Five Things That Happened On February 26 In Soap History

In 1988, General Hospital‘s Tom Hardy (David Wallace) and Simone Ravelle (Laura Carrington) wed in the show’s first interracial ceremony. David Wallace told Soap Opera Digest in 2018 that he felt honored to be part of this groundbreaking pairing, saying, “It meant a lot to me…. I’m very, very proud of it.”

In 1996, Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) learned that Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) was her biological father, a truth her birth mother, Celeste, had concealed from her. Lexie had been raised by her adoptive mother, Frankie Brooks, Celeste’s sister, after Celeste gave birth to her at an orphanage in Aremid. In a cemetary, the Parrot Man told Lexie that he knew who her father was, and believed it was time he told her. Celeste protested, begging Lexie not to listen to him. The Parrot Man revealed that Celeste had a picture of Lexie’s father in her purse, and Lexie demanded to see it. “I have to know the truth!” she insisted. Lexie snatched Celeste’s purse and when she saw the photo inside of Stefano, she cried out, “Noooooo!”

In 1999, the Soap Opera Digest Awards were held in Los Angeles. Days of Our Lives‘s Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Drake Hogestyn (John) hosted, with the lion’s share of the awards going to GH stars. Anthony Geary (Luke) won Outstanding Lead Actor, Lynn Herring (Lucy, who was on Port Charles at the time) won Outstanding Lead Actress, Steve Burton (Jason) won Hottest Male Star, Stuart Damon (Alan) was named Favorite Veteran, and the Outstanding Younger Actress and Younger Actor trophies went to Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth, pictured) and Jonathan Jackson (Lucky). Among the other winners were Kristian Alfonso (Hope, DAYS, as Hottest Female Starr), Vincent Irizarry (David, All My Children, for Outstanding Villain), Cameron Mathison (Ryan, AMC, who later joined GH as Drew, as Outstanding Male Newcomer), Lauralee Bell (Christine, Young and Restless) as Outstanding Supporting Actress, Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS, for Outstanding Villainess)

In 2001, the year after the volatile General Hospital couple said, “I do” strictly so that she could not be forced to testify against him, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Carly Roberts Corinthos (Sarah Brown) renewed their vows in Martinique, with their wedding rings blessed by the local priest. A beaming Carly told Sonny that she felt deep in her heart that they belonged together.

In 2007, Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) passed away on General Hospital, widowing his devoted wife, Monica (Leslie Charleson), after going into cardiac arrest during the Metro Court hostage crisis. The show’s decision to fire Damon, who had been a GH fixture since 1977, and to kill off his beloved character, was deeply unpopular with fans, as well as with his castmates. Despite this, Damon graciously told Soap Opera Digest in 2013, “I was grateful for every day that I had there.”