Beloved All My Children Leading Man Asks Fans to ‘Light a Candle’ Before He Undergoes Surgery

Credit: Orlando Garcia/JPI

Our thoughts will definitely be with him.

Though we don’t have many details right now, it looks like All My Children‘s Walt Willey could use a little more support in the coming days from his friends, loved ones and fans. Willey, who played Erica’s on-again/off-again longtime love Jackson Montgomery from 1987 until the show’s end in 2011, took to Twitter to ask for some positive thoughts ahead of his surgery.

More: See Another World’s cast then-and-now

“I’m going in for some surgery tomorrow,” he tweeted, “and would appreciate it if you could find it in your hearts to say a prayer, think a good thought, light a candle, or however you may wish to send good vibes my way.”

He then melted our hearts just a bit more when he added “no animal sacrifices, please!” We love our furry/feathered/scaled friends and it’s nice to see that Willey’s still thinking about others even as he’s about to undergo surgery.

One Life to Live vet Kassie DePaiva (Blair) jumped in, promising she’d be keeping him in her thoughts, “And here’s to a speedy recovery. God be with you.”

I will my friend…. And here’s to a speedy recovery. God be with you.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 https://t.co/4vMFm4BD0h

— Kassie DePaiva (@KassieDePaiva) April 12, 2022

Jackson and Kendall may have had a bit of a rocky relationship in Pine Valley, but Alicia Minshew had nothing but love for her former TV stepdad. She responded with “Thinking of you and sending prayers, Walt.”

Thinking of you and sending prayers Walt 🙏❤️

— Alicia Minshew (@alicia_minshew) April 12, 2022

And Days of Our Lives‘ Eric Martsolf (Brady), who’s shared the stage with Willey when the two broke out the laughs at the ACME Comedy Theatre, wrote that he’s sending “Good thoughts, my friend.”

@wwilley Good thoughts my friend.

— Eric Martsolf (@ericmartsolf) April 12, 2022

The actor’s fans, too, were quick to offer a slew of thoughts, prayers and good vibes in every way they could (while keeping our animal friends safe, of course) and we’ve no doubt Willey felt the love. Hopefully, it sees him through surgery tomorrow and on to an easy, smooth recovery.

We wish him only the best and will be eagerly awaiting word on how he’s doing!

Catch up with a few other Pine Valley faves and check out our photo gallery of All My Children‘s cast from then to now.

laurenc-lau-kim-delaney-then-now-abc-ec-priscilla-grant-ec

sarah-michelle-gellar-abc-ec-priscilla-grant-ec

justin-bruening-heidi-gutman-abc-ec-priscilla-grant-ec

elizabeth-hendrickson-then-now-lawrence-lucier-ec-jp

eva-larue-then-now-bill-morris-abc-ec-priscilla-grant-ec

rebecca-budig-then-now-abc-ec-priscilla-grant-ec

mark-consuelos-kelly-ripa-then-now-abc-ec-jj

Previous in News

Stargazing: Catch Up With Your Another World Favorites With a Brand-New Album Full of Beautiful Then-and-Now Photos

Next in News

This Is Us Star Reveals Unaired Scene She Wanted You to See — Plus, Preview of Next Week's Big Episode

Beloved All My Children Leading Man Asks Fans to ‘Light a Candle’ Before He Undergoes Surgery

Most Popular

<p>Leave it to Tad the Cad Martin’s Emmy-winning portrayer to mature into not only the slyest of silver foxes but the perfect actor to play <em>General Hospital</em> ambulance-chaser Martin Grey.</p>

<p>With her 2021 Emmy win for her work as Jennifer Horton on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, the erstwhile Dixie Cooney became the first actress to strike gold for three different soaps on three different networks in three different decades.</p>

<p>So popular was the Emmy winner’s pairing with Debbi Morgan as Angie Baxter that he was given a new character to play opposite hers on <em>The City</em>, his Jesse Hubbard was eventually resurrected, and the actors were reunited <em>again</em> by primetime’s <em>Our Kind of People</em>.</p>

<p>After decades of being teamed and reteamed with her <em>All My Children</em> leading man, the Emmy winner resumed her primetime career, scoring roles on, among other series, <em>Bigger</em>, <em>Power</em> and <em>Power Book II: Ghost.</em></p>

<p>To this day, we cast a skeptical side-eye at jet skis. But at least we can take some comfort in knowing that time hasn’t laid a hand on Jenny and Greg Nelson’s portrayers (the former of whom is now Jackie Templeton on <em>General Hospital</em>).</p>

<p>Correct us if we’re wrong, but in the decades since he debuted as Ryan Lavery, the only thing that’s changed about the actor (now Drew Cain on <em>General Hospital</em>) is that… he grew a little sexy stubble?</p>

<p>Even when she was a teenage brunette making a splash as Erica Kane’s “forgotten” daughter, Kendall Hart, there was no disguising the blonde ambition that would help Buffy’s future portrayer slay Hollywood.</p>

<p>Whatever happened to the boy next door who scrubbed in as Cliff “I’m Not a Doctor, But I Play One on TV” Warner? He evolved into one of daytime’s most respected leading men — and, as if you didn’t know, the one who plays Jack Abbott on <em>The Young and the Restless.</em></p>

<p>The gem who played Southern-fried Opal Cortlandt continues to work in TV and movies like the 2021 thriller <em>The Manor</em> (from which the more recent image is taken).</p>

<p>Long after leaving behind the role of baby-faced Jamie Martin, the hunk — married in real life to Alexa Havins, formerly Babe Carey — became a scruffy fixture in primetime.</p>

<p>It’s no wonder the actress remains a soap MVP (as<em> Young & Restless</em>’ Chloe Fisher). Even back when <em>All My Children</em> killed her off as Maggie Stone, her natural charisma was so undeniable that it prompted fans to demand that she be rehired as surprise twin Maggie.</p>

<p>Honestly, we could look at these two photos of Maria Santos’ former portrayer all day and still not be sure which one was “then” and which was “now.” (“Then” is on the left, though, if it was gonna cause you to lose sleep.)</p>

<p>Ah, some things never change. Whether the soap-hopper was playing Greenlee Smythe or <em>General Hospital</em> pot-stirrer Hayden Barnes, the mischievous gleam in her eye was impossible to miss.</p>

<p>After appearing in Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle” video, the movie-star-in-the-making got his big break when he was tapped by <em>All My Children</em> to play dreamy, scheme-y Leo du Pres.</p>

<p>Since meeting when they were cast as future supercouple Hayley and Matéo Santos, the marrieds have gone on to become a Hollywood power couple — and, as a matter of fact, the twosome behind ABC’s primetime <em>All My Children</em> revival, <em>Pine Valley.</em></p>

<p>Aside from the facial hair — grown to play gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok — we’d swear that Jackson Montgomery’s real-life alter ego hasn’t aged a second, never mind a day, since the soap’s sayonara.</p>

<p>We can assure you that this is not an April Fool’s Day joke. Nor is it April Fool’s Day. These really <em>are</em> photos of the soap icon taken decades apart. Erica Kane’s portrayer simply remains as “sensuelle” as ever. (Props to the longtime fans who will get the reference.)</p>

Most Popular

Newswire

Pregnant Rihanna Wears Sheer Sequined Pants While Out For Dinner Ahead Of Baby No. 2’s Arrival

‘The Boys,’ ‘House of the Dragon’ and More Genre TV Shows Hoping to Break Through at Emmys

WME Acquires Ross Yoon Agency, Bulking Up Book Business And Establishing A Presence In Washington

Drag Race All Stars 8 Just Gave Us One of the Most Dramatic Exits in Herstory

sheknows family:

Our Brands