Jason cleans out Monica’s things and accidentally discovers that Monica has a child GH Spoilers
2025’s Most Tragic Deaths of Soap Actors — No. 2 & 9 Are Absolutely Heartbreaking
The world of soap operas has always thrived on stories of love, betrayal, and shocking twists. But in 2025, the heartbreak extended far beyond scripted drama. Halfway through the year, daytime television has already lost more than a dozen beloved stars. Each passing feels like a chapter closing — not just in their shows, but in the hearts of generations of fans who grew up watching them.
These weren’t just actors. They were matriarchs, schemers, villains, lovers, and confidantes whose performances defined daytime storytelling. Their losses leave voids in family legacies, ripple effects in storylines that can never be replicated, and an ache that fans will carry long after the cameras stop rolling.
Let’s look back at the stars we’ve lost so far in 2025 — and why their deaths cut so deep.
Leslie Charleson — The Heart of General Hospital
On January 12th, General Hospital fans were devastated by the death of Leslie Charleson at 79. For more than four decades, she was Dr. Monica Quartermaine, the matriarch who embodied both strength and vulnerability.
Monica’s storylines were legendary: fierce rivalries with Tracy Quartermaine, enduring love for Alan, and her heartbreaking battles with cancer. She stood as the glue of the Quartermaine family, a character who could break your heart with one scene and restore hope in the next.
Leslie’s death isn’t just the loss of a performer. It feels like Port Charles itself has dimmed, leaving fans to wonder how the show will carry on without its moral center.
Francisco San Martin — A Life Cut Short
Just days later, another tragedy shook the soap world. On January 16th, Francisco San Martin, only 39, died by suicide.
First introduced to fans as Dario Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, Francisco quickly became known for his mix of charm and danger. Later, as Matteo on The Bold and the Beautiful, he added intrigue and temptation to the Forrester world.
Offscreen, his death left a hole in the community. Fans who once swooned over his characters now grieve for the man himself, a reminder that even the brightest stars can battle unseen struggles.
Tony Roberts and Bruce French — Voices of Authority and Faith
February 7th delivered a double blow. Tony Roberts, remembered by daytime fans for his roles on All My Children and Edge of Night, passed away. His voice carried gravitas, a commanding presence that elevated every scene.
That same day, Bruce French — who played Father Lonigan on Passions — also died at 79. His portrayal of the wise, blind priest gave Passions its grounding force, balancing out the show’s supernatural chaos. Fans loved how Father Lonigan always seemed to see the truth before anyone else.
Losing both men on the same day felt like losing two guardians of soap opera storytelling — one representing worldly wisdom, the other spiritual faith.
Peter Navy Tuiasosopo — Y&R’s Island Connection
On February 10th, Young and the Restless fans said goodbye to Peter Navy Tuiasosopo. Though best known for tough-guy roles in action films, soap fans remember his appearance in 2011 as Koa, the Hawaiian store owner who helped Victor Newman uncover the truth about Skye’s death.
It was a brief storyline, but it showed how far-reaching Y&R’s world could be — from Genoa City to Hawaii. His passing at 55 was another reminder of how even smaller roles contribute threads to the rich tapestry of soap storytelling.
Michelle Trachtenberg — A Shocking Young Loss
In February, the world was stunned again when actress Michelle Trachtenberg died at only 39, from diabetes complications.
Before she became a household name in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, Michelle played Lily, Jackson Montgomery’s adopted daughter on All My Children. Even then, her vulnerability and presence made her unforgettable.
Her death was particularly painful for fans who saw her as part of the next generation — proof that tomorrow is never promised, even for those with a lifetime of talent ahead.
James Houghton — Y&R’s Legacy Revealed
In late February, it was revealed that James Houghton, who had quietly passed away at the end of 2024, had died. His death wasn’t public until February 28th.
Fans remember him as Greg Foster on The Young and the Restless, a role that anchored the show’s earliest years. Later, he transitioned behind the scenes as a writer, proving his dedication to storytelling never faded.
For longtime Y&R viewers, losing Houghton felt like losing a founding stone in the show’s foundation.
Pamela Bach — A Heartbreaking Goodbye
Early March brought another shocking tragedy: Pamela Bach, known to Y&R viewers as Mary Jo Mason, died by suicide at 62.
Mary Jo was a character defined by obsession and dangerous passion, and Pamela’s raw portrayal made her unforgettable. Fans still recall the dark storylines that shook Genoa City to its core.
Her death left not only sadness but also questions, as fans and friends grappled with the loss of another talent gone too soon.
Mark Dobies and Wings Hauser — Heroes and Villains
On March 11th, soap fans mourned Mark Dobies, who once charmed viewers as Dr. Noah Chase on Guiding Light before chilling them as the villainous Daniel Colson on One Life to Live. His ability to shift from healer to killer captured the duality that makes soaps so compelling.
Then, on March 15th, Y&R suffered another staggering blow. Wings Hauser, who played Greg Foster for nearly 30 years, died at 78. His passionate, often volatile portrayal made Greg one of Genoa City’s most unforgettable men.
For Y&R fans, losing both Houghton and Hauser within months felt like watching the Foster family erased from history — a devastating wound to the show’s legacy.
Wink Martindale, L. Park Lincoln, Ruth Buzzi, and More
The spring continued with heartbreaking losses. Wink Martindale, the game show legend who once officiated Brooke and Bill’s wedding on B&B, passed on April 15th at 91. His cameo lives in soap fans’ hearts as a delightful crossover between real TV icons and fictional drama.
Later in April, Knots Landing alum L. Park Lincoln died at 63 after a long battle with breast cancer, and on May 1st, comedy legend Ruth Buzzi — remembered for appearances on Passions and Days — passed at 87.
May ended with Valerie Mahaffey’s death at 71, followed by Y&R’s Pamela Peters Solow on June 4th. Just days later, Chris Robinson — iconic as Rick Webber on General Hospital and Jack Hamilton on B&B — passed at 86.
The Ripple Effect
Each of these losses is more than an obituary. They are seismic shifts in the soap opera universe.
For GH fans, the deaths of Leslie Charleson and Chris Robinson mark the end of an era. Monica Quartermaine and Rick Webber were not just characters — they were part of the show’s golden years, family to millions of viewers.
For Y&R, the loss of both Greg Foster actors — James Houghton and Wings Hauser — is almost unbearable. Together, they defined a character who was woven into Genoa City’s DNA.
And the younger stars, Francisco San Martin and Michelle Trachtenberg, remind us that soaps are more than nostalgia. They are meant to carry on through the next generation — and losing them feels like having that promise cut short.
A Legacy That Lives On
Daytime drama is about more than cliffhangers. It’s about characters who live in our hearts long after episodes fade to black. The actors we’ve lost in 2025 gave us those characters.
Their performances shaped storylines, inspired generations, and created memories fans will carry forever. While the grief is raw, their legacies endure in reruns, archives, and most importantly, the hearts of the millions who loved them.
So as we look back at these devastating losses, we also celebrate what they gave us: unforgettable stories, unforgettable moments, and proof that in daytime television, no one is ever truly gone.