‘General Hospital’ dominates Daytime Emmys with six major wins

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Paul Telfer of “Days of Our Lives” and Nancy Lee Grahn of “General Hospital” won lead acting honors at the Daytime Emmys Friday, while ABC’s “General Hospital” took home six trophies in major categories, including drama series.

Sir David Attenborough broke Dick Van Dyke’s track record for the longest-running Daytime Emmy winner, taking home the trophy for daytime, non-daily personality as host of Netflix’s “The Secret Life of Orangutans.”

Attenborough, aged 99, was not present. The Briton’s career as a writer, broadcaster and narrator spans eight decades.

Van Dyke was 98 when he won the award as a guest performer in a daytime drama series for “Days of Our Lives” in 2024.

Telfer, a 45-year-old Scot, plays Xander Kiriakis on Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives,” which he first joined in 2015.

“My mother always loved soap operas and she loved villains,” he said. “She’s been gone for over 20 years, and so to win on a soap opera playing the villain is truly amazing. Thanks, Mom.”

Grahn won her third career trophy at the 52nd annual awards ceremony, having played Alexis Davis on “General Hospital” since 1996. She regularly uses her platform to speak out on political issues, and she carried a silver clutch on which she had handwritten the words “Democracy Dies Silently.”

“Our democracy is worth fighting for, the people in it are worth caring about, and whether you have a platform or not, now is the time, guys, to show up, to stand up, to speak for human decency, for democracy,” she said, shouting, “Stand up!” several times in front of the public.

Jonathan Jackson of “General Hospital” and first-time contestant Susan Walters of “The Young and the Restless” won acting honors.

Jackson accepted the trophy for playing Lucky Spencer, a role he originated in 1993 and has played on and off ever since.

“General Hospital” also won trophies for Alley Mills as a guest performer in a daytime drama and for its writing and directing teams.

This was Mills’ second career win for playing Heather Webber. The 74-year-old, who won for the first time in 2023, is best known as the mom from “The Wonder Years.”

“We’re living in really dark times right now. Everything is crazy,” Mills told the audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. “We just have to keep our spirits up.”

Walters plays Diane Jenkins on CBS’s “Y&R,” in which she appeared in three different stints.

“I’m so happy I won so I can thank my husband of 40 years,” she said, pointing out Linden Ashby, who appeared on the same show and lost to Mills in the guest actor category.

Drew Barrymore scored her first win as a daytime talk series host for her eponymous New York-based show. She beat Kelly Clarkson, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb and Jennifer Hudson. “Live With Kelly and Mark” won the daytime talk series.

Lisa Yamada of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” won the emerging talent category, which replaced the young actor and actress awards. The 23-year-old plays murderess Luna Nozawa.

“Acting has been my dream since I became conscious, and my dreams are coming true right now,” Yamada said, his voice choked with emotion. “I’m ugly crying.”

The most exuberant winner of the evening was Kardea Brown, honored as the culinary host of the Food Network show “Delicious Miss Brown,” which has been on the air for 10 seasons. The show also won an award in the culinary educational series category.

“Is this real?” Brown said, mascara-stained tears streaming down her face. “These are tears of joy. As a young black woman from Charleston, South Carolina, no one would have ever thought this would be possible, but I know one person who did. That’s God.”

Journalist Deborah Norville received the lifetime achievement award. She left “Inside Edition” in May after 30 years as an anchor to become host of the game show “The Perfect Line.”