List of longest-serving soap opera actors

Soap operas, a serialised drama produced for radio, television and internet streaming, are specifically and uniquely known for their ensemble casts and long-running characters. Many of these characters have stayed in their respective series for decades, often played by the same actor.[1] The following is a list of the longest-serving actors from soap operas all over the world. It details those actors with ten or more years spent on one year-round or stripped soap opera, despite itinerant breaks and in some cases with the actor portraying multiple roles.

As of 2024, William Roache holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-serving actor in a television soap opera, having played Ken Barlow on Coronation Street since 1960.[2][3][a] Patricia Greene holds a similar record as the longest-serving actor in a radio soap opera, having joined the cast of The Archers as character Jill Archer in 1957.[5]

  1. ^ Brown, David (8 July 2019). "Who are the longest-serving actors in soap?". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Coronation Street: William Roach 'well' after contacting Covid-19". BBC News. 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ Spillane, Jessica (12 November 2010). "Longest-running TV soap opera Coronation Street celebrates its 60th anniversary". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  4. ^ Evans, Martin (6 February 2014). "Bill Roache found not guilty of rape and assault charges". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Longest serving soap actress Patricia Greene receives honorary degree from the University of Derby". Derbyshirelive. 14 July 2017.


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