40 Years since the Release of the Series 'Santa Barbara': How Have the Stars' Lives Turned Out?

• "Santa Barbara" introduced audiences to the connected lives of wealthy families in Santa Barbara, California.
• The stellar cast including, Robin Wright, Robin Mattson, Judith McConnell, Nicolas Coster, and Louise Sorel, made the soap opera a beloved classic.
• Their performances captivated viewers and forty years later, we explore their journeys since "Santa Barbara."

In 1984, television audiences were introduced to the sun-soaked and drama-filled world of the soap opera "Santa Barbara." It was set in the picturesque city of Santa Barbara, California. The series intricately wove the lives of the affluent Capwell family around those of their rivals.

Other families included the Lockridge's, the Andrade's, and the Perkins', who faced their own trials and tribulations. Key stars of the show were Robin Mattson, Robin Wright, Judith McConnell, Nicolas Coster, and Louise Sorel.

Each of the stars brought depth and intrigue to their characters, captivating viewers for nearly a decade. Now, 40 years later, we take a look at how the lives and careers of these beloved actors have evolved since their time on "Santa Barbara."

Robin Mattson as Gina Timmons

Robin Mattson was born on June 1, 1956, in Los Angeles, California. She started acting at the age of six, with her first gig being a commercial for Wonder Bread.

Her parents introduced her to acting at a tender age as they felt the residuals would be a great way to pay for her college education. "And I loved acting ever since," she divulged.

Mattson has been a daytime soap actress for nearly three decades. Mostly, the actress plays a calculative blonde. Before she played Gina Timmons in "Santa Barbara," Mattson had starred in the long-running soap "General Hospital" as Heather Webber.

Later, the actress was cast in "All My Children" as Janet Green. She noted that by playing Timmons, she had to exaggerate hilariously, the good and evil that is inside everyone. "I hope everyone is enjoying watching Gina as much as I had fun portraying her," shared Mattson.

The actress has stayed in touch with some members of the cast on "Santa Barbara." However, Mattson is also an author, who wrote the cookbook "The Skinny on Food from a Daytime Star" in 1997. She shared 150 of her reduced-fat recipes in the cookbook.

The actress is also a professional chef who trained at Los Angeles International Culinary School. She hosted her own cooking show on Lifetime Television. Mattson noted that she pursues her love of food and wine with immense enthusiasm.

In November 2022, in a heartfelt Instagram post, Mattson shared an update with her fans while sitting by a table full of roses. She held one to her nose as she enjoyed a cup of tea outdoors.

Mattson explained, "I just want to let you know that I've been recovering from my knee surgery and today I'm going to have hip replacement surgery. Thank you all for your love and support! Looking forward to a fast recovery! Love, Robin ❤."

As for her personal life, Mattson has been married twice. The actress and her first husband, Ray Manzella got married on May 27, 1978, and divorced on December 26, 1984.

The 68-year-old is now happily married to her second husband Werner Roth, whom she tied the knot with on June 3, 2006. The couple reside in New York City.

As for Mattson, she lives a lowkey life now but sometimes pops up at events. In 2023, she was at the premiere of "The Bay" in a cute navy blue shirtdress, with a smile on her face.

Robin Wright as Kelly Capwell

Robin Wright was born on April 8, 1966, in Dallas, Texas. However, she grew up in San Diego, California. The actress started her professional career at age 14 as a model, who worked in Paris and Japan.

After high school, Wright pursued a career as an actress and later revealed she thought she would have to make her time in the industry last.

However, sometimes she declines film proposals. "Sometimes you accept a film because you have to earn money, but more often it is for art," she explained.

Wright landed a role on the soap opera "Santa Barbara" as Kelly Capwell. This role earned her three nominations for a Daytime Emmy.

After leaving the show, she got the starring role in "Denial." Other productions such as "Forrest Grump," "Moll Flander," and "Love" followed.

In her 20s to 40s, Wright took it slow with her acting career to be present for her kids. The actress first got married in 1986 to Dane Witherspoon, and they divorced in 1988.

She and her second husband, Sean Penn got married on April 27, 1996. The exes divorced on July 22, 2010, but share two kids, Dylan Frances and Hopper Penn.

The 58-year-old and her third husband, Clément Giraudet, tied the knot on August 11, 2018, but are separated as the actress filed for divorce.

Wright chose to do one project a year while raising her kids. She was asked to stay focused or she would be forgotten as an actress but she prioritized motherhood. She noted, "That was a no-brainer. I always wanted to be a mom, and my kids came first."

Now that her kids are grown and in the entertainment industry too, Wright only advises them to do what makes them happy. "You gotta like your job," she added.

The political drama "House of Cards," put Wright in the limelight again, years later. The actress starred as Claire Underwood, embodying the character so well that she was a hit again.

Over the years, Wright has opened up about being seen as a beauty muse. She noted that she doesn't see herself as perfect, especially since she would love to have perfect breasts. Still, she vowed not to fix them or any other part of her body.

As much as she admitted it was hard growing old, the actress said, "I will never make a facelift, I will never touch my lips. When I see it on other women, it terrifies me and makes me want to cry."

In 2014, Wright seemed to have changed her mind as she admitted to having had, "just the tiniest sprinkle of Botox twice a year." She noted that some women do too much Botox, which freezes their face but she only does a bit of it to take the edge off from her face.

Today, as much as Wright gets limited roles, she is busy with her passion project. The actress is supporting women in conflict zones, particularly in the Congo, through her foundation and loungewear business, Pour Les Femmes.

She started this social enterprise after learning about the crisis in the Congo. The militias in the Congo exploit mineral resources for technological devices, leading to severe human rights abuses.

Moved by the women's stories and their need for a voice, Wright felt a civic responsibility to raise awareness and provide support. The actress has a purpose and a heart that drives her to help women in need.

Judith McConnell as Sophia Capwell

Judith McConnell was born on April 6, 1944, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the Miss Pennsylvania in 1965. She also won the Special Pageant Award at the Miss America Pageant in 1965.

McConnell began her acting journey at the age of 13. She started by performing in local theater productions and taking part in plays at school and church whenever she could.

Her passion for acting led her to attend one of the few colleges that offered a Fine Arts Degree in acting. After completing her education, she moved to New York to start her professional career.

When it came to auditioning for "Santa Barbara," McConnell submitted her tape from New York, as the auditions took place in California. Although she was not initially cast as Sophia Capwell, she eventually replaced the original actress a few months into the production.

This role prompted her to relocate to California to join the show. McConnell started playing Capwell first as the bearded Dominic. She found playing Dominic on "Santa Barbara" challenging and uncomfortable.

The actress felt silly and unbelievable in the role, which required her to wear full body padding, prosthetics, and heavy makeup.

The transformation process was lengthy and painful. It took about two hours to apply and remove the prosthetics, which included a false nose, cheeks, beard, mustache, and wig.

The constant use of Spirit Gum Adhesive caused discomfort due to her sensitive skin, making the experience even more difficult. Despite her efforts, she believed she never convincingly portrayed the character.

Later, the actress, who is also a writer, was featured in other productions such as "The Purge: Anarchy" and "The Weatherman."

McConnell did not focus on other longstanding roles after "Santa Barbara" as she became a mom to Gwendolyn McConnell via open adoption. The baby girl was born on October 12, 1990.

The movie star adopted her daughter and kept the adoption private. She shared that the parents who first wanted to adopt the baby girl changed their minds. During this time, McConnell was trying to get pregnant naturally and via artificial insemination.

Her fertility medication, Clomid, was reacting negatively with her body. She then learned from an attorney that she could adopt as a single woman. So, after six months of taking Clomid with no positive results, she called the lawyer, ready to adopt.

McConnell informed the lawyer that she was willing to take an urgent adoption case. Her decision came just as the intended adoptive parents for the birth mother's child had been pulled out.

The attorney provided the birth mother with the actress's contact number. The birth mother called McConnell, and they quickly bonded, first over the phone and later in person over dinner.

McConnell met with the birth mother's family and friends, and they agreed to the adoption. A few months later, when the baby girl was born, McConnell became her adoptive parent.

The actress requested to be excused from filming on the day her daughter was due to be born, but her request was denied. She only got out of rehearsals and held her daughter who was born via a scheduled C-section. McConnell held her, named her, and gave her a first bottle.

In the afternoon, McConnell went back to work and told her shocked co-stars that she just had a baby. McConnell revealed that having her baby girl, who has now blessed her with a granddaughter, was the greatest joy she has ever known.

The actress said he could no longer move from coast to coast to shoot gigs as she was focused on good schools and all things about raising her daughter. The movie star's daughter graduated college in May 2013 and has a job.

As much as being a hands-on mom took her away from acting, so did ageism and sexism in the entertainment industry. McConnell, who was around 40 when she starred in "Santa Barbara" could not land other roles as she was discriminated against due to age and sex.

The 80-year-old now leads a private life as much as she noted that the "Santa Barbara" crew have plans of doing a celebrity cruise to promote the show. Even so, she regretted that she does not really engage with fans as she is not active on social media but is grateful always for their support.

Nicolas Coster as Lionel Lockridge

Nicolas Coster was born on December 3, 1933, in London, England, UK. He was a veteran actor who began his training at 16 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London. He honed his craft in theater, with notable credits including "The Little Foxes" and "Happy Birthday, Wanda June."

Coster was widely recognized for his work in soap operas. He gained early fame with "Secret Storm" and enjoyed significant popularity on "Another World." He also had memorable roles in "All My Children."

However, he was perhaps best known for portraying the patriarch Lionel Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," the first soap opera to be aired in Russia. In that country, it achieved tremendous success and was broadcast as a nighttime series.

Coster was starring in "One Life to Live" when he was approached by the creators of "Santa Barbara." They invited him to join their new project, and he was captivated by their vision. So, Coster decided to return to California to be part of the exciting new venture, "Santa Barbara."

In addition to his soap opera fame, Coster won several Daytime Emmys for his work on the drama "The Bay." His film credits included "Just You and Me, Kid" and "How I Got Into College."

Coster once reflected on his character Lockridge's romantic storyline with Caroline Wilson. He described it as one of the most tender and meaningful relationships he has experienced, both on and off-screen.

Sadly, in November 1987, Coster suffered a near-fatal car accident that left him in a coma and caused temporary memory loss. Despite his condition, he returned to the set of "Santa Barbara" just a week later without anyone knowing about his memory issues.

Coster confided in Lenore Kasdorf, who played Wilson, about his situation. To cope, he placed small notes with his lines around the set. He also relied on the teleprompter when off-camera, actions that could be distracting for his co-star.

However, Kasdorf was patient, understanding, and forgiving, helping him through this tough period. Her support allowed him to regain enough memory to perform without stumbling.

Despite the producer's concerns about his condition, which they mistakenly attributed to excessive partying, Coster managed to continue working with Kasdorf's assistance. He expressed deep gratitude for her kindness and talent, noting that, at least on camera, he truly felt in love with her.

Aside from acting, Coster taught as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Georgia, a role he truly enjoyed.

He also contributed to film education by participating in various projects at the University of Southern California Graduate Film School, where he worked on five films. His work extended to the American Film Institute (AFI), where he worked on three films.

Beyond his career, Coster had a passion for scuba diving. He dedicated significant time to teaching disabled individuals to scuba dive through the Challenges Foundation, where he was a certified instructor.

Speaking of his passion, he said, " How can one not be passionate about something that affects others so positively? And yes, this old guy still skin dives (no tank) regularly to 35 feet. We sail with the Wounded and Disabled Veterans almost weekly."

Coster's personal life was also eventful. He first got married on September 24, 1960, to Candace Hilligoss and they divorced in 1981 after having two kids.

The actor and his second wife Beth Pantel got married on January 17, 1982. They divorced on January 21, 2014. Coster went on to marry Elena Borodulina Coster on January 31, 2014.

Unfortunately, death separated the actor and his third wife. Coster lived his life well and passed away on June 26, 2023, at a hospital in Florida at 89.

He was eulogized as an "actor's actor" and a "great artist." The actor left behind his three children, Ian, Candace, and Dinneen Coster.

Louise Sorel as Augusta Lockridge

Born on August 6, 1940, in Los Angeles, Louise Sorel has deep roots in theater. She studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. She then made her Broadway debut in 1961, portraying a teenager in the comedy "Take Her, She's Mine."

Sorel's film career took off in the 1960s and 1970s with roles in movies like "Man and Boy," "Plaza Suite," and "Every Little Crook and Nanny." In the 1980s, she appeared in films such as "Mazes and Monsters" and "A Masterpiece of Murder."

Her career experienced a significant resurgence in the late 1980s due to daytime soap operas. In 1984, Sorel began her journey to soap opera fame by playing the eccentric villain Augusta Lockridge on "Santa Barbara." She held the role throughout the show's run.

She later secured recurring roles as Judith Sanders on "One Life to Live" and Donatella Stewart on "Port Charles." In 1992, she joined the cast of "Days of Our Lives" as the cunning Vivian Alamain. All these roles earned her five Soap Opera Digest Awards by the time she left in 2000.

As for "Santa Barbara" Sorel said she brought her absurdness, humor, and desire for unpredictability to the show. She loved the series' storyline as well as her character, who was a difficult but loving woman. She found the cast and crew to be great and hard working too.

Sorel left "Santa Barbara" two times before she quit altogether. Initially, she left to move to New York and join the cast of "One Life to Live."

After a year back in "Santa Barbara," she decided to take a break and went to Villefranche to study French. However, she was eventually called back to the show.

Her final departure was due to dissatisfaction with the direction of her character. A new producer had assured her that the entire Lockridge family storyline would be dropped.

This development did not happen. Instead, her character, Augusta, was written as an alcoholic, a development Sorel found unacceptable, leading her to leave the show.

As for Sorel's role on "Days of Our Lives" as Alamain, she revealed that she was fired in 1990. The actress described the experience as horrible as she had been on the show for years.

She was shocked and hurt by this unexpected dismissal as she also missed the cast. Sorel went to Greece and France to clear her mind and regain her balance after this ordeal.

Sorel is currently working on her memoir. When asked about retirement, she explained that she had taken a break from acting for a while. Although she prefers not to use the term retired, she acknowledges that she is in that stage of her life.

The 83-year-old, who doesn't care about fame, lives a private life and does not share her experiences on social media except on Facebook. She spends her time with her dogs and friends and loves going to the theatre.

Forty years after "Santa Barbara," the cast members are still thriving as much as they lost one of them. The soap opera stars have expanded their career paths, faced new challenges, and made big contributions in other fields. Their ongoing success and versatility show the talent that made "Santa Barbara" a beloved show.