Real-Life Soap Opera Couples Who Met On The Set

Soap Opera Stars Who Are Seriously Undervalued

For some, finding love at work is the only option amidst busy schedules and a focus on career goals. When it comes to the land of daytime soaps, it is easy to blur the lines of reality and fiction, especially when your job is all about drama and falling in love… it can be easy to get caught up in the romance of it all. Regardless, below is a list real-life soap couples that met, fell in love with, and built a life together, with their soap opera co-stars. Moreover, they have managed to stay together in the long run!

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10. Shawn Christian (Daniel Jonas) and Arianne Zucker (Nicole Walker) – DOOL

Dr. Daniel Jonas and Nicole Walker have enjoyed a rollercoaster ride on-screen when it comes to love. They have battled baby momma dramas, deception, and so much more. However, in real-life, these two started dating in early 2014. Off the cusp of a failed marriage with another Days alumni Kyle Lowder (ex-Brady Black), the two took their friendship on the DOOL set, and went to another level. In the summer of 2021, Arianne and Shawn got engaged.

9. Bryan Craig (Morgan Corinthos) and Kelly Thiebaud (Britt Westbourne) – GH

While General Hospital’s (GH) Britt Westborne and Morgan Corinthos never hooked up on the popular daytime soap, the real-life co-stars Bryan Craig and Kelly Thiebaud seemed to connect right from the get-go. They began dating in 2013, and decided to make it official in 2017. Bryan sent out a tweet about their engagement and posted a shot of Thiebaud’s ring on Instagram. Unfortunately they called off their engagement months shy of their March wedding date.

8. Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Kiki Jerome) – GH

While Michael Corinthos and Kiki Jerome shared a pretty intense relationship on GH, it seems the both co-stars took a page from that storyline and started dating in real-life. Was it all the love scenes that created a spark between Chad and Kristen? No one can say for sure, but these two broke up in 2015 after trying to make their long distance relationship work.

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7. Kirsten Storms (Maxi Jones) and Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara) – GH

While Johnny Zacchara and Maxi Jones only flirted with love, partaking in a kiss on GH, the stars playing these characters have done a little more than toy with the idea of getting together. Working together for many years on the GH set, the duo started dating in early 2013. Still, being friends first may have done the trick for Barash and Storms because in the summer of that year, they both reported to People Magazine that they had secretly wed, and their first child was on the way. In early 2014, Kirsten gave birth to a bouncy baby girl named Harper Rose Barash. While the two have since separated, they co-parent like champs for their growing daughter.

6. Thad Luckinbill (Ex-J.T. Hellstrom) and Amelia Heinle (Victoria Newman) – Y&R

It’s the classic soap opera love story: penniless boy from the wrong side of the tracks, meets and falls in love with an uptown girl. This recipe worked very well for Victoria Newman and J.T. Hellstrom way back in the day in Genoa City. In fact, it was such a well made match that the two had a child together, and got married. Perhaps the successful relationship rubbed off on co-stars Thad and Amelia – as the two decided to get into the action. J.T. and Vicky didn’t last the long haul, and neither did Heinle and Luckinbill. The two tied the knot in 2007, and had two children together — a boy in November 2007 and a girl in December 2009 — before going their separate ways.

©Jill Johnson/jpistudios.com

5. Michael Saucedo (ex-Juan Santiago) and Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber) – GH

Elizabeth Webber is always embroiled in a dramatic love affair on GH. Still, it turns out that Juan Santiago has long stolen her heart. While Michael Saucedo was on the show for two years (1999 to 2001), he managed to develop a strong connection with Rebecca Herbst, and the two married in 2001. Almost 21 years later, the couple is still happily married, with three kiddos.

©Jill Johnson/jpistudios.com

4. Vince Van Patten (Ex-Christian Page) and Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott) – Y&R

The beautiful and success Ashley Abbott on Y&R is currently single (and pining for her daughter’s beau); however, in real-life, she is happily married to a former cast member of the show. Oddly enough, she met her current husband, Vince Van Patten, on the set of Y&R, when he played her on-screen character’s boyfriend in 2000 for a short while. Odd, because not only is Van Patten the son of the late television actor Dick Van Patten, he is also an ex-tennis pro, World Poker Tour commentator, and has acted here and there. The duo married in April 2003, had a son, and lived (as they say) happily ever after. Ashley may be a tad jealous to know that while things didn’t work out for her when it came to Christian Page, it did for Eileen.

3. Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) and Cindy Fisher (Ex-Dana/Ex-Rebecca) – Y&R

Speaking of Y&R, who doesn’t love the handsome, funny and smart Paul Williams? Much like Eileen, Doug Davison met his longtime love and current wife on the set of the show in the ’80s, and married in 1984. After nearly 40 years of marriage, the two are still as strong as ever and have two children. On an interesting note, along with her stints as Dana and Rebecca on Y&R, Fisher played two characters on Days of Our Lives and has worked on various stage, television, and film projects.

2. Brytni Sarpy (Elena Dawson) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) — Y&R

Elena Dawson and Devon Hamilton had a matchless chemistry when they started dating on Y&R, and the same can be said of their connection away from the set. This couple has been together for a few years now, and even though they don’t flaunt their relationship online a lot, the passion is still obvious between them. In early 2022, when rumors were swirling that the couple had gone their separate ways, a photo posted on GH‘s Finola Hughes’ Instagram proved that the two are still going strong.

1. Bill and Susan Hayes (Doug and Julie Williams) – DOOL

It is a rarity to be able to stay married in the land of Hollywood, and it is even more rare to be able to keep a marriage successful in the land of soaps. However, this duo has been able to accomplish both. Doug and Julie are one of the longest-running soap opera couples (still together) currently on daytime television. Fans know them as Hope Williams’ parents, and we have seen them both help her tremendously through the good times and the bad. Married (in real-life) for over 40 years, both actors continue to be DOOL fan favorites, and staples on the show. In this very case, it does seem like art does in fact imitate life.