more roles in both film and television.

Perhaps Aprea’s most memorable role was as young Salvatore “Sal” Tessio in The Godfather Part II in 1974. He described the role as the high point of his career. To prepare, Aprea reached out to actor Abe Vigoda, who played the older Tessio in the original The Godfather. Vigoda advised him simply to “have a good time.

Another World, The Bay, Days of our Lives, and Knots Landing star John Aprea has died. He was 83 years old.

Rest In Peace

TMZ reported that the actor, who also had roles in The Godfather Part II, Full House, and Fuller House passed away of natural causes. According to Aprea’s manager, Will Levine, the actor passed away on August 7 at his Los Angeles home. He had his family by his side.

In 1999, the actor appeared on Days as Dr. Bryce for five episodes. Then, in 2012, he was in Salem once again as Arthur for an episode. From 1989 to 1998, Aprea was on Another World for at least 423 episodes. He was Alexander Nikos and Lucas Castigliano on the soap.

The Bay remembered the actor with a beautiful Instagram post. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of film and TV legend Mr. John Aprea who resumed the role of Jack Madison,...

John Aprea has died. An actor on screens big and small since the late ‘60s, Aprea died with family by his side at his home in Los Angeles on Monday, August 5, Deadline confirmed via Aprea’s manager, Will Levine. He was 83.Born on March 4, 1941, in Englewood, N.J., Jonathan Aprea...

John Aprea, the actor known for his roles in The Godfather Part II and Full House, has died. He was 83.

According to his manager Will Levine, Aprea died of natural causes on Monday, Aug. 5 at his Los Angeles home, where he was surrounded by family.

Born March 4, 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey, Aprea made his onscreen debut in 1968’s Bullitt, alongside Steve McQueen. He went on to one of his most memorable performances as Young Tessio in The Godfather Part II (1974) after auditioning to play Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola‘s original 1972 film.

Aprea once said working with Coppola and actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro was “the high point” of his career, adding, “I was surrounded by the best in The Godfather.”

John Aprea in a Matt Houston promo shot, 1982. (Getty Images)

He also appeared in such films as The Stepford Wives (1975), New Jack City (1991), The Game (1997), Dead Man on Campus...

John Aprea, whose acting career landed him roles on “Godfather Part II” and “Full House,” died on Aug. 5 of natural causes in Los Angeles. He was 83.

His death was confirmed by Will Levine, Aprea’s manager.

Born in 1941 to Italian immigrants in Englewood, N.J., Aprea spent part of his early years in Italy before his family resettled back in the States. In the early 1960s, he set out to pursue his passion, acting, enrolling in Joshua Shelley’s acting classes (who also taught Mia Farrow and Jon Voight) in New York. Eventually, he would land a role in the 1968 Steve McQueen classic film Bullitt, playing Killer.

After his splashy debut, Aprea found acting work on sets for the 1970s TV series “Mannix,” the 1970s film “The Grasshopper,” and Jonathan Demme’s 1974 feature, “Caged Heat.”

John’s career took off when he was cast as the young Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola...

John Aprea, the charismatic character actor who portrayed the young Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather Part II and the father of John Stamos’ character on Full House, has died. He was 83.

Aprea died Aug. 5 of natural causes in Los Angeles, his manager, Will Levine, announced.

The New Jersey native appeared for director Jonathan Demme in Caged Heat (1974), Crazy Mama (1975) and The Manchurian Candidate (2004), played the brother of Ray Sharkey’s up-and-coming music promoter in Taylor Hackford’s The Idolmaker (1980) and was a mob guy in Mario Van Peebles’ New Jack City (1991).

Aprea also played another crook, Lucas Castigliano, as well as a multimillionaire shipping magnate, Alexander Nikos, during two stints on the NBC soap opera Another World over a course of a decade (1989-98). Both characters ended up getting shot to death by women.

He starred as the patriarch of a multi-generational Italian American family on NBC’s The Montefuscos,...

Actor John Aprea, whose notable TV credits include Full House and Another World, died earlier this month. He was 83.

Aprea’s manager confirmed the news to TMZ on Sunday, saying he passed away on Aug. 7 at his Los Angeles home. A cause of death was not disclosed.

More from TVLinePhil Donahue, Legendary Talk Show Host, Dead at 88America's Got Talent Contestant Perry Kurtz Dead at 73Peter Marshall, Emmy-Winning Host of Hollywood Squares, Dead at 98

Aprea appeared on NBC’s Another World between 1989 and 1998, playing two characters: Lucas Castigliano and Alexander Nikos.

During his decades-long career, Aprea also played Manny Vasquez on Knots Landing,...