During last night’s 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, as it does every year, the television academy paid tribute to those in the industry that they’ve lost over the last year; since the previous Emmys held each year in September.

Starting with an emotional tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara by three of her co-stars, Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and Dan Levy and Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin, the segment then dovetailed into Noah Kahan performing “Bridge over Troubled Water” as the faces and the names of those being remembered were shown on the screen.

Daytime soap alums, who either stayed in the genre for the majority of their career, or went on to primetime success as well, were honored including: Anthony Geary (Luke, GH), Hayden Panettiere (Sarah, OLTL, Lizzie, GL, Juliette, Nashville), James Van Der Beek, (Dawson, Dawson’s Creek, and Stephen, ATWT), Gil Gerard (Alan, The Doctors), June Lockhart (Mariah, GH), Patricia Crowley (Mary, Port Charles and GH), Randolph Mantooth (Clay/Alex, Loving and The City, and Richard, GH) and Jon Cypher (Alex, ATWT and Arthur, Santa Barbara).

Photo: TVAcademy

THOSE HONORED AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT

However, in a glaring omission, the producers of the In Memoriam failed to include Days of our Lives beloved star, Patrick Muldoon who played the OG Austin Reed and also Richard Hart on Melrose Place. Muldoon passed away in April of this year at 57.

After Kahan concluded his performance, a special tribute to Rob Reiner began with Jamie Lee Curtis taking to the stage to share some warm words about her late friend.

In a ironic and sad twist, Curtis shared ,“Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for guest actor in a comedy series for his beautiful work on The Bear, and he now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner, at 37 years.”

Reiner, who along with his wife, Michele Reiner were killed by their son, Nick Reiner, is currently awaiting a decision if he will stand trial. Prosecutors on Tuesday, shared they will not seek the death penalty if he is convicted at trial, but instead life in prison. Curtis said of Rob, “He was generous and kind and funny as hell, and a friend to all. We all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year.” The Emmys then faded to black and went to commercial break.

So, were you happy to see those who you know from their work in soap operas included in the 2026 In Memoriam tribute at the Primetime Emmys? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, you can watch it below.

Tom Pelphrey, one of the greatest actors of our time, who got his first big break on the soaps, can now add a primetime Emmy to his two Daytime Emmys after receiving the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series tonight for his memorable role as Robbie Prendergrast in HBO’s Task.

Taking to the stage for his acceptance, Pelphrey delivered one of the more impassioned and touching moments at the 78th annual Primetime Emmys airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

Pelphrey shared, “I thank God for my life and my sobriety. I thank my family and my friends for all your love and support all these years, from Emmys to black box theaters and everything in between.” He added special thanks to his Task co-star and Emmy nominee, Mark Ruffalo, sharing, “Thank you for this incredible role and this opportunity and your friendship. I’m so proud to be your friend.”

Photo: NBC/TVAcademy

TOM PELPHREY GIVES BEAUTIFUL SHOUT OUT TO KALEY CUOCO

In conclusion, Tom gave a shout to his fiancée, Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco, when he expressed, “And to my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley — I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life.”

Cuoco is the mother to their first child together named Matilda, and she is pregnant with their second child. Tom also gave shout oust to his children, the one they have, and the one on the way. “Matilda, daddy loves you. Baby girl, daddy loves you. Thank you. God bless,” an emotional Pelphrey said.

The now Emmy-winning actor beat out a stellar field for the gold statuette that included: Three men from the cast of The Pitt: Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy and Gerran Howell, The Morning Show’s Billy Crudup, Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden and Pluribus actor Carlos-Manuel Vesga.

Photo: JPI

TWO-TIME DAYTIME EMMY WINNER FROM GUIDING LIGHT

Pelphrey had previously been nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2022 for his guest star role as Ben Davis in the hit series Ozark. On the soaps, Tom won two Daytime Emmys for his role as Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light in the Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 2006 and 2008 and was nominated a total of four times.

For six years, Pelphrey played the son of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer) from 2003-2009, before later joining the cast of As the World Turns in the role of Mick Cain from 2009-2010. From there, it’s been all primetime television, stage and films for Pelphrey.

So, were you happy to see Tom Pelphrey winning an Emmy for his role in Task? What did you think of his acceptance speech? Do you think he was one of the best actors to ever get their start on soaps? Let us know via the comment section.

Kirsten Storms (Maxie, GH) is sharing more details on the December 2025 apartment break-in and the difficulties she has had with the Tennessee police, plus how the original incident, according to the actress, played into her ex-husband, Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny, GH and ex-Stefan/Jake, Days) filing a restraining order against her and the custody case involving their daughter, Harper.

The popular actress had played GH’s Maxie Jones on and off since 2005, after coming to the ABC soap opera following her run as Belle Black on Days of our Lives. As GH fans know, Storms last appearance on General Hospital was back in March of this year. In recent episodes, the character of Maxie was written-out along with her entire family and Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) and relocated to Australia.

Now, Kirsten explained via Instagram and with shared photo of the December police report, which indicated Storms had placed a call to the Franklin Police Department to report a break-in at her Tennessee apartment. The report states that Storms was away from her apartment for about a week in August of 2025, and when she returned home, she found damage to the deadbolt on her door, as well as other missing items.

Photo: JPI

KIRSTEN STORMS SPEAKS OUT ABOUT CUSTODY CASE OVER HER DAUGHTER

Then, Storms fired back at naysayers in the ongoing comments on her break-in situation, stating: “Please do not tell me (or ask me) not to post these things. I’m hoping this is the last item I post (of the documents I have on the break-in at my old apartment in Tennessee). I’m only doing this because that lead to an **unnecessary custody case** being filed against me.”

It was back in April that TMZ learned, through obtaining of court documents, that Barash cited Storms for having mental health issues so he filed a restraining order against her. Kirsten expressed in her latest post, that she was asked to meet with a mediator in the custody case for her daughter, not a judge, and that her mental health issues were being used against her instead of people focusing on the break-in.

Storms added, “However, the break-in … followed by a ‘custody case/now mediation request’ where the break-in was the main reason for the initial custody filing, was unwarranted.”

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CHECK

Kirsten also shared on her health status,”I have always been proactive about my medical care (all aspects), as well as Harper’s (<—— the MOST important person to me). I’ve also been attempting to get checkups with a neurosurgeon/neurologist for my brain aneurysm and brain cysts. And tbh, I have a psychologist that I’ve seen for years, who I’m kinda attached too. She’s f’ing incredible and understands the kind of therapy sessions I need. Addressing what should NOT be the focus (mental illness), is frustrating for me”

You can check out Kirsten’s latest post on the custody matter, and her ongoing battle over the apartment break-in while in Tennessee below.

Now let us know, glad to hear from Kirsten and hear more of her side of the custody story and her ongoing issues with this apartment break-in? Let us know via the comment section below, and if you miss seeing her on-screen on General Hospital and hope one day she will come back.

 

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