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GROUNDBREAKING SOAP MOMENT: ‘One Life to Live’s’ Billy Douglas Comes Out (June 26, 1992), Remains a Touchstone for Ryan Phillippe
Pride month on the soaps also featured the unforgettable and heartbreaking angst of a young teenaged Billy Douglas (Ryan Phillippe) who finally came out to his pastor, Andrew Carpenter (Wortham Krimmer), back on this date on One Life to Live, 33 years ago.
The episode aired back on June 26, 1992 with now motion picture and television star, Ryan Phillippe, getting his first big break playing the first gay teenager on a daytime soap opera. In the story, Marty Saybrooke (Susan Haskell) seeking revenge against Andrew, saw him comforting Billy with his arm around him. She went and told Billy’s parents, William and Virginia, that Andrew was making sexual advances toward their son.
Next, William called for Andrew’s resignation from the St. James Church. When Andrew would not come forth to clarify his sexual orientation it only fueled the plot, until eventually, Billy told his parents he was gay. This was also tied-in with One Life’s emotional storyline of the AIDS quilt and the death of Sloan Carpenter’s (Roy Thinnes) other son, William, who he would not acknowledge as gay, and who died of the disease.
Photo: ABC
As far as LGBTQ+ storylines through the years, this one made a tremendous impact as Ryan Phillippe remembered in his recent interview with PEOPLE. After revealing his initial apprehension in the role, then 17-year-old Ryan remembered that the feedback he got after Billy admitted he was gay was, “instantaneous.” Phillippe played the role of Billy Douglas from 1992-1993.
“I think there were some fears associated with the point in time that we were at and it being before so many walls and ceilings have been broken in that regard,” Phillippe said. “But I know that any fears that anyone had about me doing it immediately went away once I saw the reaction that it got from the people who viewed it.”
Photo: AP
Phillippe received fan mail that said, “I’ve never seen someone represent me in any entertainment before in my life,” and from parents who said, “Watching this show on my lunch break gave me a way to connect with my LGBTQ child. As that job progressed, I realized how important it was to some people. And I was only 17 years old, so you don’t really have a sense of that. It was such a different time, but I very much matured through having had that experience and seeing the impact that it had for others.”
Ryan’s portrayal and the importance of the coming out story continues to hold a very special place in television and soap opera history. You can watch some of the moments from the story below. Now let us know, did you watch One Life to Live when the story initially aired? What do you think of the moment and Ryan’s performances? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
I remember that story so very well. Young Ryan Phillippe was so moving as Billy Douglas. Everyone at One Life to Live did an outstanding job telling this ground breaking story. It’s another example of the many reasons why One Life to Live should be on the air today.
The entire Billy Douglas storyline was so well done. It meant a lot to me to see it played out. The way they wove in the Carpenter family was brilliant. Then the display of the AIDS quilt outside of Andrew’s church was such a monumental event for Daytime TV at the time.
It is part of the legacy that Agnes Nixon created with socially relevant stories. I got hooked on OLTL in 1970 when Cathy Craig (then played by Amy Levitt) was battling addiction and they filmed group scenes at Odessey House in NYC with real people interacting with Cathy. Then when Cathy (as portrayed by Jane Alice Brandon) went to work writing for The Banner and did a series of articles on STD’s that the producers made available to viewers.
Those are just a few early memories of a show that is in the top 5 of my favorite TV shows ever.
During Ryan’s story I was having a very difficult time dealing with wanting to come out. The storyline really affected me deeply.
I was so touched with his portrayal that I wrote him a letter telling him what I was going through. I wasn’t sure if he ever did see it.
Because of his work I was able to come out a few months later. It was tough but it went much better than I could have hoped. I owe him the courage he gave me to do it and the life I have had since. Had it not been for his work on the show I truly don’t know if I ever would have had the courage to do it.
Fast forward to earlier this year. I decided to go on Youtube to see if Ryan has spoken much about his time on OLTL. I checked out the first video that popped up about him speaking about the show..
He mentioned that the letters he received really made him realize he was doing something that had an impact. The camera then pans to a picture of a letter he received. Then he began reading it. As they showed a closeup of the letter I realized it was MY handwriting! he is shown reading my letter!! What a mindblower! I have showed the video to everyone I know and they are so amazed.What were the chances out of all the letters he received that he not only has saved my letter but I can see him reading it. A once in a lifetime experience for me which I will always treasure!
It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.
In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.
However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.
Photo: JPI
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.
Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall. It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.
With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.
So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.
The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.
The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”
Photo: ABC
ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW
As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.
O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”
Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”
You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.
Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.
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General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
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