11 iconic daytime soap heartthrobs from the 80s who disappeared — how many can you name?

Terry Lester found mainstream fame on The Young and the Restless in 1980. He worked on the show for 9 years, appearing as Jack Abbott in 312 episodes. In 1989, he joined the cast of Santa Barbara as Mason Capwell and worked on 193 episodes during his run.

In the mid- to late-'90s, Terry transitioned to episodic appearances on shows like Star Trek: Voyager and Diagnosis Murder. Four years before his death, Terry took on his last role on Walker, Texas Ranger. He sadly passed at the age of 53.

Lorenzo Lamas found regularly scheduled fame on beloved '80s soap Falcon Crest, starring as Lance Cumson between 1981 and 1990. The actor still occasionally appears on screen, but it's his work in the air that seems to have won his heart.

Now, Lorenzo is a qualified commercial helicopter and airplane pilot. He uses these skills for good, flying disadvantaged children to camp and transporting people who cannot travel on domestic flights.

Tom Watt's star status owes a lot to a long-running role on EastEnders that stretches back to 1985. He appeared as Lofty Holloway in the original cast for three years before he stepped away from the role.

Now, he's busy as a sports journalist and broadcaster. Tom has also ghostwritten David Beckham biography My Side, and has occasionally appeared on screen since, including a 2022 role reprisal on EastEnders.

Kin Shriner starred as Jeb Hampton on soap opera Texas between 1980 and 1981, and starred on Rituals in 1984 as Mike Gallagher. Before this, he had joined the cast of General Hospital – an on-screen run that lasted until 2024.

Now, he's focussed on recovery after a botched surgery on his foot meant he couldn't walk for months. He's not been seen on screen since 2024 but we're holding out hope of a comeback.

With almost 4000 episode credits on The Young and the Restless between 1978 and 2020, Doug Davidson is a favourite of '80s soap opera fame. 

After his soap run, Doug appeared in a 2022 episode of podcast Hot Topics Celeb TV Unscripted Afterdark. But there's hope we'll see this '80s stud back on screen as he has an upcoming project, Season of Rage, currently in pre-production.

Sean Wilson appeared on iconic British soap Coronation Street between 1985 and 2005, as well as a 2018 return, as Martin Platt.

When the actor left Corrie behind, he picked up cheese making and owned his own cheese company, Saddleworth Cheese, though the business was dissolved in 2018. 

Peter Barton's '80s celebrity includes iconic horror Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, various TV cameos and, most importantly, a 211 episode run on iconic soap, The Young and the Restless.

He starred on the show from 1988 to 1993, before returning for a brief appearance in 2005, and has since then not been seen on screen. Instead, he's enjoying retired life away from the red carpet.

Todd Curtis got his start on screen on Capital between 1982 and 1986. He then moved on to his most memorable role in The Young and the Restless as Skip Evans, which lasted from 1987 to 1990.

Todd's last role came in 1996 action feature American Tigers. Since then, he's been keeping quiet away from the screen, but we'll always remember the heady days of heartthrob status.

Larkin Malloy's soap opera fame dominated the '80s, as Kyle Sampson on Guiding Light, Travis Montgomery on All My Children and Schuyler Whitney on The Edge of Night.

He slowed down his on-screen career from the '90s, appearing in an episode of Law & Order and working on As the World Turns before an 8-year break between 2006 and 2014. Larkin last appeared posthumously on the small screen as Henry Steinman on Tainted Dreams and sadly passed in 2016.

Christopher Atkins spiked controversy as swim coach Peter Richards on Dallas, carrying out an affair with Sue Ellen Ewing on the 1983 to 1984 season. Since then, he's taken roles in smaller movie projects and most recently appeared in Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas (2023).

Over the years, he's also built a successful career away from the Dallas beach, founding Rocky River Outdoor Products and spending time away from the screen working as a luxury swimming pool builder. Now, he's due for a comeback with four acting projects in the works.

Lane Davies starred on beloved soap Santa Barbara for a total of 901 episodes between 1984 and 1989. He also joined the cast of Days of Our Lives in 1981, leaving the following year after 114 episodes.

He's taken a break from the screen since, but is due to return with three projects reportedly in post-production.