Stars Who Got Their Start On Days Of Our Lives
"Days of Our Lives" is one of the longest-running soap operas of all time. The show has been airing on NBC for more than 55 years, and since that time there has been a revolving door of cast members. According to People, there have been so many celebrities who have appeared on "DOOL" over the years, it's almost hard to keep up with them all. Stars such as "Baywatch" actress Pamela Anderson, Hollywood A-lister Mila Kunis, and even country music star LeAnn Rimes have all held roles on the sudser.
"American Pie" star Tara Reid, "Soul Food" actress Vivica A. Fox, daytime host Kathie Lee Gifford, and even "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Kyle Richards have also appeared on the soap. Surprisingly, "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak also had a starring role on the series in 1983 when he played a character named Ken Hathaway.
While some of the cast such as Deidre Hall, Drake Hogestyn, Suzanne Rogers, Susan Seaforth Hayes, and others have become staples on the show (via TV Overmind). Other stars actually got their start on "Days of Our Lives" in roles that helped them kick off their acting careers.
Andrea Barber and Ashley Benson got their starts on DOOL
Hollywood Life reports that many fan-favorite celebrities actually got their start by appearing on "Days of Our Lives." Some big names have called the NBC soap opera home over the years and then went off to create big careers for themselves. Actress Alison Sweeny first appeared on "DOOL" in 1987 when she was cast as a young Adrienne Johnson in a flashback scene. In 1993, she officially joined the cast in a starring role as Sami Brady, a role she continues to reprise from time to time in addition to her other projects such as her Hallmark movies.
Actress Andrea Barber may be known best for portraying the role of DJ Tanner's best friend Kimmy Gibbler on "Full House" and its spin-off "Fuller House." However, Barber actually earned one of her very first roles when she played a very young Carrie Brady on "Days of Our Lives" from 1982 until 1986.
Ashley Benson became a household name when she landed her role on the teen drama "Pretty Little Liars." However, before that, she appeared on "DOOL" as Abigail Deveraux, the daughter of Jennifer Horton and Jack Deveraux. Benson spent three years on the show before moving on.
Jensen Ackles and Lisa Rinna also hit it big on DOOL
Fans may know Jamie Chung from her multiple acting roles in "The Hangover Part II," "Sorority Row," or "Lovecraft Country" (via IMDb). However, the actress actually got her start on reality TV. Chung appeared on "The Real World" before landing her first recurring role on "Days of Our Lives" as the character of Cordy Han, per Hollywood Life.
Another big star who got his start on "DOOL" is Jensen Ackles. Ackles' name has become synonymous with his "Supernatural" character Dean Winchester over the years. However, before he fought ghosts and demons on the CW series, he starred as Eric Brady, the son of Marlena Evans and Roman Brady, and twin brother to Sami. He played the role for three years before hitting it big with "Supernatural," which aired for 15 seasons.
Soap star Kirsten Storms also got her big break on "Days of Our Lives." The actress was cast to play a teenage version of Belle Black, where she spent five years in the role before moving on to rival soap "General Hospital." Actress Lisa Rinna also hit it big when she was cast as Billie Reed on the show. Rinna played the role for three years before leaving to star in other projects like "Melrose Place." However, she reprised the role several times over the years.
It seems that "DOOL" has been a great starting point for many stars over the years, as the soap can seemingly sniff out talent.