A Boomer's Look at 'Another World'

The groundbreaking TV soap opera Another World debuted on NBC 50 years ago this month and remained a pop-culture fixture for 35 years. A lot of now-famous stars cut their acting teeth on the show. Here are just a few:

Morgan Freeman appears in these images from his acting career. A publicity still from 1981, left. Freeman played Dr. Roy Bingham, a dignified architect in fictional Bay City (1982-84) on Another World. As the Empathetic chauffeur Hoke Colburn, Driving Miss Daisy (1989), center, and more recently, Johnny Depp's mentor in sci-fi thriller Transcendence.

John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images; Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection; Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic

Morgan Freeman

• Played Dr. Roy Bingham, a dignified architect in fictional Bay City (1982-84)
• Breakout role: Empathetic chauffeur Hoke Colburn, Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
• At 76: Johnny Depp's mentor in this spring's sci-fi thriller Transcendence

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Brad Pitt in a series of images from his film career. Pitt played Chris, a high school basketball player on Another World in (1987). As Geena Davis' hunky one-night stand in Thelma & Louise (1991) and Producer of, and abolitionist laborer in, the acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave.

Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage; MGM/Photofest NYC; Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Brad Pitt


• Played Chris, a high school basketball player (1987)
  
• Breakout role: Geena Davis' hunky one-night stand in Thelma & Louise (1991)
  
• At 50: Producer of — and abolitionist laborer in — acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave

Kyra Sedgwick played murder-for-hire victim Julia Shearer in Another World (1982-83). She starred in the blockbuster TV crime series The Closer (2005-12) and more recently appeared alongside Sylvester Stallone in feel-good indie film Reach Me.

NBC/Everett Collection, Karen Neal/TNT/Everett Collection; Craig Barritt/FilmMagic

Kyra Sedgwick

• Played murder-for-hire victim Julia Shearer (1982-83)
  
• Breakout role: Star of blockbuster TV crime series The Closer (2005-12)
• At 48: Alongside Sylvester Stallone in feel-good indie film Reach Me

Kelsey Grammer played emergency-room physician Dr. Canard on Another World (1984-85). He hit the big time with his role as the pompous shrink Frasier Crane in the TV sitcom Cheers (1984-93). More recently as human villain Harold Attinger in Transformers: Age of Extinction.

NBCUniversal/Getty Images; Paramount Television/Everett Collection; Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage

Kelsey Grammer

• Played emergency-room physician Dr. Canard (1984-85)
• Breakout role: Pompous shrink Frasier Crane in TV sitcom Cheers (1984-93)
• At 59: Human villain Harold Attinger in Transformers: Age of Extinction

William H. Macy played Frank Fisk on Another World (1982). He came to fame as hapless would-be wife kidnapper Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo (1996). More recently he plays the patriarch of the dysfunctional Gallagher family in the TV series Shameless.

Ron Galella/WireImage; Gramercy Pictures/Photofest; Michael Tran/FilmMagic

William H. Macy

• Played Frank Fisk (1982)
• Breakout role: Hapless would-be wife kidnapper Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo (1996)
• At 64: Patriarch of dysfunctional Gallagher family in TV series Shameless

Lindsay Lohan played mischievous teenager Alexandra "Alli" Fowler on Another World (1996-97). She shone as separated-at-birth twins Hallie and Annie in The Parent Trap (1998). More recently she is the star of a reality TV show Lindsay, about her post-rehab life.

Barry King/WireImage; Walt Disney Pictures/Photofest; Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Lindsay Lohan

• Played mischievous teenager Alexandra "Alli" Fowler (1996-97)
• Breakout role: Separated-at-birth twins Hallie and Annie in The Parent Trap (1998)
• At 27: Star of reality TV show Lindsay, about her post-rehab life

Anne Heche played Vicky and Marley, good-and-evil twins on Another World (1987-91). She stood out as ambivalent fiancée Robin Monroe in Six Days Seven Nights (1998). More recently she appears as Roxy, a waitress, in Wild Card, upcoming remake of the 1986 film Heat.

Alan F. Singer/NBC/Getty Images; Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection; Paul Redmond/WireImage

Anne Heche

• Played Vicky and Marley, good-and-evil twins (1987-91)
• Breakout role: Ambivalent fiancée Robin Monroe, Six Days Seven Nights (1998)
• At 44: Roxy, a waitress, in Wild Card, upcoming remake of the 1986 film Heat

Jane Krakowski played Tonya, who figures in the investigation of a video-dating service on Another World (1989). Krakowski got noticed playing law office hottie Elaine Vassal in the TV series Ally McBeal (1997-2002). More recently she played Helen Stephens, convicted of murdering her boss in the TV comedy pilot Dead Boss.

Andrew Brucker/Corbis Outline; 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Jane Krakowski

• Played Tonya, who figures in investigation of video-dating service (1989)
• Breakout role: Office hottie Elaine Vassal in the TV series Ally McBeal (1997-2002)
• At 45: Helen Stephens, convicted of murdering her boss, TV comedy pilot Dead Boss

Billy Dee Williams played an unnamed assistant district attorney in Another World (1960s). Williams came to fame as football great and best-ever friend Gale Sayers in Brian's Song (1971). More recently he is the voice of his Star Wars character, Lando Calrissian, in The Lego Movie.

Jerry Mosey/AP; Dave Friedman/ABC; Craig Sjodin/ABC/Getty Images

Billy Dee Williams

• Played unnamed assistant district attorney (1960s)
• Breakout role: Football great and best-ever friend Gale Sayers in Brian's Song (1971)
• At 77: Voice of his Star Wars character, Lando Calrissian, in The Lego Movie