Guiding Light is an American radio and television soap opera. Guiding Light aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio between January 25, 1937, and June 29, 1956. With 72 years of radio and television runs, Guiding Light is the longest-running soap opera, ahead of General Hospital, and is the fifth-longest-running program in all of broadcast history; only the American country music radio program Grand Ole Opry, the BBC religious program The Daily Service (1928), the CBS religious program Music and the Spoken Word (1929), and the Norwegian children's radio program Lørdagsbarnetimen (1924–2010) have been on the air longer.
Melina Eleni Kanakaredes Constantinides is an American actress. She is widely known for her roles in U.S. primetime television dramas as Dr. Sydney Hansen in Providence (1999–2002), as Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY (2004–2010), and on the American daytime television drama series Guiding Light as Eleni Andros Cooper (1991–1995).
Pamela K. Long is an American writer and executive producer. Long won several Emmys for her work on CBS soap opera Guiding Light from 1983 to 1990. She was also writer and executive producer on the NBC film Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors.
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Spaulding Lewis is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. The role was last portrayed by actress Emme Rylan from February 7, 2006 to September 18, 2009.
Dinah Marler is a fictional character from the CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light, last portrayed by Gina Tognoni from July 5, 2004 to September 18, 2009.
Cassie Layne Winslow is a fictional character from Guiding Light, an American soap opera on the CBS network. She was first portrayed by Laura Wright for an eight-year period, followed by Nicole Forester until the character's departure in 2008. Laura Stepp temporarily played the character in 2001.
Reva Shayne is a fictional character from Guiding Light, played by four-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Kim Zimmer from November 28, 1983, to July 23, 1990, and April 28, 1995, until the show's final episode on September 18, 2009. Zimmer has become such a celebrated performer that she is often considered to be an "icon" in the daytime drama industry.
Phillip Granville Spaulding is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. Phillip has been portrayed by three different actors, most notably by Grant Aleksander.
The Guiding Light (GL) is the longest-running American television soap opera. This article covers the show in the 1980s.
The Guiding Light (TGL) is the longest-running American television soap opera.
Rita Stapleton Bauer is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. The character was played by Lenore Kasdorf and created by Bridget and Jerome Dobson, shortly after they became Guiding Light's head writers in 1975. Rita was written out in 1981, as Kasdorf announced she was leaving the show, but she had been so popular in the role, that producers decided against recasting.
Alan Spaulding is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. He was played by Christopher Bernau from the time of the character's introduction in 1977 until 1984, and from 1986 to June 1988, when Bernau left the role due to health problems. David Bailey briefly portrayed the role in 1979. Daniel Pilon stepped into the role from 1988 until the character was sent to prison in 1990. From 1994 to the series 2009 conclusion, the character was played by Ron Raines. Jeff Branson briefly played a young Alan in a flashback scene during Carrie Carruther's murder investigation.
Alan-Michael Spaulding is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. The character is the son of wealthy businessman, Alan Spaulding, and his former wife, Hope Bauer. Alan-Michael was born on-screen on September 23, 1981, but this was subsequently revised to 1970 when he turned 17 years old and then later to 1965 or 1966 during his brief dalliance with Marina Cooper in 2006.
Beth Raines is a fictional character from the long-running American soap opera, Guiding Light. Beth is the stepdaughter of the late Bradley Raines and daughter of Lillian Raines. She is the mother of Lizzie, James, and Peyton Spaulding and is known for her tumultuous relationship with her husband Phillip Spaulding. The character was originally portrayed by actress Judi Evans from her introduction in 1983 until 1986 and then by Beth Chamberlin who portrayed the character on and off from her re-introduction in 1989 until the finale in 2009.
Marah Lewis is a fictional character on the CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. The character is the daughter of the popular supercouple, Josh Lewis and Reva Shayne. Marah was born on-screen in June 1987, but this was subsequently revised to 1985 and 1983 when she turned three years old in 1988 and sixteen years old in 1999 respectively.
Doris Wolfe is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. She has been portrayed by Orlagh Cassidy from February 23, 1999 to September 18, 2009. Doris is perceived as a no-nonsense politician who will do just about anything to get ahead in life, often referred to as a "woman people love to hate."
Alexandra Spaulding is a fictional character from Guiding Light, an American soap opera on the CBS network.
Blake Marler is a fictional character from the CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light with the role last portrayed by Elizabeth Keifer from August 19, 1992 to September 18, 2009.
Annie Dutton is a fictional character in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. Cynthia Watros is the actress most closely identified with the role; she played Annie from November 29, 1994, until February 23, 1998. The role was later recast, after Watros left for other career ventures, with Signy Coleman, who portrayed Annie from July 30, 1998, until July 20, 1999. Coleman also briefly reprised the role from January 14 to 21, 2003. Annie is often considered one of Guiding Light's greatest villains and one of its more exciting characters. Annie has also been the main rival to heroine Reva Shayne. The two have long fought over the affections of Reva's then-husband, Josh Lewis.
Shayne Lewis is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. He is the second child of supercouple Joshua Lewis and Reva Shayne. In 2008, Jeff Branson stepped into the role to critical acclaim and soon won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2009, having the distinction of winning the final award in the show's last year on television. Branson previously appeared on the show in 2004 as a young version of Alan Spaulding in a flashback scene during Carrie Carruther's murder investigation.
