List of longest-serving soap opera actors
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Soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio drama ...
s, a serialised
drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...
produced for radio, television and internet streaming, are specifically and uniquely known for their
ensemble cast In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that is composed of multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17 Structure In contrast t ...
s and long-running characters. Many of these characters have stayed in their respective series for decades, often played by the same actor. The following is a list of the longest-serving actors from soap operas all over the world. It details those actors with ten or more years spent on one year-round or stripped soap opera, despite itinerant breaks and in some cases with the actor portraying multiple roles. As of 2022, William Roache holds the ''
Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
'' for the longest-serving actor in a television soap opera, having played Ken Barlow on ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Orig ...
'' since 1960.
Patricia Greene Patricia Honor Greene (born 1931) is an English radio, television and film actress, who is best known as matriarch Jill Archer in radio serial ''The Archers''. She has played the role continuously since 1957, making her the world's longest ser ...
holds a similar record as the longest-serving actor in a radio soap opera, having joined the cast of ''
The Archers ''The Archers'' is a BBC radio drama on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now promoted as "a contemporary drama in a rural set ...
'' as character Jill Archer in 1957.


Longest-serving soap opera actors worldwide


Current


All-time


Longest serving soap opera actors by country

Legend


Australia


Belgium


Canada


Czech Republic


England


Finland


France


Germany


Greece


Hungary


Ireland


Italy


Netherlands


New Zealand


Norway


Poland


Scotland


South Africa


Spain


United States


Wales


Notes

# Although ''Amar en tiempos revueltos'' and ''Amar es para siempre'' are two separate series, they are essentially the same show, with the latter continuing the series uninterrupted on another channel in 2012.


See also

* List of American television actresses * List of Belgians * List of British actors * List of Dutch people *
List of Germans This is a list of notable Germans. Persons of mixed heritage have their respective ancestries credited. Architects * Walter Gropius (1883–1969), architect * Carl Ludvig Engel (1778–1840), architect * Leo von Klenze (1784–1864), archi ...
*
List of Irish people This is a list of notable Irish people who were born on the island of Ireland, in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, and have lived there for most of their lives. Also included on the list are people who were not born in Ireland, ...
*
List of New Zealand actors The following is a list of New Zealand actors. A * Courtney Abbot (born 1989) – actress * Andy Anderson (born 1947) – actor * Michelle Ang (born 1983) – actress * KJ Apa (born 1997) – actor B * Tim Balme (born 1967) – actor and scr ...
*
List of old-time radio people Listed below are actors and personalities heard on vintage radio programs, plus writers and others associated with Radio's Golden Age. A *Bud Abbott *Goodman Ace *Jane Ace *Roy Acuff *Franklin Pierce Adams *Mason Adams *Martin Agronsky * Be ...
* List of radio soaps *
List of soap operas The following is a list of soap operas that have been broadcast in various countries, including previous and current soap operas. Serials that are currently being broadcast are listed in bold. Albania * '' Njerëz dhe Fate'' (2002–2003) * '' ...
*
Lists of Americans Lists of Americans are lists of people from the United States. They are grouped by various criteria, including ethnicity, religion, state, city, occupation and educational affiliation. By ethnicity or place of origin * Afghan Americans * Afric ...
*
Lists of Australians Lists of Australians covers selected notable Australian people organised by awards and honours, occupation, ethnicity, sports and other qualities. Australians of the Year *List of Australian of the Year Award recipients *List of Senior Australia ...


References

{{Reflist, 30em + Entertainment-related lists of superlatives British soap opera actors Australian soap opera actors German soap opera actors Soap opera actors