Top 25 Soap Male Performers of 2025

It’s that time of year again. We’re almost ready to crown the Best Soap Opera of 2025, but before we get there, Soap Opera News has done it again. We’ve put together a fabulous list spotlighting the Top 25 Male Soap Performers of 2025, along with a couple of well-deserved honorary mentions.

These actors didn’t just show up; they showed out. From jaw-dropping monologues to quiet, heartbreaking moments, and yes, the occasional scene that made us want to toss our remotes across the room, their performances made us laugh, cry, gasp, and stay glued to our screens.

When making our selections, we looked at a few key ingredients: how much airtime they got, the emotional weight and impact of their performances, and the level of chaos they unleashed in the best possible soap opera way. To be eligible for this category, performers had to be 26 years or older and either on contract or heavily recurring throughout the year.

So, without further ado, here are our Top 25 Male Soap Performers of 2025. Take a look, soak it in, and then tell us, who would you have crowned as your favorite?

Honorary Mentions:

5. Sean Kanan – Deacon Sharpe, The Bold and the Beautiful

4. Timon Kyle Durrett – Bill Hamilton, Beyond the Gates

3. Donnell Turner – Curtis Ashford, General Hospital

2. Jon Lindstrom – Joey Armstrong, BTG

1. Chris L. McKenna – Jack Brennan, GH

Top 25 Soap Male Performers of 2025

• 24. Joshua Morrow – Nick Newman, The Young and the Restless

• 24. Rick Hearst – Ric Lansing, GH (Got an honorary mention last year)

• 23. Tanner Novlan – John “Finn” Finnegan, B&B (got an honorary mention in 2024)

22. Jonathan Jackson -Lucky Spencer, GH

• 21. Thorsten Kaye – Ridge Forrester, B&B (was #6 last year)

• 20. Sean Freeman – Andre Richardson, BTG

• 19. Greg Rikaart – Leo Stark, Days of Our Lives

• 18. Carson Boatman – Johnny DiMera, DAYS

• 17. Dominic Zamprogna – Dante, GH (got an honorary mention last year)

• 16. Eric Braeden – Victor Newman, Y&R (got an honorary mention last year)

• 15. Cameron Mathison – Drew Cain, GH

• 14. Michael Mealor – Kyle Abbott, Y&R (got an honorary mention in 2024)

• 13. Rory Gibson – Michael Corinthos, GH

• 12. Mark Grossman – Adam Newman, Y&R (got an honorary mention in 2024)

• 11. Lawrence Saint-Victor – Carter Walton, B&B (got an honorary mention in 2024)

10. Clifton Davis – Vernon Dupree, BTG

9. Peter Bergman – Jack Abbott, Y&R (was #2 in 2024)

8. Billy Flynn – Chad DiMera, DAYS/Cane Ashby, Y&R (Was #7 last year)

7. Jason Thompson – Billy Abbott, Y&R (got an honorary mention last year)

6. Dan Feuerriegel – EJ DiMera, DAYS (was #8 last year)

5. Maurice Benard – Sonny Corinthos, GH (received an honorary mention last year)

4. Eric Martsolf – Brady Black, DAYS (was #10 last year)

3. Paul Telfer – Xander Kiriakis, DAYS (was #1 last year)

2. Scott Cliton – Liam Spencer, B&B

1. Steve Burton – Jason Morgan, GH (was #5 last year)

This is one of those categories that makes you sigh, argue with yourself, and then sigh again. It’s that tough. Daytime soaps are packed with incredible talent, and narrowing this down to just 25 performances honestly felt a little unfair.

Still, against all odds, we somehow made it happen. So first things first, a huge round of applause for everyone who landed on this list. Making the cut this year was no small feat.

After all, daytime television continues to showcase some of the best working actors today. Period. Choosing only 25 meant leaving out some truly great work, and that was not easy. But here we are, celebrating the performances that stood out, hit hardest, and stayed with us long after the credits rolled.

And yes, we can all agree, or at least most of us who aren’t living in denial, that Steve Burton, known for his iconic role as Jason Morgan on General Hospital, absolutely knocked it out of the park in 2025.

The Top Honors

Burton was locked in all year long, delivering back-to-back standout performances. He didn’t just steal scenes, he owned them, and that’s exactly why he earned the number one spot as Soap Opera News’ favorite male performer of 2025. Huge congratulations, Steve.

Right behind him at number two is Scott Clifton, who had one unforgettable year as Liam on The Bold and the Beautiful. The material was heavy, the emotions were raw, and Clifton rose to the occasion every single time. We were treated to some truly memorable work that reminded us why he remains one of daytime’s most compelling performers.

Coming in at number three is Paul Telfer, our top-ranked performer last year. This proves that his excellence was no fluke. Telfer continued to bring depth, intensity, and consistency. Once again, he showed that when it comes to delivering powerful performances, he’s still very much at the top of his game.

So once again, congratulations to everyone who made the list for 2025. And to all the male soap stars holding it down on daytime television, you’re not just doing the work, you’re setting the bar. Boss moves only.

(Photos: CBS/Peacock/Screenshot/ABC/JPI)

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