Bold & Beautiful Preview: Steffy Makes a Huge Business Move — and Poppy and Bill Share a Lovely Moment (2024)

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1/12

<p>Following the actress’ passing at age 70 on May 9, 2023, <em>General Hospital</em> waited to pay tribute to her and her iconic character, Bobbie Spencer, until January of ’24 — after the Hollywood writers’ strike had been resolved. Only then did the show lay Bobbie to rest in a pair of emotional episodes that saw the spectral return of her late daughter, B.J. (played once again by Brighton Hertford, who’d held the role as a little girl).</p>

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2/12

<p>Not long before the Emmy winner’s passing in 2013, <em>The Young and the Restless</em> had sent her alter ego, Katherine Chancellor, on a months-long vacation with fifth husband Patrick Murphy. Prior to her return, she sent postcards to her friends and family, instructing them to meet at her mansion for her homecoming. Only then did Murphy disclose the heartbreaking news that Kay had died following a reunion with estranged son Tucker McCall.</p>

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3/12

<p>In the wake of the <em>Days of Our Lives</em> legend’s death in 2022, the show crafted a storyline that would keep his character’s name on everyone’s lips for years to come. During the summer of ’23, Victor Kiriakis was said to have gone down in a plane crash over the Mediterranean Sea. Months later, his will revealed that nephew Xander was actually his son. This being Salem, that document was, of course, doctored, thus leaving Xander in the dark for ages longer!</p>

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4/12

<p>While the natural born scene stealer died in 2007 at age 72, <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> couldn’t bear to let the same fate befall her larger-than-life character, Sally Spectra. So instead of write a sad swan song for the Forresters’ longtime rival, the show simply had Sally leave L.A. to go on permanent vacation with all the fruity drinks and beefy cabana boys her heart could possibly desire. In 2017, <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> introduced her namesake great niece, who made just as much trouble as her predecessor and eventually crossed over to <em>The Young and the Restless.</em></p>

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5/12

<p><em>General Hospital</em> gazillionaire Edward Quartermaine wouldn’t have had it any other way. When his portrayer passed away in 2012, the Scrooge McDuck of Port Charles followed suit. And though his family was gutted, perhaps especially daughter Tracy, with whom he’d always had a contentious relationship, that didn’t stop them from doing what they’ve always done best: squabbling, this time over who got what in the will and who would seize control of ELQ.</p>

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6/12

<p>After hypertrophic cardiomyopathy claimed the life of Kristoff St. John just 52 years old, <em>The Young and the Restless</em> plotted a twist in which Neil Winters was on his way to the opening of son Devon’s restaurant, Society… only he never got there. Instead, Devon went back to check on Neil and discovered that he had succumbed to a massive stroke.</p>

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7/12

<p>As the original <em>Days of Our Lives</em> cast member neared the end of her life, her appearances as Alice Horton became fewer and farther between. In December 2007, she was able to enjoy one last on-screen Christmas with her family. Following Reid’s 2010 death at age 95, Alice’s nearest and dearest flocked to Salem to say their goodbyes to her off screen.</p>

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8/12

<p>When the rising star died of acute intoxication at just 33 years old just after Valentine’s Day in 1993, <em>As the World Turns</em> immediately found itself a new Caleb Snyder. Julie Marie Snyder, who played his wife Julie, told <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/591645/as-the-world-turns-michael-david-morrison-death-anniversary-tribute/" target="_blank"><em>Santa Barbara</em> Online</a> in 2011 that the producers “replaced him the next day. That was pretty traumatic. The part of me that made Julie real was deeply in love with the part of Michael that played Caleb.”</p>

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9/12

<p>The<em> General Hospital</em> veteran, who played Scotty Baldwin’s father Lee from 1963-86 (and then off and on until 2004), passed away on April 9, 2017, at age 95. Though his character and wife Gail had moved to Florida years earlier, their Port Charles family still mourned its patriarch. Even Serena, Scotty’s daughter with late wife Dominique Taub (via Lucy Coe), flew home to be with her dad as he grappled with the news.</p>

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10/12

<p>Just six days after his 81st birthday in 1994, the OG <em>Days of Our Lives</em> star passed away. Three months later, the soap used a stand-in to bring Dr. Tom Horton back from a medical conference. Alice’s beloved husband put down his bags and went upstairs to take a nap from which he’d never wake up. But Carey and Tom remain a part of the show: It’s Carey’s voice that provides the opening voiceover, and his namesake great-great grandson is sure to be SORAS’d into a major player any day now.</p>

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11/12

<p><em>General Hospital</em> fans hit the roof when the esteemed veteran was dropped to recurring status in 2003. That was no way to treat the actress who’d created the role of the Quartermaines’ good-natured matriarch, Lila. Only a year later, Lee passed away at age 91, and her softspoken character was said to have died peacefully in her sleep. Even now, her memory looms large and sometimes even prompts daughter Tracy to behave sweetly rather than sourly.</p>

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12/12

<p>To celebrate the legacy of this revered <em>Days of Our Lives</em> veteran, who died at age 98 in January 2024, the soap planned to pull out all the stops. In fact, well ahead of the passing of his character, ex-con-turned-lounge singer Doug Williams, word leaked that returning for his memorial service would be such alumni as Gloria Loring (ex-Liz), Melissa Reeves (ex-Jennifer), Matthew Ashford (ex-Jack) and more.</p>