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Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Beth Chamberlin & Grant Aleksander Talk Guiding Light Reunion & Which Soap They Would Like To Be On Now!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/CBS

On the October 12th episode of The Talk, the afternoon series welcomed stars from Guiding Light as part of a special broadcast honoring CBS Daytime’s 30 years as the number one daytime television network.

Iconic cast members: Kim Zimmer (Reva), Robert Newman (Josh), Beth Chamberlin (Beth) and Grant Aleksander (Phillip) were reunited before a live studio audience. Before their entrance, a short retrospective of GL clips was shown bringing the emotion and heart of what fans loved from the characters in Springfield for 56 years on television.   It has been seven years since GL went off the air in 2009, but these actors and the characters they played have left an indelible impression for fans of the genre, and earned the respect of their peers.

Following their on stage segment, On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman sat down with Kim, Robert, Beth, and Grant for a heartfelt reunion, where the actor’s discussed life without the ‘Light’, being back together again for this special episode of The Talk, their legions of fans who miss GL every day, and what daytime soap still on the air would they like to appear on if given the opportunity.   Here’s what they had to say!

Kim, I noticed when you walked out in front of the live studio audience at The Talk, who were standing on their feet and so happy to see you and the GL cast, you were crying.  Obviously, it is and was so emotional for you.  I was crying, too!

Courtesy/CBS

KIM:  I’m always crying.  I was crying on my pre-interview with the woman from The Talk that was pre-interviewing me!  I said “I’m sorry; I just have to have a moment.” (Laughs)

Robert, when was the last time you had a sort of reunion with Kim?

ROBERT:  The last time I saw Kim was when we did a production of Gypsy together a year ago.  We didn’t talk the entire time during the production (Laughs).  Well, I had a restraining order on her! (Laughs)

Is there still a feeling of emptiness for you every day that you are not going to work on Guiding Light, even though it has now been off the air for seven years?

KIM:  We were talking about it in the dressing room, and Grant said it beautifully.  We would have loved to have been those people like: Larry Gates (H.B,) and William Roerick (Henry), and Beverlee McKinsey (Alexandra) who grew old on the show and maybe then appeared on the show two or three times a month, and it would be great.  I would then have the opportunity to continue doing theater, and still be able to make appearances. and mentor younger actors.

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Could you ever foresee Guiding Light in some form, ever coming back in an online version?

GRANT:  It’s incredibly doable to do these shows again on the web and at a fraction of what they originally cost, but again it’s the elephant in the room with P&G, and the rights.

Grant, you were the golden boy of Guiding Light, during your run as Phillip Spaulding.  What storylines were most memorable for you looking back?

GRANT:   I think we would all probably agree we don’t see things as they are happening, but in the rear-view mirror.  What was really well-written, and it was springboard to everything else, was the first story I did, but I also think the leukemia story was wonderfully written, and it is all about the writing.  If the writing is good, you can get a lot of people to do these roles effectively. We all got very lucky being in the right place at the right time, and made the most of it.

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

BETH:  A young Hayden Panettiere was fantastic in the storyline as Lizzie.

On The Talk, the iconic “Slut of Springfield” clip was shown.  It’s still one of the greatest soap moments of all-time and holds up among the best of the best to this day. What were your thoughts when you saw the scene being played on national television so many years later?

ROBERT:  I think back to the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof  story, where Josh was in a wheelchair, and Reva had married H.B.  But to me, that story solidified Josh and Reva as this big thing.  I think it propelled us to a different level, and it was gorgeous storyline.

BETH:  When you were talking about the writing, I think of Downton Abbey’s whose first season was fabulous.   But frankly, as it went on I felt it wasn’t great story.  Our writers wrote great story day after day on Guiding Light.  They were not just writing an arc for 12 episodes.  It really gave me a great appreciation for the great soap writers and what they could do and churn out all of that material all of the time.

Kim, you were always vocal about the good storylines they threw your way and the bad … looking back on it now, do you think the bad were that bad?  (Laughs)  Yes, I know there was the clone!

Courtesy/CBS

KIM:  Even the bad stories were challenging and that’d why we do this, because we love to be challenged.   I used to say, “It’s my job to make the s**t smell like roses”   That was rare that it was really stinky, but when it was …

BETH … Sometimes it was fun though, because you get a rush as an actress and you say, “If I can buy into it, then the audience will believe it”   Now in New York for us actors, there are not any soaps, so now I am doing more primetime guest spots.  You realize how you got addicted to the pace of daytime, because primetime is so slow.

KIM:  I am so much more fulfilled doing theatre.  I did Wicked and I have been systemically checking out all the theatrical roles I have always wanted to do.   I have about five left they include: Mame, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff?

For each of you, with four network daytime dramas left on the air, which soap would you most like to do if a part were to come up that would be up your alley?

KIM:  I would love to work with Bradley Bell (executive producer and head writer, B&B).  I think he is incredible.  Fan have written to me saying I would make a great sister to Sally Spectra (the late Darlene Conley).  They say “That would be a perfect fit for you,” or even Sally Spectra! I think the character is still alive.  It would be hard shoes to step into, but I could see myself playing Sally’s sister!

Courtesy/CBS

BETH:  I have to say, I think for me, Y&R, because of new executive producer Mal Young’s background coming from the BBC.   It is very intriguing to me and the way that they do soaps over in the UK.  I think it’s really interesting, and I think it’s going to be really exciting to watch Y&R.

ROBERT:  Y&R seems to be the closest to Guiding Light, a show that is driven by family-oriented drama.   I felt like the best stuff we did on GL, and yes there were the gimmicky stories we did, and the –not-so gimmicky like when we told a cancer storyline. But at the core of it, Guiding Light was about family – brother to brother, father to son,  husband and wife, and sister to sister.  I feel like Y&R hits on all of those.

GRANT:  I think for me any of them for a short arc or as a new character, because they have a pretty good idea of what they want to do, who you are, and what you want to accomplish. When you are on a soap long term the things you tend to fight on a soap after awhile is they don’t know where they want to take you, or what they want to do.  But, I love this medium and I love the workload if it.  I think I would enjoy doing an arc on any of them.

Seeing you all together meant so much too so many people watching at home, those of us here with you today, and those who will be reading this.  Guiding Light is forever in all of our hearts.  What do you want the fans to know right now?

Photo: MF Soaps Inc

KIM:  We want the fans to know that we are OK, and we hope they are too!  We met some really emotional fans when we did the So Long Springfield Tour that were devastated.  It was just so hard to talk with them, because they were worried about us, and they were worried about themselves, and about filling that hour in their life every day.   It was sad.

ROBERT:  It’s amazing how many times when I am somewhere in the country or walking down the street, how fans come up to me and get so weepy about it.  Sometimes they will ask me, ‘What are Josh and Reva doing today?”   As if in their own mind their story has continued, but they don’t get to watch it anymore.  I think that is what makes it so frustrating for them that they want to know what is happening to these characters.  I am also grateful that we have left a lasting memory with them.

So, what did you think of what Kim, Robert, Beth and Grant has to say about being back together again and thinking back at their time on Guiding Light? Were you moved to tears watching the GL stars on The Talk? Would you like to see Kim on B&B, Robert and Beth on Y&R, and Grant do a guest star turn on anyone of the four soaps?  If so, what role would you cast them in on your favorite daytime drama?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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I hope P&G is paying attention. Fans would enjoy an online reboot of GL, EON, and ATWT.

They should put it back on TV, in my view, but re-mount it the right way. They need the fast pace, great (interior) sets, and good dialogue that they had in the 90s.

I really loved GL and love this interview! I would love to see kz as Sally’s sister but B and B is a ghost of its former great self. It truly is written horribly now. I would wish better things for my favorite GL actors.

I haven’t watched B & B for a while. Periodically, they used to present it in continuous format — with no commercial interrupts — and it was a much better show without the interruptions. Were I hired by CBS, I would advise them to bring it (the format) back.

I loved GL and still miss it very much,of course Josh an Reva were my favorite. I was so grateful they ended the show with Josh an Reva together,I would love to see a special or something showing them years down the road and what their characters are doing now.

I started watching GL because of Reva Shayne. But, what really held me was the “Four Musketeers” in the mid-80’s. I’m sorry. But, Judi Evans will always be Beth for me. She slayed in that story as a teenager abused by her evil stepfather. GL had so many great stories in those years, and Beverlee McKinsey was still appearing as Alexandra Spaulding.

I miss GL to this very day. The characters were truly like family to longtime viewers. There’s a contingent group of GH viewers who really want Robert Newman and Colleen Zenk to play Mr and Mrs Jeff Webber.

As a long time fan of ATWT, I would love to see Coleen Zenk back on the screen. She was always one 8f my favorites. What I don’t understand is why all of these fantastic soap actors are be mentioned to play Jeff Webber? Is there a reason why Richard Dean Anderson is not eing asked. Unless he was asked, and he turned it down because the show is a shell of its former self.

On a post script I would like to add that I enjoyed that episode of The Talk. The clips and the actors brought back great memories of afternoons with my mother, who was a fan ofATWT in the early seventies. I felt so grown up watching this show, that I continued watching it as much as time would allow until it went off the. I watched the last episode and cried throughout

Shock shock……when reading question, I thought CBS shows. Bingo.

Would love Grant on Days as Mike Horton!

What a good casting idea! I always said Grant would have made an awesome Ridge on B and B, but he is too good an actor for that kind of drivel. Mike Horton is funny in that anyone from, like Jonathan Jackson to Jerry VerDorn could play the role. Lol. That is a character that has been aged and de-aged more than any other character. I think DAYS realized in 1989 when they aged Scotty Banning that they better lay off on SORAS. Aging Scotty meant Alice and Tom would have been 114 years old in 1989. Thats why Mike was brought back in 1994 in the same age range as Carrie and Austin, even though Mike was a doctor before Carrie was born.

I said the SAME THING!! Grant wouldve been awesome as Ridge on BOLD!!!!!

Robert Newman as Dr. Jeff Webber on GH,,,Grant Alexander as Peter Blake Days with Beth Chamberlain as his neglected alcholoic socialite wife Tracy who could be Victor’s daughter..Kim Zimmer as Hilliary Quartimaine…a long lost unknown daughter of Edward Quartimaine on GH if Jane Eliot does retire…

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview, and I wasn’t even a GL viewer. Of course, I knew about these actors and their roles. I empathize with them. We all lament the loss of soaps, several terrific shows, such as GL. These actors all seem so genuine and humble. And they really appreciate the fans!

I didn’t know Robert Newman & Kim Zimmer did the musical “Gypsy” together.
Does anyone know where that was?
I would love to see Kim in Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?” What an incredible Martha she would be. It sends chills up my spine thinking what she would do with that role.

I think Robert Newman would be an excellent choice for Ashley Abbott. Make him a strong smart wealthy take no nonsense business mogul who falls in love and marry Ashley.

Put Beth Chamberlain with Jack Abbott.

OMG ! Timmm brought it up … about Robert Newman and Ashley… AMAZING !

talk about adult drama… brought on by two actors with intellect, who recognize each others wants, play off of each other… and can deliver the hurt… with so much love

OMG… Beth Chamberlin and Peter Bergman …. the gods say … NOW

CLASS all around

I get it… Beth Chamberlin returns as Sage sister… and lays claim to Sage baby… the dna was “rigged” LOL… and Sharon nuts up again

Beth CHamberlin and just jack… ignite

for “want” of nothing – more – than better… show (s)

Mal Young… the Abbotts were and are… the dynasty of Y&R

Jack and Beth Chamberlin
Ashley and Robert Newman
Tracy and … to be determined

Billy and …

tis is far and away far more an interesting hook line and sinker for viewers to see this family rise from the ashes.

it’s so much more interesting than any and all Newman. so blasé beyond care

I was so happy to see all four of them…I got hooked on GL when Douglas Marland begin his stint as head writer which I think was GL at it’s best. I did watch after Doug Marland left from time to time and GL did have many good moments and story lines after Doug. I would love to see Kim on B&B and Robert on Y&R and Grant and Beth on any ot the four. I wish them all nothing but the best in the future and they along with GL will live on in our hearts. BTW, I remember when Robert started on GL, he was not a nice guy but I have always loved his character and think he is a fantastic actor and we all know Kim, WOW…an emmy winner multiple times.

I would love this show on the web it was just so good and it was such a part of my life
I would love Kim as sally spectra tho!!!!!!!

if ATWT, GL, and/or Another World ever returned

i’d say bye bye to the current 4.

I was close to being emotional when I saw the ladies from ATWT but I do understand how the GL fans felt. It’s a real pisser these 2 shows are gone just like it’s that same exact feeling about AMC and OLTL. Cancelling these shows was a very big stupid move on the part of the networks. Shows the fans are just peons in their eyes.

Grant would make a great Jeff Webber! Make it happen GH!

I miss GL & ATWT so much …these were well written shows with memorable characters…I would even watch them for a half hour .once a week if P& G would work with the fans….I know a lot of these actors have moved on….but it would be so good to see any of them on a soap once in a while….

GL and ATWT WERE TERRIFIC…..THOSE WERE THE DAYS OF FANTASTIC ACTORS AND WONDERFUL WRITING!!!! I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL OF THEM ON A CURRENT SOAP IF THEY COULD GET A DECENT STORYLINE!!!!!!

Thank you Michael Fairman for giving these four their due! So great to see them and the ladies of ATWT. I could have listened to the speak for hours. Miss them all so much.

I appreciate these actors so much. The show is gone, but memories live on. I love what Grant said that if the show had continued they would eventually been the senior players mentoring the younger actors. I loved the question about which soap left you would want to appear on. Even posters had great ideas. I loved the idea of KZ being a lost Quarterrmaine.

Seeing these wonderful actors was so uplifting; brief, but uplifting. So many great memories came flooding back.

While reading the interview, I couldn’t help but wonder about how the show could be brought back in some fashion. P&G is a real bugger when it comes to allowing fans the opportunity to see their stable of shows. But I would LOVE to see even a two-hour movie or mini-series where someone tells the story of the towns where the P&G shows took place and we had the chance to see some of the characters from the shows, where they went after the final episodes and really focus on them, not a bunch of new ones, and give us a brief update: marriages, divorces, romances, births, deaths, careers, adventures, things like that.

Ah, one can wish! I’d LOVE to see some kind of update on shows that have gone off the air. My top picks: AW, ATWT, GL, OLTL, EON, TX, SFT, mostly the P&G ones that I used to watch.

I realy miss Another World It was my all time favor and Day of our live we need to keep watching so it dont get canceled for it wll become a merory too love my dvr

I miss AW too although the writing was uneven but Anne Heche as Vicky/Marley was just fantastic soap opera!

Anne Heche VickyMarley I agree and the guy who played Jake they made it fantastic soap opera

Its all about the writing. We need new and interesting storylines to attract the younger demographic and retain the older generation.

Enjoyed The interview until Beth asserts GL was better written than Downton Abbey. What a ridiculous thing to say.
GL had its ups and downs but I remember the very classy ending. I will never forget Philip and his father sitting on that bench.
I became a big Kim ZImmer fan but the writing for Reva was just ridiculous at times.
Love Grant in anything he does, I hope he can find work.

I noticed that too, Rapids, and it cracked me up. Love Beth Chamberlin to death and would be thrilled if she showed up on another soap, but I just have to disagree with her on this. GL, at its best (Douglas Marland, Pam Long, Nancy Curlee) was probably every bit as well written as Downton Abbey, but even Downton Abbey at its lowest was not nearly as awful as GL when it was mediocre (too many headwriters to mention) or bad (McTavish, Ellen Weston). DA was always watchable (even when I was so sick of Daisy in the final season that I wanted to throw things at my screen); GL, not so much. (And yes, I know there’s a world of difference between turning out a dozen episodes and doing 250 a year. But if Beth C. is going to make the comment and open the door, I’m going to follow her through it!)

Limiting that comment strictly to writing, of course. I never had any problems with the acting–at least, the acting by those who were cast for their acting ability. (Those who were cast mostly because of how they looked when wearing very little, well, you get what you get, on any show, not just GL.)

I would love to see Kim Zimer and Robert Newman on BB . They were my favorite couple.

I was always a GL and ATWTs fan first and foremost. certainly was happy they at least ended the storylines happily. Loved seeing Josh and Reva together again. The only good thing they did for the fans in the last year.
Thanks Michael for putting this up. I make it a point to never watch the scummy show that they replaced my show with. I never forgive or forget.

Thank you for this great interview. I would love to see any of these fine actors anywhere!

Robert Newman… undoubtedly… is the sexiest man alive.. and can ACT

Guiding Light with Josh, Annie, and Olivia…. smolder

I love love love Beth Chamberlin… to no end

What a wonderful article from Michael! Bravo! This is exactly what we fans want to hear from our beloved stars! Thank you!

If only P&G would sell the rights to GL to someone who would let us see more. Wake up! This valuable resource is worth less each year as you lose more of your fan base. We aren’t getting younger each year! Put it back on the air so we can increase the market share!

Fantastic interview. I love the idea of Grant playing Mike Horton on “DOOL,” Kim Zimmer playing Sally’s sister on “B&B”, but my dream would be to see Colleen Zenk play Kate Roberts’ sister on “DOOL.” Robert Newman and Beth Chamberlain would be a great addition to any show.

This may sound crazy, but why doesn’t P&G put ALL episodes online? I would re-watch so much of it, Especially the early episodes before my time. “SoapFlix!” Add some retro advertiser spotlights from each year. Ad dollars potential!

Hey, Courtney…EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT IDEA!!!!! AW, HELL YEAH!!!!!

Take care, Courtney.

Many soap fans have died off. Surviving soap fans are older and less likely to watch any online programming.
I don’t think there would be enough interest and there are conversion and operating costs to go online.
It would also be expensive to market and advertise these old soaps. I don’t see it happening. Just enjoy your memories.

There are enough of us old soap fans around to sustain and support a subscription service for a an online soap channel filled with our favorite shows. It wouldn’t hurt to reboot several of these shows to cater to a new and younger audience.

Loved grant alexander and Beth chamberlin together . There was no better couple on daytime ever and i watched many soaps and none compared or held my interest as much as gl. I remember watching it with my mom in the 60s and continued watching til the end.
Please consider bringing these two very talented and gifted actors back to daytime.

thank you for this article Michael. Guiding Light has always been my favorite soap, ever since the 80’s when I was little.

As much as I love and miss GL I’m not sure if it’s a good idea if it came back, the stories wrapped up perfectly. I think it would have been good if Paul Raunch brought it back like he was going to before he died. Grant Alexsander said that Raunch pretty much had it all worked out with P&G.

Beth Chamberlain still looks amazing, she’d fit right in on Y&R or B&B with no problem. Robert Newman doesn’t even look like he’s aged.

So happy for my GL favorites but I miss them beyond words. I felt like someone in my family died when GL was cancelled after 70+ years. I watched the show as a kid in the 1970s with my grandmother (as though we had a choice to turn the channel) and agree that the best written years were with Pam Long, Douglas Marland, Melissa Salmons, Jeff Ryder, Courtney Simon, Lloyd Gold, and especially Nancy Curlee. P&G needs to release the rights to this show so that it can be brought back in some form. They wanted to get out of the soap opera business anyway. The Light will always shine for me! Thanks Michael for keeping us up to date.

I loved gl. I love reva. I grew up watching the show and cried when it ended. I love Daisy and reva. I went threw the same issues as Daisy (together with Daisy and reva). Thanks Kim for great memories. Love u reva. Ahhh Kim zimmer love u Kim zimmer! Always.

This was my favorite soap. Wish you guys would come back. Millions of people would.

I ‘ve watch GL as a teen with my mom. I wish there could be a new generations of ‘ The Guiding Light ‘ with Revs and Josh and the rest of the gang. So miss the older soaps. Please come back.

I still miss Guiding Light to this day.
When I was a kid, I used to run home from school
and watch it at lunchtime, with my Mom. Great memories.
Papa Bauer, Berta, Bill, Mike, Ed
and then of course the Lewis and Shayne families.
Christopher Bernau and Ron Raines as Alan Spaulding.
H.B., Henry Chamberlain, Ross Marler.
Beverlee McKinsey as Alexandra, Wow!
Wonderful, wonderful actors and actresses.
I still long to hear the reading of the Christmas story.
It was always such an anticipated highlight, when HB would read it.
In later years it would be read by Josh or Ross.
Then there were the awesome Bauer barbecues on The Fourth of July.
Rick, as Yankee Doodle, so cute!
It was such a wonderful show and dealt with real-life trials and tribulations.
It dealt with modern-day problems and was very educational.
After watching this show all my life, I was absolutely devastated when it ended.
The actors were like family, and I looked forward to that very special hour each day.
Thank you so very much to the amazing cast of this great show.
I love you all and will never forget you.
Thanks for the memories. God bless you all.

I miss Guiding light so much I have the 1983 closing theme for my ringtone❤

Please try to get the guiding light back on where it left off when Josh picked up Reva and her son at light house and drove away Please I miss this show very much . Love to all Alice . Please Please put back on .

Guiding Light

Tom Pelphrey Takes on The Role of ‘Jesus Christ’ with Y&R’s Courtney Hope as ‘Mary’ in New Podcast Series

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Since first making a name for himself as Reva’s (Kim Zimmer) son, Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light, Tom Pelphrey’s (ex-ATWT and GL) post-soap career has featured many complex and dark roles in television and motion pictures. Now comes perhaps, Pelphrey’s most stunning role when he will play Jesus Christ in a new four–part audio series podcast, called The Christ.

The series is from the Faith Podcast Network who will be releasing the series for Easter. It is being billed as “an audio epic and the first ever full-scale audio dramatization of Jesus’ life across four immersive episodes using cinematic-quality sound, music and performances.” The podcast series will feature more than 100 different characters and can be heard at TheChristPodcast.com

Joining The Ozark and Task star in the cast are some other high-profile Hollywood names including: David Ovelowo as Pontius Pilot, Paul Walter Hauser as John the Baptist, Patricia Heaton as the host and John Rhys-Davies as the narrator. In addition, none other than The Young and the Restless, Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra) also is featured as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Photo: FaithPodcastNetwork

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “The Christ comes from a creative team that includes writer and director Paul Cuschieri, co-director and producer Mark Ramsey and producer Jim Young.” The series drops during Holy Week, with the first episode debuting on March 30. A new episode will be released each day through April 2, scheduled accordingly so that the entire series will be available by Good Friday on April 3.

The official logline says The Christ will cover “the life, death and legacy of Jesus of Nazareth. Through betrayal, courage, suffering and hope, the series explores how one man’s story reshaped history — and redefined love, authority and sacrifice.”

Pelphrey who announced he has 12-years of sobriety back in 2025, shared why this project was of importance to him, “Sharing about sobriety and faith are so personal to me, and it means so much to me. The other thing you notice is when people are sharing things, you could say a word to a thousand people, and a thousand people hear a different version of that word. In all humility, to share something that matters to you, you first have to come to an understanding and acceptance that you’re surrendering how it’s going to be heard or what it means to anyone listening. You have no control over it. That’s been an amazing process to go through.”

So, what do you think of Tom Pelphrey playing the audio version of Jesus Christ and Courtney Hope playing Mary, Mother of Jesus? Excited to hear the story of Christ via this podcast series? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Guiding Light

‘Guiding Light’s’ Kim Zimmer Reflects on Brilliant Scenes with Tom Pelphrey After Initially Telling Producers, ‘Hire Any of Them But the Last Guy’

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Throughout its 57-year run on daytime, Guiding Light introduced television audiences to many actor who would go on to have major careers in motion pictures, primetime television and the stage. One such is the incredible Tom Pelphrey (Task, Mank, Ozark, Outer Range, et al.), who from the minute he debuted on the CBS soap took soap viewers by storm for his raw, relatable and emotional turn as Reva (Kim Zimmer) and Prince Richard Winslow’s (Bradley Cole) son, Jonathan Randall.

In the complicated storyline, Jonathan was conceived and born while Reva was suffering from amnesia and believing herself to be Princess Catherine while living in San Cristobel. As Jonathan grew up his life was torn apart making him a vengeful, menacing young man, who under it all was deeply wounded and who felt abandoned and forgot about.

Kim Zimmer won four Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Reva Shayne, while Tom Pelphrey took home two Daytime Emmys for the Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series for his performance. On-screen, together, they were a riveting pairing which included many a tense scene including when Jonathan choked out Reva.

Photo: JPI

During last week’s Guiding Light reunion livestream with Zimmer, Bradley Cole (ex-Richard and Jeffrey, GL) and Laura Wright (ex-Cassie, GL, now Carly, GH) on the You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, the three actors reminisced about their time together as romantic pairings: Reva/Richard, Cassie/Richard, Reva/Jeffrey etc, but also talked about many of their co-stars and their deeply personal feelings of what Guiding Light meant to all of them.

REVA AND JONATHAN WERE SOAP OPERA GOLD

Though the years, it’s been no secret that Zimmer, did not initially want Tom Pelphrey cast as her son, because as she admitted, in the audition process with her, she was scared of him based on the power of his performance in the scene.

Kim recalled, “I went in (to the producers) right after I auditioned like seven guys, and I said, ‘Hire any of them, but the last guy.’ And they all looked at me like I had six heads, because they had already decided they were going to cast him. And then when I said that, they were like, ‘we’re definitely going to cast him now! That’s the feeling they wanted. They knew he scared me.”

The beloved GL heroine said that once she began working in a scene with Pelphrey, all was A-OK! “It was almost immediate once we started really working together, and I could trust the story,” shared Kim. “It was such a bizarre story that I was being given, again (also referencing Reva’s Clone story as the other), that I was hesitant about that. But once we started really working together, there was no question that they had made the right decision.”

In fact, fans loved Reva and Jonathan so much, they would vote them top couple as Kim remembers, “And, you know, in the soap magazines, we got voted, ‘Best couple,’ and we weren’t a love couple. We were a mother and son. That was like the biggest compliment to me –  we’d get nominated as ‘Outstanding Couple.’

ONE OF THE FINEST ACTORS IN THE HISTORY OF GUIDING LIGHT

Kim’s real-life son, Jake Weary has also made quite the name for himself in TV and motion pictures and Pelphrey also bonded many years ago: “When my son was living in LA, he and Jake would hang out together. They had mutual friends and they got to know each other pretty well, which I love. Jake actually asked me recently if I had any favorite Guiding Light scenes that I could remember. And I said, ‘Anything with HB (Larry Gates), Billy Lewis (Jordan Clarke) and Tom Pelphrey.

During the livestream, Laura Wright, who worked in many scenes with Pelphrey, added, “In my opinion, Tom took the bar and he raised it. Not just in talent because he had that, but Tom inspired you. He made you want to do like that, and he wanted you to be as great. He just was all around a great guy to work with.”

In case you missed it,  you can check out the Guiding Light live reunion with Kim, Bradley and Laura, followed by some incredible scenes between Tom and Kim as Jonathan and Reva.

Then, let us know, do you think Reva and Jonathan as played by Kim Zimmer and Tom Pelphrey, were the most dynamic mother/son duo all-time on the soaps? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

 

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‘Guiding Light’ Reunion: Kim Zimmer, Bradley Cole and Laura Wright to Chat Live!

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In a very special livestream reunion; three of the former stars of the legendary Guiding Light, who’s on-screen lives were forever intertwined, will visit the Michael Fairman Channel on Friday, January 30 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Look for GL icon and four-time Daytime Emmy winner, Kim Zimmer (ex-Reva Shayne), Bradley Cole (ex-Prince Richard Winslow and Jeffrey O’Neill and ex-Warren Bauer, GH), and Daytime Emmy winner Laura Wright (ex-Cassie Layne, now Carly Spencer on GH) to reminisce about their time together and memories of the daytime drama that lasted an astounding 57 years on television and counting radio, 72 years.

Guiding Light fans will recall, Bradley’s first run as Richard and his royal wedding to Cassie, to returning as a Jeffrey O’Neill, and how it caused tension between sisters, Reva and Cassie, and much more.

Photo: JPI

As viewers know, Kim Zimmer played the iconic role of Reva Shayne from 1983–1990 and from 1995–2009. Bradley Cole portrayed Prince Richard Winslow from 1999- 2002, and after the character was killed-off, he returned as Jeffrey O’Neill, a lawyer-turned-special agent, who was with the series from 2003-2009. As the show went off the air for the last time in the September 18, 2009 finale, Jeffrey was presumed dead. Then, in 2010, Cole came to General Hospital to take on the short-term but important run of Warren Bauer, who was believed to have abused his son, Kiefer Bauer.

Laura Wright played Reva’s sister Cassie Layne in a stunning reveal in 1999, and stayed with the series until 2005, before moving to General Hospital later that year to take on the role of Carly Corinthos, now going by Carly Spencer and the rest for Wright is as they say, history.

Not only will the GL alums and stars chat about their time on the soap, but will bring you up-to-date on their lives now. First, Bradley has a new album out entitled Desert Dreams. The 12 track project pays a musical tribute to Cole’s upbringing in Los Angeles and the classic rock, pop, and south-of-the-border influences of the ’60s and ’70s that shaped his musical foundation. Desert Dreams blends a classic rock vibe with nostalgic country and a modern Americana sensibility, highlighting Cole’s clear storytelling and skillful melodic songwriting.

Photo: JPI

Meanwhile, Laura Wright continues to star on ABC’s General Hospital whereas Carly Spencer she is embroiled in a major storyline with Carly’s current love interest WSB Port Charles Bureau Chief, Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). After finding out he enlisted her daughter, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) to be a WSB spy, she believes the guy is bad news, or does she? Laura continues her project Sacred Circle where “women pause, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves — and with each other.”

Then, there is GL icon, Kim Zimmer. She will soon be seen in an upcoming production of  Driving Miss Daisy, in the role Daisy at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre in Fayetteville, NC, running from March 19 to April 4, 2026. Last year, Kim starred in the play The Trip to Bountiful at Theatre Raleigh. Back in 2024, Zimmer went public with her breast cancer diagnosis and that she had undergone treatment. She is also the proud mom to TV and film, actor Jake Weary.

If you cannot be with us in the live chat, but have a question or comment you would like posed to Kim, Bradley or Laura, make sure to drop it in the comment section below, and we just might ask it during the live broadcast.

Now below, also check out the Guiding Light profiler with clips from Bradley Cole’s run as Jeffrey O’Neil and how the character was involved with Reva and Cassie and more.

So, excited to see Kim, Bradley and Laura reminiscing about their time on Guiding Light and more? Let us know via the comment section!

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