On the Anniversary of ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Final Episode, Relive Some Classic Moments
It was 11 years ago, on Jan. 13, 2012, that ONE LIFE TO LIVE aired its final network episode on ABC. Daytime legend Agnes Nixon created OLTL hoping to feature ethnically and socially diverse characters, and the first episode premiered on July 15, 1968. For more than four decades, viewers thrilled to the romance and adventure of the Lords, Buchanans, and other families who resided in the town of Llanview, Pennsylvania.
The original title of the soap was BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL but it was changed to avoid controversy. Upon its premiere, OLTL was a half-hour soap until 1976, when it expanded to 45-minute episodes, and finally a full hour in 1978. Unfortunately, after nearly 43 years on the air, ABC canceled OLTL, and its final episode aired in 2012. It enjoyed a brief revival as a streaming series from The OnLine Network in 2013, but after four months, the soap once more came to an end.
During its years on the air, OLTL launched the careers of stars like Judith Light (Karen), Ryan Phillippe (Billy), and Nathan Fillion (Joey). And many actors remained in their roles entertaining fans for decades, such as Erika Slezak (Viki), Robert S. Woods (Bo), and Robin Strasser (Dorian).
Celebrate this classic soap’s legacy by browsing the memorable moments and characters from its epic history in the gallery below.
