Alec Musser, Marla Adams and Louis Gossett Jr. were also included in the tribute
Amid triumphant wins and glittering red carpet looks, the 51th annualDaytime Emmy Awards took time to honor many of the friends, colleagues and icons the community has lost over the past year.
Johnny Wactor, Robyn Bernard and Bill Hayes were among the stars highlighted in the awards show's annual “In Memoriam” tribute, which pays homage to luminaries who have left an impact on the industry.
Other stars who were honored during the tribute included Alec Musser, Barbara Rush, Leslie Shreve, Camden Toy, Ronald A. Weiner, Amanda Davies, Kamar de los Reyes, David Gail, Louis Gossett Jr., Bridget Dobson, William Kidston, Meg Bennett and Marla Adams.
Related: General Hospital Stars Pay Tribute to Johnny Wactor After His Sudden Death at 37: 'One of a Kind'
Wactor, best known for hisGeneral Hospitalrole as Brando Corbin, was shot and killed on Saturday, May 25, in Los Angeles.
Shortly after the news went public, the actor's agent, David Shaul, confirmed his death to PEOPLE and remembered his late client as being "a spectacular human being."
"Not just a talented actor who was committed to his craft but a real moral example to everyone who knew him. Standing for hard work, tenacity and a never give up attitude. In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be," Shaul said. "Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever."
Wactor’s acting credits date back to 2007, when he appeared in three episodes ofArmy Wives. He went on to have roles inNCIS, The OA, Westworld, The Passenger, Station 19, Barbee Rehab, Siberia, Agent X, Vantastic, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Girl, Training Day, Criminal Mindsand more.
Bernard was best known for her role as Terry Brock inGeneral Hospital. She became a household name after she made her debut on the legendary soap in 1984 and went on to appear in 145 episodes before leaving the series in 1990.
On March 12, the soap actress was found dead in an "open field behind [a] business" in San Jacinto, California on Tuesday at 4:08 a.m, according to apress releasefrom the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
The actress was born in Gladewater, Texas on May 26, 1959 and began her Hollywood career with her role in 1981'sDiva. She went on to appear in 1983'sWhiz KidsandThe Facts of Lifein 1984. Her final on-screen performance was in 2002'sVoices From The High Schoolwhere she took on the role of a psychologist. She later retired from the limelight and was believed to have lived a quiet life in San Jacinto.
Related: Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2024
Hayes was a longtime cast member on Days of Our Lives as Doug Williams. In 2018, he won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys for his role in the famous soap opera. Hayes died at the age of 98 in January 2024 .
Days of Our Lives meant more to Hayes than the series that made him a star — it was where he met his wife, Susan. The two shared an on-screen kiss in July 1970, which eventually led them to become a real-life couple. They tied the knot in October 1974 and had a second wedding two years later at the same time their television characters wed.
When he passed, Susan wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram.
“To all of you who honored my Billy with a word of remembrance, a sense of personal loss, or even a tear- I thank you,” she wrote alongside a series of photo booth snapshots of the pair. “You touched my heart by seeing in him the goodness and joy I experienced every moment of our wonderful marriage."
Musser was well known for his role as Del Henry on All My Children from 2005 to 2007. He also appeared onRita Rocksand the TV movieRoad to the Altarin 2009, and on ABC'sDesperate Housewivesin 2011.
In January 2024, he died at the age of 50 by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in San Diego, Calif.
Rush was a famed Hollywood actress known for roles in Peyton Place andIt Came from Outer Space, for which she was awarded a Golden Globe the following year as she was named the most promising female newcomer.
Among the actress' other notable roles areWhen Worlds Collide (1951),Magnificent Obsession(1954) andThe Young Philadelphians(1959).
She died at 97 years old on Easter Sunday in April 2024.
Toy was known for playing monsters onBuffy the Vampire Slayerand other characters with prosthetics.
He died in December 2023 at the age of 68 following a two-year journey with pancreatic cancer.
Just days before his death, hislongtime partner, BethanyHenderson, shared the diagnosis onFacebook.
"He was diagnosed in February last year after months of mysterious pain. For many reasons we were very hopeful for, at least, a longer and more fruitful time on planet Earth. Even the more recent challenges felt more like a hiccup in progress. Unfortunately, it looks like we've reached the end of the road with the doctor's treatments," a Dec. 8 post from Henderson read.
Davies, the daughter ofbeloved One Life to Liveactress Erika Slezak was 42 when she passed away suddenly.
She took after her mother, playing the teenage version of her real-life mother’s character, Victoria “Viki” Lord, on ABC’sOne Life to Live. She also made appearances in flashback scenes in 2003 on the long-running program.
Reyes was know for his character Antonio Vega inOne Life to Live from 1995 to 2009.
He died at 56 after being diagnosed with cancer, and had costar and friend Michael Easton by his side.
Easton, 57, paid tribute to de los Reyes at theDaytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up to Cancer - We All Have a Storylive stream event in May.
“There hasn’t been a day gone by that I haven’t thought of him and his family and what he brought to this world, and the contributions he made, not only to this acting community," Easton said.
Gail could be seen in Growing Pains,Doogie Howser, M.D.andMurder, She Wrotein the early 1990s. The actor also played Stuart Carson, the fiancé ofShannen Doherty’s Brenda Walsh inBeverly Hills, 90210, and Dean Collins in the WB dramaSavannah.
His claim to fame was Dr. Joe Scanlon in more than 200 episodes ofPort Charles.
He died at 58 from drug-induced cardiac arrest in January 2024.
Gossett Jr. was best known for inRootsandAn Officer and a Gentleman. He was also the first Black performer to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1982, making history.
He died at the age of 87 in March 2024.
"It is with our heartfelt regret to confirm our beloved father passed away this morning," Gossett Jr.'s family said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. "We would like to thank everyone for their condolences at this time. Please respect the family's privacy during this difficult time."
Meg Bennett an award-winning actress and writer forThe Young and the Restless,General Hospital,Santa Barbaraand other daytime series. Shewon a Daytime Emmy for Best Writing forGeneral Hospitalin 1995, and she also earned three Writers Guild of America Awards for the same show in 1994, 1995 and 1997, along with two wins forSanta Barbarain 1991 and 1992.
She died in April 2024 at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer.
Adams starred as Dina Abbott Mergeron onThe Young and the Restless starting in 1982. Before her days of acting, she was in pageants, holding the titles of Miss Ocean City and Miss Cape May.
Adams died at 85 years old in April 2024. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Josh Griffith, the executive producer and head writer forThe Young and the Restless, said Adams was the type of person who left an "unforgettable mark" on the soap opera.
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