The ‘80s were a golden era for primetime soap opera viewing – from the imitable Dallas to long-running gems like General Hospital and Days of Our Lives , these shows defined a generation of stars whose characters became household names and shaped pop culture for decades to come.

While some of these actors remained firmly in the spotlight, even sticking with their beloved characters for decades, others chose to leave fame behind or shift their focus to new ventures. To celebrate this unforgettable era of television , we’ve rounded up nine of the most iconic soap stars from the ‘80s and taken a closer look at what they’re up to now.

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Linda Gray as Sue Ellen Ewing (Dallas)

Linda Gray was the leading lady of Dallas (1978-1991), portraying former

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