The first annual Soap Opera Digest Awards were held in 1984, with the second being screened on NBC and Days of Our Lives winning every award in the daytime categories. For the subsequent six years votes were for awards in either daytime soaps, or primetime (with editor awards being for either). From the 9th event onwards votes were across both types of shows.
Key Indicates award for daytime soap opera Indicates award available to either daytime or primetime Hosts Indicates award for a primetime soap Indicates award not awarded that year Unknown
Awards dedicated to daytime
Award (year and where aired)Hosts1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th19841985198619881989199019911992 NBCCatherine HicklandandDavid Hasselhoff Susan LucciandKevin Dobson A Martinez and Marcy Walker;David Canary and Susan Lucci;Drake Hogestyn and Genie Francis;Leann Hunley and Gordon ThomsonJohn LoprienoandAndrea EvansDixie CarterandTerry LesterRobin MattsonandKevin DobsonDeidre Hall, Emma SammsandGeorge HamiltonOutstanding actorPeter Reckell(Days of Our Lives)John Aniston(Days of Our Lives)Stephen Nichols(Days of Our Lives)Eric Braeden (The Young and the Restless)A Martinez (Santa Barbara)David Canary (Adam Chandler / Stuart Chandler, All My Children)Outstanding actressDeidre Hall(Days of Our Lives)Patsy Pease(Days of Our Lives)Kim Zimmer(Guiding Light)Jeanne Cooper (The Young and the Restless)Marcy Walker(Santa Barbara)Finola Hughes (General Hospital)Anne Heche (Vicky Hudson / Marley Hudson, Another World)Outstanding Actor in a Supporting RoleJohn de Lancie(Days of Our Lives)Stephen Nichols(Days of Our Lives)Nicolas Coster(Santa Barbara)Quinn K. Redeker (The Young and the Restless)Robert Gentry (All My Children)Jordan Clarke (Guiding Light)Doug Davidson (Paul Williams, The Young and the Restless)Outstanding Actress in a Supporting RoleLisa Trusel(Days of Our Lives)Arleen Sorkin(Days of Our Lives)Harley Jane Kozak(Santa Barbara)Anna Lee(General Hospital)Joy Garrett (Days of Our Lives)Jane A. Rogers(Santa Barbara)Julia Barr (All My Children)Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine, General Hospital)Exciting/Outstanding New ActorMichael Leon(Days of Our Lives)Charles Shaughnessy(Days of Our Lives)Ian Buchanan(General Hospital)For the 1984 ceremony, the award was given as "Exciting/Outstanding Newcomer"Scott Thompson Baker (General Hospital)Kurt McKinney (General Hospital)Michael Watson (General Hospital)Paul Michael Valley (Ryan Harrison, Another World)Exciting/Outstanding New ActressKristian Alfonso(Days of Our Lives)Arleen Sorkin(Days of Our Lives) Anne Heche (Another World)Jean Carol (Guiding Light)Kimberley Simms (Guiding Light)Alla Korot(Jenna Norris, Another World)Outstanding actor in a mature roleMacdonald Carey(Days of Our Lives) Outstanding actress in a mature roleFrances Reid(Days of Our Lives) Outstanding youth/younger actorDavid Mendenhall(General Hospital)Brian Autenrieth(Days of Our Lives)Peter Reckell(Days of Our Lives) Ricky Paull Goldin(Dean Frame, Another World)Outstanding youth/younger actressAndrea Barber(Days of Our Lives)Ellen Wheeler(Marley/Victoria, Another World) Tricia Cast (Nina Webster, The Young and the Restless)Outstanding VillainJoseph Mascolo(Days of Our Lives)John Aniston(Days of Our Lives)Justin Deas(Santa Barbara)Matthew Ashford (Days of Our Lives)David Canary (All My Children)Kin Shriner (General Hospital)Michael Zaslow (Roger Thorpe, Guiding Light)Outstanding VillainessNancy Frangione(Another World)Cheryl-Ann Wilson(Days of Our Lives)Linda Gibboney(Santa Barbara)Brenda Dickson(The Young and the Restless)Lynn Herring (General Hospital)Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine, General Hospital)Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe, General Hospital)Outstanding juvenile actor/actress Kimberly McCullough(Robin Scorpio, General Hospital) Outstanding Contribution Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives) Outstanding Comic Relief Role Arleen Sorkin(Days of Our Lives) Robert Mailhouse (Brian Scofield, Days of our Lives)Favorite Daytime Super Couple Charles Shaughnessy and Patsy Pease(Days of Our Lives)Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans (Days of Our Lives)Marcy Walker and A Martinez(Santa Barbara)Matthew Ashford and Melissa Reeves (Days of Our Lives) Outstanding Comic Relief Actress Arleen Sorkin(Days of Our Lives)Robin Mattson(Santa Barbara) Outstanding Comic Relief Actor Michael T. Weiss(Days of Our Lives)Stephen Schnetzer (Another World)Joe Marinelli(Santa Barbara) Outstanding Hero A Martinez(Santa Barbara)Stephen Nichols (Days of Our Lives)Doug Davidson (The Young and the Restless) Outstanding Heroine Robin Wright Penn(Santa Barbara)Marcy Walker(Santa Barbara)Finola Hughes (General Hospital)Cady McClain (All My Children) Outstanding Storyline Eden's Rape, Santa BarbaraCasey the Alien, General Hospital Outstanding Limited Run Gerald Anthony (One Life to Live) Best Wedding/Love Story Jack and Jennifer, Days of Our LivesBest Death Scene Marcy Walker (Eden Capwell, Santa Barbara)Outstanding Daytime Soap OperaDays of Our LivesSanta BarbaraDays of Our LivesOutstanding actorJohn Forsythe(Blake Carrington, Dynasty)Patrick Duffy(Bobby Ewing, Dallas)Larry Hagman(J.R. Ewing, Dallas)Kevin Dobson(Mack MacKenzie, Knots Landing)David Selby (Richard Channing, Falcon Crest)William Devane(Greg Sumner, Knots Landing)Kevin Dobson(Mack MacKenzie, Knots Landing)Outstanding actressLinda Evans(Krystle Carrington, Dynasty)Joan Van Ark (Valene Ewing, Knots Landing)Michele Lee(Karen MacKenzie, Knots Landing)Joan Van Ark(Valene Ewing Gibson, Knots Landing)Nicollette Sheridan(Paige Matheson, Knots Landing)Michele Lee(Karen MacKenzie, Knots Landing)Outstanding Actor in a Supporting RoleSteve Kanaly(Ray Krebbs, Dallas)Doug Sheehan(Ben Gibson, Knots Landing)Steve Kanaly(Ray Krebbs, Dallas)William Devane(Greg Sumner, Knots Landing)Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes, Dallas)Larry Riley(Frank Williams, Knots Landing) Outstanding Actress in a Supporting RoleLisa Hartman(Ciji Dunne, Knots Landing)Catherine Oxenberg(Amanda Carrington, Dynasty)Susan Howard(Donna Culver Krebbs, Dallas)Tonya Crowe(Olivia Cunningham, Knots Landing)Lynne Moody (Patricia Williams, Knots Landing) Exciting New ActorDoug Sheehan(Ben Gibson, Knots Landing)Alec Baldwin(Joshua Rush, Knots Landing) Exciting New ActressPriscilla Presley(Jenna Wade, Dallas)Catherine Oxenberg(Amanda Carrington, Dynasty) Outstanding actor in a mature roleJohn Forsythe(Blake Carrington, Dynasty) Outstanding actress in a mature roleBarbara Bel Geddes(Miss Ellie Ewing, Dallas) Outstanding youth actorOmri Katz(John Ross Ewing, Dallas) Outstanding youth actressShalane McCall(Charlie Wade, Dallas)For the 1985 ceremony, the award was given as "Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress" Outstanding VillainLarry Hagman(J.R. Ewing, Dallas) Sam Behrens (Danny Waleska, Knots Landing) Outstanding VillainessJoan Collins(Alexis Colby, Dynasty)Donna Mills(Abby Ewing, Knots Landing)Teri Austin(Jill Bennett, Knots Landing)For the 1990 ceremony, the award was given as "Outstanding Villain/Villainess"Michelle Phillips (Anne Matheson, Knots Landing) Outstanding Comic Relief Role Margaret Ladd(Emma Channing, Falcon Crest)Favorite Supercouple Michele LeeandKevin Dobson(Mack and Karen MacKenzie, Knots Landing) Outstanding Storyline Jill's insanity, Knots LandingPaige and Tom's relationship, Knots Landing Outstanding Hero Kevin Dobson (Mack MacKenzie, Knots Landing) Outstanding HeroineNicollette Sheridan(Paige Matheson, Knots Landing) Best Death Scene Sheree J. Wilson(April Stevens Ewing, Dallas)Outstanding Primetime Soap OperaDynastyKnots LandingEditor's Choice AwardDavid JacobsWilliam J. BellDouglas MarlandMichael FilermanandSusan LucciJeanne CooperFrances ReidandMacdonald CareyEileen FultonWilliam J. Bell
United awards