Happy Anniversary to ONE LIFE TO LIVE — Relive Four Decades of Drama in Llanview!
On July 15, 1968, television viewers traveled for the first time to the town of Llanview where they would thrill to the drama, romance, and adventure of families like the Lords, the Woleks, and the Grays. For the next 45 years, ONE LIFE TO LIVE chronicled the lives and loves of those families plus the Buchanans, Mannings, and more as characters and families came and went.
The original title of the soap was BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL but 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 returned as an online series from The OnLine Network in 2013, but that incarnation was sadly short-lived.
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 for decades, like Erika Slezak (Viki), Robert S. Woods (Bo), and Robin Strasser (Dorian).
Celebrate this classic soap’s legacy by browsing through our special gallery of memorable moments and characters from its epic history.
