Time may pass, but for soap fans, certain departures still sting — and our latest poll proves just that. As we closed out 2025, Soap Opera News asked fans to vote for the soap star they want to see return in 2026, and the results are officially in.
With a wide range of options available, fans could either select a name from the list or enter their own choice. One star, however, pulled far ahead of the rest by a wide margin.
As longtime viewers know, soaps often go through revolving doors of recasts, surprise exits, and casting news that truly catches fans off guard and the winner of our poll falls in the latter category. According to our poll results, Kelly Monaco, who exited General Hospital just over a year ago as Sam McCall, was named the most missed soap star and the one they want to see back onscreen in 2026. She led the poll by a landslide, earning 40.81% of the total votes.
Who is Kelly Monaco?
Kelly Monaco is an American actress, model, and reality TV star who became widely known for her long-running role as Sam McCall on ABC’s General Hospital, a character she played from 2003 to 2024. She also made headlines outside of daytime television when she won the very first season of Dancing with the Stars in 2005.
Monaco got her start in soaps back in 2000, when she originated the dual role of Livvie Locke and Tess Ramsey on Port Charles. Over the years, she became one of the most recognizable faces in daytime TV.
Sadly, Sam McCall was written off General Hospital in 2024, with the character dying from a heart attack caused by an overdose of digitalis, a heart medication administered through her IV at the hands of the villainous Cyrus Renault. This occurred shortly after Sam had successfully donated part of her liver to Lulu Spencer.
During her run on General Hospital, Monaco earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006. She was also nominated earlier in her career for Port Charles in 2003 for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Following her exit from GH, fans made massive efforts to show their support, including billboards and petitions calling for her return. This is a clear sign of just how much she is loved by fans.
The Top Five
Coming in second place in our poll was fellow General Hospital alum Michael Easton, who has played several roles on the show, most recently Dr. Hamilton Finn. He earned 9.76% of the total votes. Close behind was Darin Brooks, whom fans miss dearly as Wyatt Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful, with 9.55% of the votes.
Trevor St. John followed with 5.96%, while Nadia Bjorlin rounded out the top five with 4.13% of the vote.
So, which soap star do you miss the most right now? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.
Photo Credit: CBS/JPI/ABC.
Key Takeaways
- In a recent poll, fans voted for the soap star they miss the most, with Kelly Monaco winning by a landslide, earning 40.81% of votes.
- Kelly Monaco is best known for her role as Sam McCall on General Hospital, which she played from 2003 to 2024.
- Following her exit from General Hospital, fans showed tremendous support for Monaco through billboards and petitions.
- Michael Easton came in second in the poll, with 9.76%, while Darin Brooks followed closely at 9.55%.
Follow Soap Opera News on Google News. Stay up to date with all the latest news, spoilers, recaps, interviews, and more.
Leave a Reply