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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

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC

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.

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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!

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

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Jess Walton

The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!

Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.

The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”

Jess Walton

Photo; Kensington Books

CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE

The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds,  “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill AbbottTwo Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”

“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”

“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”

WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?

Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.

This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.

So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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