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Home · Celebrity

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years

Former Young & The Restless star Victoria Rowell is suing CBS and Sony for racial discrimination. Rowell, who played Drucilla Winters for 15 years, accuses the studios of keeping her off the air as retaliation for her calls for more diversity on soap operas. All the talk of Young & The Restless has us reminiscing about the days when soapies were must-see TV. Here's a look back at the most memorable Black stars through the years.

By · Updated October 27, 2020
01
Victoria Rowell

Rowell played Drucilla Winters on “The Young and the Restless” for 15 years.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
02
Shemar Moore

Moore played the sexy Malcolm Winters on “The Young and the Restless.”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
03
Darnell Williams

Williams played Jesse Hubbard on “All My Children”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
04
Debbie Morgan

Morgan is best known for her role as Dr. Angie Hubbard “All My Children.”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
05
Kristoff St. John

St. John has played Neil Winters on “The Young and The Restless” since 1991.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
Getty
06
Sharon Leal

The “dreamgirls” star acted in “Guiding Light” from 1996 to 1999.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
07
Vivica A. Fox

Fox starred on the now-defunct “Generations” from 1989 to 1991.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
08
Tatyana Ali

After years spent on primetime television, Ali returned to daytime TV on “The Young and the Restless” in 2007. She won an NAACP Image Award for her role.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
09
Henry Simmons

The hunky actor played lawyer Tyrone Montgomery on “Another World” from 1997-1999.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
10
Taye Diggs

Diggs starred in “Guiding Light” in 1997.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
11
Tichina Arnold

Arnold had a recurring role on the 80s classic soap opera, “Ryan’s Hope.”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
12
Nia Long

Long played Kathryn “Kat” Speakes on the soap opera “Guiding Light,” from 1991 to 1994.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
13
Ruby Dee

The legendary actress once replaced Cecily Tyson on “Guiding Light” in 1997.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
14
Mario Van Peebles

Van Peebles starred in both “One Life to Live” and “All My Children.”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
15
Morgan Freeman

Morgan once acted on the daytime soap opera “Another World.”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
16
Tamara Tunie

Tunie played lawyer Jessica Griffin Harris on “As the World Turns.”

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
17
Vanessa Bell Calloway

The “What’s Love Got to Do With It” star had a recurring role on “All My Children” in the 80s.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years
18
Cecily Tyson

Tyson starred in “Guiding Light” in 1966.

Black Soap Opera Stars Through the Years

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