Memorable Soap Deaths Part 2

A couple of days ago my fellow Denial Islander SoapWikiJohn posted clips of Memorable Soap Deaths from EastEnders and Hollyoaks. I loved the clips so much I thought I’d post some more classic soap deaths, this time giving some love to US soaps.

Here are three soap deaths that I’ll never forget: The first ranks as one of the most notorious soaps deaths of all time, the second was recommend by a reader (imgoodbackup) and rips my heart out every time I watch it, and the third harkens back to old-school Hollywood romance-tragedies. Get your tissues out (at least for the last two, lol)!


1. Mary is Crushed by a “C”, Santa Barbara

Some loved it, others hated it. I watched this when it originally aired in 1986 and my 12 year old mind didn’t know what to make of it. The climax to this very dramatic story was absurd, shocking and well…darkly humorous. But that was Santa Barbara! Love it or hate it, people still talk about this death 24 years later.

In this clip, ex-nun Mary (Harley Jane Kozak) confronts her husband/rapist Mark (Jon Lindstrom) on a rooftop as Julia (Nancy Lee Grahn) attempts to play referee. Meanwhile a Giant “C” looms menacingly in the background. Also featured in the clip: Mason (Lane Davies) and CC (Jed Allan)





2. Sam’s Baby Dies, General Hospital
In the first Memorable Soap Deaths blog, reader imgoodbackup posted a comment noting deaths that affected her. She mentioned the death of Sam’s baby, Lila, on General Hospital, writing, “I don't recall other soaps that have let a mother carry a baby first of all actually almost a real 9 months let alone then kill that baby off? The audience grew to love and hope for Sam's baby girl and when she died the impact was devastating.” I couldn’t agree more. I remember crying hysterically when I watched this (at the time, I didn’t read spoilers and had stopped reading soap mags, so I had no idea it was coming!) It was like a knife in my heart. Here’s the clip, featuring wonderful performances from Kelly Monaco (Sam), Steve Burton (Jason), Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), from 2004:





3. Megan Dies in Jake’s Arms, One Life to Live
This is an unusual pick for me, since I didn’t see it when it aired in 1992. I watched the clip years later and was blown away. It was so touching, so beautifully written and just so tragic! I remember talking about this scene with my friend Danielle and recalling how much it reminded me of classic romantic tragedies like Wuthering Heights and Camille: Lovely, fragile woman dying in the arms of the man who loves her *sniff* In Two Parts, here are Jessica Tuck (Megan) and Joe Lando (Jake):

Part 1:


Part 2:



***********************As always, thanks for reading (and watching). Tell me some of your favorite and/or most memorable soap deaths (there are so many!)

-Melanie/SoapOperaBabble/daisyclover1938