VOTE: Lead Soap Actor of the Decade

As the 00’s come to an end and we look forward to the 2010’s Daytime Confidential pauses to look back at the best of the past decade. In the coming days Daytime Confidential readers will be able to vote for their favorite soap actors and characters in a variety of categories.

Voting ends December 24 at midnight and readers' votes in all the categories will be discussed in a “Best of the Decade” podcast to air the week of January 28.

From The Young and the Restless’ Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott to Ricky Paull Goldin’s Gus Aitoro on Guiding Light, soap’s leading men have turned in some subtle and stellar performances over the past decade, leaving us with unforgettable memories.

Open voting has ended.

Who is the best lead actor of the decade?

Cameron Mathison - AMC
0% (12 votes)
David Canary - AMC
3% (99 votes)
Michael E. Knight - AMC
1% (34 votes)
Michael Nader - AMC
0% (5 votes)
Thorsten Kaye - AMC
10% (296 votes)
Benjamin Hendrickson - ATWT
1% (20 votes)
Hunt Block - ATWT
0% (10 votes)
Jon Hensley - ATWT
0% (11 votes)
Michael Park - ATWT
2% (67 votes)
Scott Holmes - ATWT
0% (3 votes)
Jack Wagner - B&B
1% (23 votes)
John McCook - B&B
0% (2 votes)
Ronn Moss - B&B
1% (16 votes)
Sean Kanan - B&B
0% (8 votes)
Drake Hogestyn - DAYS
2% (59 votes)
Joseph Mascolo - DAYS
1% (25 votes)
Peter Reckell - DAYS
2% (58 votes)
Stephen Nichols - DAYS
1% (44 votes)
Thaao Penghlis - DAYS
1% (23 votes)
Anthony Geary - GH
4% (132 votes)
Maurice Benard - GH
4% (122 votes)
Rick Hearst - GH
3% (80 votes)
Steve Burton - GH
14% (420 votes)
Ted King - GH
1% (20 votes)
Bradley Cole - GL
0% (6 votes)
Grant Aleksander - GL
3% (82 votes)
Paul Anthony Stewart - GL
0% (14 votes)
Ricky Paull Goldin - GL
2% (58 votes)
Robert Newman - GL
3% (98 votes)
Tom Pelphrey - GL
3% (96 votes)
Michael Easton - OLTL
1% (19 votes)
Phil Carey - OLTL
1% (15 votes)
Roger Howarth - OLTL
3% (78 votes)
Robert S. Woods - OLTL
1% (24 votes)
Trevor St. John - OLTL
4% (131 votes)
Ben Masters - Passions
0% (3 votes)
Galen Gering - Passions
1% (37 votes)
Josh Ryan Evans - Passions
0% (9 votes)
Travis Schuldt - Passions
0% (0 votes)
Brian Gaskill - Port Charles
0% (3 votes)
Jon Lindstrom - Port Charles
0% (6 votes)
Kin Shriner - Port Charles
0% (6 votes)
Michael Easton - Port Charles
0% (7 votes)
Christian LeBlanc - Y&R
5% (140 votes)
Eric Braeden - Y&R
4% (132 votes)
Joshua Morrow - Y&R
2% (48 votes)
Peter Bergman - Y&R
8% (223 votes)
Shemar Moore - Y&R
4% (126 votes)
Total votes: 2950

Comments

daisyclover1938's picture
Member since:
14 November 2007
Last activity:
1 year 38 weeks

Hey I'm glad you guys put Benjamin Hendrickson on there...I really miss him.

Some surprises on here too. Some actors that I consider to be more supporting.  And where's Roger Howarth for ATWT?? Well, I guess he's got a better shot with his Todd nomination, lol

EDIT: I just noticed... no James Scott for lead??! *gasp*

troymcclure's picture
Member since:
25 December 2008
Last activity:
12 weeks 4 days

I voted Hunt Block from ATWT but I like Robert Newman, Tom Pelphrey and Roger Howarth as Todd as well.

Member since:
22 February 2009
Last activity:
6 weeks 2 days

I'm probably in the minority but I picked Trevor St. John for Todd as the best of this decade.

Member since:
25 June 2009
Last activity:
48 weeks 6 days

Roger the one & only Todd freakin Manning. We need Todd back in Llanview, NOW. 

inspiron's picture
Member since:
21 February 2009
Last activity:
7 weeks 15 hours

Roger Howarth is and always will be Todd Manning!

Member since:
1 April 2009
Last activity:
12 hours 45 min

My Jack Abbott!!! That's where I casted my vote.

And DC, THANK YOU for my giggle of the morning! Cam Matheson.... BAAAHAAAA!!

Member since:
15 June 2009
Last activity:
1 year 1 week

I voted for Trevor St. John he may not have originated it but he perfected it.

HarleyFanForever23's picture
Member since:
1 December 2007
Last activity:
14 weeks 2 days

 Oh, yeah! My man Ricky Paull! I miss Gus. *sigh*

Member since:
15 October 2008
Last activity:
1 week 1 day

Michael E. Knight

sb_fan's picture
Member since:
22 April 2008
Last activity:
44 weeks 1 hour

Steve Burton!!!

Member since:
22 January 2008
Last activity:
12 hours 32 min

A lot of our "supporting" list wil be leads who didn't make this list, like James Scott and Jess walton (for the women). I guess we've become the Daytime Emmys. LOL

RCLGuard's picture
Member since:
11 December 2008
Last activity:
3 weeks 7 hours

Peter Bergman - hands down. That man is the best male actor on TV, not just daytime. 

Member since:
12 December 2007
Last activity:
1 year 3 weeks

Ricky Paull Goldin. I'll never forget that detox episode, he should the lead actor Emmy that year.

Member since:
17 June 2008
Last activity:
9 weeks 4 days

Oops, double by mistake

Member since:
17 June 2008
Last activity:
9 weeks 4 days

Peter Bergman never fails to deliver. His twenty years as Jack Abbott have made Y&R shine!!!

GH LOVER's picture
Member since:
1 June 2008
Last activity:
1 day 10 hours

 Steve Burton ......
Jason Morgan has been trough so much and Steve always brings it ......

scoboot's picture
Member since:
1 April 2009
Last activity:
2 years 3 weeks

I voted for Ricky Paul Goldin. I have watched soaps on and off over this decade as my life transitioned from highschool, through college, marriage, 3 jobs, 2 kids, and buying my first house. Ricky was the one actor no matter what he was given, I just enjoyed watching, even if I didn't know what was going on. I hope he wins, he was awesome, and still is, even with the crap sandwich he got from Pratt.

Y2Jin99's picture
Member since:
10 December 2009
Last activity:
41 min 55 sec

Well as you can see right now Steve Burton has a huge lead in the votes.

All these women are not thinking acting chops when choosing him.

They all just want to sleep with him. LOL

I voted for Maurice Bernard.
He has been front and center the whole decade.

Roger Howarth was great as Todd Manning.
Here's hoping there is a shot at him returning now that ATWT has been canceled.

daisyclover1938's picture
Member since:
14 November 2007
Last activity:
1 year 38 weeks

Yes Y2Jin99, we simple women folk have wee brains and all of our decisions are made by our vajayjays, lol!

Member since:
17 November 2008
Last activity:
1 hour 36 min

Peter Bergman...all the way!

Member since:
25 June 2009
Last activity:
48 weeks 6 days

 He perfected "How to ruin a UNIQUE ICONIC Character". Might as well call him, Tom Dick or Harry because Todd can NOW be compared to any other leading male soap character.

A bit of info on Todd Manning. RH was hired to play "frat boy 1"  He was supposed to stay around long enough to rape the girl who was causing trouble. It was a redemption story for Marty Saybrooke. Frat boy 1 was supposed to have gone off to jail with his buddies. Because of the originator, Todd Manning exists today unfortunately in name only due to the recast. Todd should never have been recasted. Frons did this only to give the finger to RH & it backfired. He needs to fix it & bring RH & Todd back to Llanview. 

Member since:
12 January 2009
Last activity:
35 weeks 2 days

Steve Burton as Jason on GH. I got hooked on GH when Jason and Elizabeth were kind of together all those years ago. I guess they hold a special place in my heart. That was a little more than 10 years ago and the character of Jason has stayed front and center for most if not all of those 10 years.

Member since:
14 December 2008
Last activity:
3 days 13 hours

I voted for Josh Ryan Evans, but I feel bad for poor Cameron? Not one single vote? Ouch!

Member since:
12 December 2009
Last activity:
2 years 1 week

Peter Bergman!!!

EmpireMunchies's picture
Member since:
13 December 2009
Last activity:
2 years 4 weeks

I voted for Peter Bergman.  Anytime he's an option I just go ahead and click on him.  I don't even know who else was on the list...and don't really care.  Peter Bergman is THE best actor of the decade. Period.

Member since:
5 August 2009
Last activity:
23 hours 49 min

I wish people would vote based on who is the best actor (Bergman) instead of who comes from the most popular couple (Burton) cause shouldn't this poll be based on who is the greatest performer? Bergman isn't doing as well as he should, while Burton is doing better than he deserves, and it comes down to Bergman doesn't have a Liason/Jasam following like Burton does. I don't think that should factor into the results. This should be about the top talent. Burton isn't even in Bergman's league as an actor.

jlj0117's picture
Member since:
29 September 2009
Last activity:
50 weeks 3 days

Steve Burton.  He has been at the top of my list ever since watching his transformation from Jason Quartermaine, to Jason Morgan in the 90s.  Throw anything at that man,  and he can play the hell out of it.

Member since:
21 March 2009
Last activity:
1 year 26 weeks

Steve Burton is a better actor than Peter Bergman, Trevor St. John,  Michael E. Knight, David Canary, Michael Park, Grant Alexander and Ricky Paul Golldin.  Some people need to step away from the mob kool aid. 

season1217's picture
Member since:
23 July 2008
Last activity:
2 weeks 11 hours

daisyclover1938 wrote:
Yes Y2Jin99, we simple women folk have wee brains and all of our decisions are made by our vajayjays, lol!

I don't know about Steve but whoever voted for Shemar Moore and Josh Morrow are definitely thinking with their vajayjays. I'm sorry, that baby that plays Emma on AMC would act circles around them.

jlj0117's picture
Member since:
29 September 2009
Last activity:
50 weeks 3 days

Some people need to step away from the mob kool aid.

I tell ya what,  I'll keep drinking the kool-aid. and you can go eat some of Dixie Martins pancakes.