Celebrities Started Soap Operas. The most famous celebrities to have started their career in soap operas. When actor James Franco appeared for the first time last year on the popular soap opera, General Hospital, many criticized what they saw as a major step down from a very successful movie career. Often viewed as mediocre at best, soap operas started airing on television in the 1950s and continue to this day. Generally the actors on such shows are seen (sometimes unfairly) as second-rate, but many find their time on daytime dramas to be a useful starting out point. Some of today’s biggest stars wouldn’t be where they are today without the “soaps”.