Tom Ligon, who was best known to soap fans for his role as Lucas Prentiss on The Young and the Restless from 1978-1982 has passed away at the age of 85.

The stage, screen and television star’s death was confirmed on Monday by the SAG-AFTRA New York Local the union organization that Ligon worked tirelessly for and most recently served a its National Seniors Committee chair and New York Seniors Committee co-chair. Ligon was a longtime resident of Greenwich Village. No cause of death is known as this time.

When Ligon was front and center on Y&R, it was smack dab in the middle of the quadrangle romance between the Prentiss Brothers and the Brooks sisters. Ligon’s on-screen brother was first played by John McCook and when he exited the show, Dennis Cole took over the part of Lance from 1981-1982.  Ligon’s main leading ladies were the late Victoria Mallory as Leslie Brooks (1977-1982, 1984) and Jaime Lyn Bauer as Lori Brooks (1973-1982, 1984).

Photo: CBS

FROM SOAP OPERAS TO FILM, STAGE AND TELEVISION

Lucas Prentiss was also involved at one time with Dr. Casey Reed, Nikki Newman’s (Melody Thomas Scott) sister, then played by Roberta Leighton. Eventually Lucas left Genoa City in 1982, and the character was not heard from since. Lucas and Lance had run Prentiss Industries together.

Throughout his lengthy acting career, Tom Ligon also appeared on the soap operas, Loving, Santa Barbara, Another World and All My Children. In addition to his memorable role in the poignant baseball drama film Bang the Drum Slowly, starring Robert DeNiro, he also appeared in Doctors in Love (1982), and Cutting Class (1989), the latter of featured a young Brad Pitt.

Ligon’s TV credits also included: Medical Center, Baretta, Charlie’s Angels, Police Woman, Starsky & Hutch, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Dallas, Law & Order and The Heart, She Holler.

It should be noted how Ligon made national headlines back in 2013 when at 73, he defended his home from a burglar by delivering a karate chop.

He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 30 years, K.C., who passed away in 2009.

Share you condolences and remembrances of Tom Ligon as Lucas Prentiss on The Young and the Restless and more via the comment section below.

The S.W.A.T. franchise just keeps on keepin on! On Monday, it has been revealed that its latest spinoff S.W.A.T. Exiles starring The Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy winner, Shemar Moore, will have its series premiere this fall on Starz beginning on September 25.

The series had been looking for a home, and Starz wound up being that outlet after series producer and distributor Sony Pictures Television closed a deal with the pay-TV network for the U.S. rights to the action thriller. Previously, the studio sold S.W.A.T. Exiles in Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, with the 10-episode series set to launch day-and-date in select international territories.

According to Deadline, “Sony Pictures TV is using a windowing strategy for S.W.A.T. Exiles in the U.S. with Starz getting first window. I hear the studio has been in second-window conversations with Netflix where the original series has been available for more than three years.”

Photo: SPT

S.W.A.T EXILES FEATURES “HONDO” HARRELSON AND YOUNG RECRUITS

In a statement on the deal, Shemar Moore expressed: “S.W.A.T. Exiles is coming in hot! I couldn’t be more excited that Starz is bringing this next chapter to audiences in the U.S. A huge thank you to Sony Pictures Television for believing in this franchise and continuing to invest in what we’ve built together. What makes this moment even more special is that we’re reaching audiences in all major territories worldwide. Fans everywhere will get to experience this epic new ride together.”

In S.W.A.T. Exiles, after a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore) is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental S.W.A.T. unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city — and saving the program that made him who he is.

It was back in May that viewers watched the OG S.W.A.T. come to an end after 8 seasons on CBS and multiple resuscitations along the way to keep it alive after it was about to be buried.

Photo: JPI

SHEMAR MOORE’S RECENT RETURN TO THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

Taking to his Instagram to share the excitement of the pick-up; Moore said, Yeee!!! S.W.A.T. EXILES is OFFICIALLY picked up!!!!!! Landing on Starz this FALL!!!! Congratulations to the CAST, CREW, and our team at Sony Pictures Television ….. We continue to defy the odds!!!! To the FANS…. Thank you for always showing love. We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve made for YOU!!!! Let’s go!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥”

While waiting for the fate of S.W.A.T. Exiles, Moore made a return to The Young and the Restless in a pivotal yet short story arc that concluded this month. In it, we learned that Malcolm had a child with former flame, Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), the product of which was Holden Novak (Nathan Owens).

The intel all came to light when Malcolm developed aplastic anemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. The donor wound up to be none other than Lily’s (Christel Khalil) ex, Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn). Now, Malcolm has said his goodbyes for now to Genoa City, while Holden now is tied to the Winters family and Stephanie gets a new lease on life too.

So, excited to learn that S.W.A.T Exiles will be able to been in the U.S. on Starz? Do you hope Shemar will one day bring Malcolm back for another visit to Y&R? Weigh-in via the comment section.

 

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The soap opera Gods haves smiled down upon late night talk show and Emmy winner, John Oliver. The Last Week Tonight host revealed on Sunday’s June 28 episode of his HBO Max series, that he booked two roles on two different soap operas, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives and his long-fueled desire to appear in a role on the genre had been fully realized, twice over!

Previously, Oliver let it be known back in the March 8 episode of this late night show, that after realizing ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (Brick) had a recurring role on a soap opera, that he was tinged with jealously and wanted to do the same sharing, “To all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I am officially offering myself to you. Write me a role, and I will be on your set so fast, it will make your head spin.” Oliver also had some mandates he wanted a character with a “ridiculous” name, and he wanted,” something juicy, like murder, or slapping, or being slapped, or being someone’s long-lost something.”

So, who came a calling? First up, General Hospital! Oliver will be playing a “significant” character to a major storyline (and i think you know who it will be!) in episodes that begin this week for a three-episode arc starting on Thursday, July 2, Friday, July 3 and wrapping Monday, July 6.

Photo: JPI

JOHN OLIVER COMES TO PORT CHARLES

In a statement, GH executive producer, Frank Valentini told Variety, “When John Oliver publicly threw down the gauntlet and said he wanted to appear on a soap, we didn’t hesitate for a second. He was everything you’d hope he’d be: prepared, professional, funny and genuinely kind to everyone on set. He plays an integral character in the story, and I can’t wait for fans to see who he crosses paths within Port Charles.”

John Oliver added: “General Hospital was everything I hoped it would be. It’s a true honor to be a small stain on the history of this illustrious show.”

On the Sunday, June 28 episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver shared, “General Hospital had genuinely picked me for a role and given me the chance to hang out in Port Charles, the home of Luke and Laura, the Corinthos family and Brick, and given me the chance to join the ranks of guest stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr, and of course the great Colonel Sanders.”

Oliver explained, “I’ll be on General Hospital next week and while I’m not going to spoil anything. I will show you this picture of my character. Yes, that is me surrounded by men with guns. And yes, my hair has been dipped in an ink well (see lead photo of this article), and if you can tell from my face, I’m acting my hardest.”

As the story broke, GH’s Chris McKenna (Brennan) took to X and said “Go to ‘Z’ with the hashtags #GH and @HBO, meaning Oliver has to be playing the never-before-seen boss of Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), who Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) are trying to get to.

JOHN OLIVER COMES TO SALEM

Following, his stint on General Hospital and as first reported by Oliver himself, he will next be seen in episodes streaming on Peacock of Days of Our Lives, August 11, 12 and 14. Given DAYS usually tapes ten-months in advance of streaming, it’s clear they worked in some new scenes featuring Oliver just the other week.

In a statement on his guest star role on Days of Our Lives, series executive producer, Ken Corday shared, “When John Oliver said, ‘Call me soaps, I’m available and willing to travel. I want to be a part of that world,’ our world, we had to heed the call!”

Photo: CordayProductions/ChrisHaston

On Last Week Tonight, Oliver explained, “I’m thrilled to announce I have an update, because I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of little show called Days of Our Lives. The show that gave us unforgettable moments like the Devil possessing Marlena, Sami Brady trying to rescue Phillip from Iraq by going in full soldier drag and Bo Brady discovering a mysterious woman in a bayou that everyone called Swamp Girl until learning she was actually a princess. Well, I’m happy to say that I’ve already taped a week of episodes on Days of Our Lives!”

He acknowledged being part of the iconic series and its legendary stars: “This is clearly a huge honor to come to the home of some of the more renowned soap actors like Deidre Hall (Marlena), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie), and the late John Aniston (ex-Victor).”

Photo: IG

Oliver then showed a photo of himself in a scene with EJ DiMera played by Dan Feuerriegel and wearing a rather humorous hair piece. On Monday, Feuerriegel took to his social media and shared a behind the scenes photo of himself next to Oliver and writing, “Well, this happened 🤭 Can’t wait for y’all to enjoy the shenanigans. John crushes it. #daysofourlives #JohnOliver”

So, what do you think of John Oliver being given two soap roles from two shows, who quickly picked up on the the late night talk show host’s desire to appear on a soap and wrote roles and booked him? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out the promo from this week’s General Hospital featuring Oliver below.