The beloved All My Children first aired on January 5th, 1970 on ABC and ran on the network until it was canceled back in September of 2013.  The next year, the show received a short-lived reboot online via Prospect Park.

One of the actresses to appear in both the network and online version was Daytime Emmy winning actress Cady McClain, who became soap-famous for her role as Dixie Cooney Martin and together with Michael E. Knight, became one of soaps all-time popular duos as Tad and Dixie.

While so many miss All My Children every single day and the indelible characters created by the late, great Agnes Nixon, McClain took to her Instagram on Sunday to relate what the soap opera meant to her in her life.

Here is what Cady shared along with a cover of Soap Opera Digest featuring Michael Knight and herself as Tad and Dixie: “Today I am celebrating the 50th Anniversary of “All My Children”! I started on the show when I had just turned 19 in the fall of 1988. I worked as a contract player thru 1996. I was back in the fall of 1997 again under contract and worked through 2001. That’s roughly 13 years. Then I came back for a year in 2006, then for a couple months in 2012. Then I did the internet version for six weeks and then… the show was done.

For many years this show and the people on it were like family to me. The makeup artists as much mom’s as my own mom to me at times. And thanks to the work I was able to afford some art school and college as well. I saw many great shows (both American and International) that came to NYC, which opened my eyes to what performance could be. It allowed me to do a lot of Off-Broadway theater and roles in five Indie films while working my day job.

Photo: SOD

I was nominated three times and won my first Emmy. I made some lifelong friends like Michael E. Knight, James Patrick Stewart, Jill Larson, Penny Bergman, Julia Barr, Lonnie Quinn and many others both in front of and behind the scenes. And most importantly, I was able to take care of my wild but wonderful mother. ‘She who drove me nuts’ but impressed on me the importance of having art in ones life. Who read me poems and took me to museums. My child who died but who I so grateful to have known. Thank you ABC and all the producers and writers who supported me and my work. Because of your support my life was richer, broader, more interesting. I will always be grateful for the experience …. and for the lifelong relationship with all the fans! Massive shout out to the daytime fans who continue to support me in my projects. When I meet one of you on the street I am truly grateful for your time and that we got to share some really special moments together. . .”

So, share your remembrances of All My Children and your thoughts on Cady’s sentiments via the comment section below.