5 Soap Opera Stars That Have Won The Most Emmys

Published on January 17, 2016.

Presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Daytime Emmy Awards is probably the biggest night for any soap opera star (and avid soap fan) of the year. The ceremony showcases the ‘best of the best’ as it relates to daytime programming, which includes the finest in acting when it comes to the daytime drama. Any soap opera actor or actress will tell you, it is a true honor to simply be nominated; however, winning one of these golden statues is an incredible achievement. There are those who have been nominated, those who have won a statue or two, and those with multiple nominations and winnings. Below is a list of soap opera stars who have won the most Daytime Emmys in their acting careers.

5. David Canary – Five-Time Award Winner

Fans will remember David Canary’s incredible performance as twin brothers Adam and Stuart Chandler on All My Children. He initially joined the soap playing Adam in 1983, and a year later the good twin, Stuart was introduced to the show. David was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series 16 times, winning the award five times in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, and 2001. Sadly, David passed away in late November of last year, at the age of 77, due to natural causes. He is terribly missed by family, friends, colleagues, and soap fans around the world.

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4. Heather Tom – Five-Time Award Winner

A veteran of the soap opera industry at age 40, Heath Tom debuted on The Young and the Restless (Y&R) in 1991 at the age of 16, as Victor Newman’s daughter, Victoria. It was apparent, even back then, that Tom had incredible talent, and the young actress was immediately recognized for her contributions via eight nominations for a Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Younger Actress, winning the award in 1993 and 1997. Sadly, she left that part to pursue other interests and re-emerged on the daytime scene in the Bold and the Beautiful (B&B), as Katie Logan. This role earned her five Daytime Emmy nominations in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress (where she won the award in 2011), and two nominations in the Lead Actress category in 2012 and 2013. Tom walked away with the prize two consecutive years in a row. Thus, with five Daytime Emmys under her belt, and still going strong on B&B, the sky’s the limit for this beautiful and talented soap opera actress.

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3. Jonathan Jackson – Five-Time Award Winner

Another young veteran of the soap opera world, at 33 years of age, Jonathan Jackson has been able to achieve something that some of his older peers can only dream of. Debuting as Lucky Spencer on General Hospital (GH) at the age of 11, he portrayed the cute, yet street-smart son of super couple Luke and Laura in 1993. Winning his first Daytime Emmy two years later in 1995, he won in the category of Outstanding Younger Actor a total of three times (once again 1998, and 1999), and was nominated a total of six times: earning some bragging rights as holding the record for the most wins and nominations for this specific Emmy award. Jackson would continue his Emmy awards momentum into adulthood, being nominated an additional three times (from 2010 to 2012) in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor, and winning that coveted award for two of those three nominations (back-to-back) in 2011 and 2012.

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2. Erika Slezak – Six-Time Award Winner

Soap Opera icon Erika Slezak began on One Life To Live (OLTL) in 1971, and stayed with the show until it’s last episode, which aired in 2012. Oddly enough, the actress initially auditioned for a part on All My Children; however, ABC offered her the role of Victoria Lord instead. The rest, as they say, is history, and boy did Slezak ever leave her mark on daytime television! In her 42 years of daytime acting, she was nominated nine times for a Daytime Emmy, in the category of Lead Actress, and won this award six times, a record, as it relates to this Emmy category.

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1. Anthony Geary – Eight-Time Award Winner

Is anyone surprised to see the infamous Luke Spencer at the top of this list? Anthony Geary was originally hired for a 13-week stint on GH, to play Luke Spencer, and while he started off as a thug and rapist, the character eventually became so popular that it grew into a full-time role. One half of the super couple Luke and Laura, as well as leading GH man for many, many years, Geary is a soap opera legend and icon within the daytime drama industry. He leads the pack, and this list, with eight record-breaking Daytime Emmy wins in the category of Lead Actor (in 1982, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, and 2015), and received nominations in this category another seven times (in 1981, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2009). Despite fan outcry, Geary finished up his tenure with GH, with his last scene airing in the summer of 2015.