Stars on soap operas

Before she appeared on television every morning as the co-host of "Live with Regis and Kelly," Kelly Ripa appeared on the small screen every afternoon - on the soap opera "All My Children." Ripa joined the soap in 1990 and stayed until 2001. When ABC announced on April 14, 2011, that it was canceling the long-running show, she said in a statement, "This is like losing a member of your family."

Take a look at some other stars who got their start on soap operas.

ABC cancels two longtime soap operas

Kelly Ripa met her husband, actor Mark Consuelos, when the two were starring on "All My Children." They left in 2001, but returned for two episodes in January 2010.

"'All My Children' was more than a job - it was my family," Ripa said after the show's cancellation was announced. "It was there that I met my husband; it was there when my first two children were born; it was there where I met many of my lifelong friends. It was the greatest training ground ever. I feel heartsick."

Before she was Buffy the vampire slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar was part of the cast of "All My Children." The then-teenager played Kendall Hart Lang on the soap from 1993-1995.

Before he became a movie star, Brad Pitt was a soap star. The actor spent two episodes on "Another World," where he played Chris, a young basketball player.

Oscar-nominee Julianne Moore won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1988 for playing long-lost half sisters Frannie and Sabrina Hughes on "As the World Turns." She played the roles from 1985-1988.

Before she was a "Desperate" housewife, Eva Longoria starred as psychotic Isabella Brana on "The Young and the Restless" from 2001-2003.

Before "Titanic" or his three Oscar nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio starred on the soap opera "Santa Barbara," playing the young Mason Capwell, in 1990.

Demi Moore played investigative reporter Jackie Templeton on "General Hospital" from 1982 to 1983, before going on to star in films like "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Ghost."

Ryan Phillippe's acting career began with his role on "One Life to Live." He played Billy Douglas, the first gay teenager on a daytime soap opera, from 1992-1993.

Actor Josh Duhamel played Leo Press on "All My Children" from 1999-2002. Since then, his acting credits have grown to include TV's "Las Vegas" and films like "Transformers."

Between the years 1970 and 1972, Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon played Patrice Kahlman on the short-lived soap opera "A World Apart."

Before he became a teen heartthrob, Christian Slater spent a year on "All My Children," playing Caleb Thompson in 1986.

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Oscar-winner Melissa Leo made her acting debut on "All My Children," playing Linda Warner from 1984-1996.

Actress Anne Heche's first major TV role was playing good and evil twins Vicky and Marley Hudson on "Another World." Her stint on the show lasted from 1987-1991.

Before "Desperate Housewives," "Everwood" and even "Melrose Place," Marcia Cross had a stint on "One Life to Live," where she played archeologist Kate Sanders from 1986-1987.

Another "Desperate Housewives" star with a soap opera past is Teri Hatcher. She played Angelica Stimac Clegg on "Capitol" from 1986-1987.

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Nicollette Sheridan also has soap operas in her past. She made her acting debut in "Paper Dolls" in 1984, but her breakthrough came in 1986, when she landed the role of Paige Matheson on "Knots Landing." She stayed on the soap until 1993.

Hasselhoff "In Talks" to Replace Cowell — Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Before "Baywatch," "Knight Rider" or his European singing success, David Hasselhoff portrayed Dr. William "Snapper" Foster Jr. on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" from 1975 to 1982.

Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei played Marcy Thompson from 1983 to 1985 on "As the World Turns."

Kevin Bacon is another actor with soap opera credits to his name. He appeared on both "Search for Tomorrow" (as Todd Adamson) in 1979, and "Guiding Light" (as T. J. "Tim" Werner) from 1980-1981.

"30 Rock" actress Jane Krakowski's first major television role was on "Search for Tomorrow," playing the role of Theresa Rebecca (T.R.) Kendall from 1984-1986. She was nominated for two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the show.

Long before "The Matrix," Laurence Fishburne starred on "One Life to Live." He spent three years (1973-1976) there playing Joshua Hall.

Actor/director Tommy Lee Jones also spent some time on "One Life to Live." He played Dr. Mark Toland on the show from 1971 to 1975.

Before she played an indestructible cheerleader on "Heroes," Hayden Panettiere played Lizzie Spaulding on "Guiding Light" from 1996-2001. She also played Sarah Roberts on "One Life to Live" from 1994-1997.

Meg Ryan starred on "As the World Turns," where she played Betsy Stewart, from 1982 to 1984. Her character's wedding drew 20 million viewers.

Oscar-nominee James Earl Jones did a stint on "Guiding Light" in 1966, where he played Dr. Jim Frazier.

Actress Amanda Seyfried played Lucy Montgomery on "As the World Turns" from 2000-2001, and then moved to "Guiding Light," where she played Joni Stafford on "All My Children."

"Gossip Girl" star Penn Badgley starred as Phillip Chancellor IV on "The Young and the Restless" from 2000-2001. He was nominated for a 2001 Young Artist Award for for Best Performance in a Daytime Series for his work on the show.

Before her movie roles and her legal troubles, Lindsay Lohan appeared as Alexandra ("Alli") Fowler on "Another World" in 1996.

One of Ray Liotta's first acting roles was as Joey Perrini on "Another World." He stayed on the show from 1978 to 1981.

Actress Kathleen Turner made her television debut in the soap opera "The Doctors," as Nola Dancy Aldrich. She appeared on the show from 1978-1979.

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