While One Life to Live may not have gotten a new lease on life through a planned-and-failed Internet venture, the show's legacy will, however, continue on in ABC's Daytime lineup. Four stars from One Life to Live will bring their Llanview alter egos to General Hospital in the weeks to come.
Emmy winner Roger Howarth (Todd Manning), Emmy-nominated Kassie DePaiva (Blair Cramer), Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning), and Michael Easton (John McBain) will join the cast of General Hospital in the same roles that they've played on One to Live.
"We have a very exciting story planned for the citizens of Port Charles, with Sonny Corinthos at the center of it! I am confident viewers and fans alike will be excited for the arrival of John, Starr, Blair, and Todd," General Hospital's executive producer, Frank Valentini, said in a statement. "Incorporating characters from One Life to Live continue the legacy of the show as we weave them into General Hospital."
Frank Valentini was named executive producer of General Hospital in November 2011. Valentini had worked at One Life to Live for 26 years. During that time, Valentini worked his way up through the ranks from stage manager to associate director to coordinating producer to senior producer and director. In 2002, Valentini assumed the role of executive producer.
Former One Life to Live head writer, Ron Carlivati, has also been named head writer of General Hospital.
Kassie DePaiva joined One Life to Live in December 1993. Prior to that, she played good-girl Chelsea Reardon on CBS's long-running soap, Guiding Light. DePaiva earned an Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy nomination in 2005.
"Thrilled to be joining Roger, Kristen and Michael Easton in PC where all the big boys and girls play. They have an awesome cast can't wait to work with them. [I] think the good news about GH is to soften the blow of losing OLTL," DePaiva remarked. "I'll miss Llanview and only hope our fans come over to join the [Port Charles] adventure."
Roger Howarth originated the role of Todd Manning in December 1992. He remained with One Life to Live, off and on, through 2003. For the following seven years, Howarth played the role of Paul Ryan on As the World Turns. Howarth returned to One Life to Live in 2011. Howarth won the Outstanding Younger Actor Emmy in 1994, and has received three additional Daytime Emmy nominations.
Michael Easton joined One Life to Live in 2003 as John McBain. Prior to joining One Life to Live, Easton appeared as Caleb Morley for several years on General Hospital's spinoff, Port Charles. Easton also appeared as Tanner Schofield on Days of our Lives in the 1990s.
Kristen Alderson has continuously played the role of Starr Manning on One Life to Live since March 1998. The actress, who joined the ABC soap when she was just six years old, has literally grown up before viewers' eyes.
"Yay! Everyone can know now! Pinch me," Alderson told fans on Twitter. "Starr Manning is moving to Port Charles! So excited to work with the cast of General Hospital.
This is not the first time that One Life to Live and General Hospital have "shared" characters. In 1969, Steve Hardy traveled to Llanview to consult on a medical case. More recently, Skye Chandler, a character that originated on All My Children, and Rae Cummings migrated from Llanview to Port Charles.
The crossover scenes will begin taping on January 27. Alderson is the first to make an appearance on February 24. DePaiva first airs on March 2, Howarth will debut on March 5, and Easton pops up on March 13.