Top 10 Favorite Families Of Color On Soap Operas

ABC/CBS/NBC/BBC

Families are the narrative touchstone of soap operas. Familial bonds are the simplest method of connecting several characters, and family drama leads to great stories. Whether it’s siblings fighting over the affections of the same love interest, questions of paternity, custody battles, etc., viewers are captivated by the trials and tribulations of their favorite soap opera families.

The focus on family dynamics has been a traditional format of storytelling since soap operas began. However, in the early days of soaps, the narrative was mostly structured around White families. Modern serials have made improvements, with several soap operas featuring at least one family of color, but there is still room for improvement.

Soaps began making strides towards representation for families of color as early as the 1980s. The Hubbards of ABC’s All My Children and the Carvers of the NBC/Peacock soap opera Days of Our Lives were two of the earliest Black families on an American daytime drama. Similarly, NBC’s Generations (1989-1991) was groundbreaking in that it was the first soap opera to feature a Black-American family from its inception.

Other efforts to diversify soaps included Black families, such as the Wards of ABC’s General Hospital, the Avants of the 2010s on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful, and the Boudreaux’s of Guiding Light, also on CBS. The Santos family of ABC’s All My Children was a step toward representation for Hispanic families. Further strides were made in 2026 with the debut of Beyond the Gates on CBS, the first daytime drama to feature a predominantly African-American cast since Generations and the first new soap opera to debut on network television since NBC’s Passions (1999-2008).

10. Family: Dupree | Duration: 2025-present | Soap: Beyond the Gates | Network: CBS

First up, we have the wealthy African-American Dupree family of Beyond the Gates. The family is led by patriarch Vernon (Clifton Davis), a retired senator, and matriarch Anita (Tamara Tunie), a former singer and actress. Together, they have two daughters, Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) and Dani (Karla Mosley). Eldest Nicole is a psychiatrist at Garland Memorial Hospital in Fairmont Crest, and Dani is a former model.

Each of the Dupree daughters has two children. Nicole has a son, Martin (Brandon Claybon), and a daughter, Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad), from her marriage to Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson), and Dani has two daughters, Naomi Hamilton-Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) and Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla), from her marriage to Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Both women have weathered struggles, including infidelity that led to the destruction of their marriages, but their Dupree courage got them through it.

Bill cheated on Dani several times throughout their marriage, most recently with his current wife and Naomi’s former friend, Hayley Lawson-Hamilton (Marquita Goings), whom he wed shortly after divorcing Dani. She has since moved on with photographer Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman). They had a drunken wedding in Las Vegas, but realized they loved each other. Nicole seemed to have the perfect marriage with Ted, but learns a few months into the soap’s run that he had cheated on her years prior. At the time they conceived Kat, their miracle second baby, whom they thought they would never have, Ted had an affair with a woman named Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant), which resulted in a child, Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle).

At the time of the revelation, Nicole was seeing Leslie as a patient, unaware of her history with Ted. Eva, who was told her whole life that Ted abandoned her, went along with Leslie’s plan to destroy Nicole’s family by working as Nicole’s assistant. Ted was shocked to learn Eva was his daughter, as he thought Leslie had an abortion after being threatened by Bill, who was trying to protect Ted’s family. Eva, although she loves her mother and stands by her, begins to regret her actions and mends fences with Ted and Martin. However, her scheme leads to a bitter rivalry with half-sister Kat that continues to this day.

Martin is happily married to journalist Bradley “Smitty” Smith, and they have two adopted children: son Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) and daughter Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson). Their union is briefly disrupted by Martin’s secret that he killed someone in self-defense two years prior and covered it up with the help of Anita and Vernon, which he is forced to admit to when his enemies go after their children. Tyrell and Samantha’s birth mother, June (Jasmine Burke), who gave them up when she couldn’t take care of them due to her drug addiction, reappears in their lives early in the soap’s run and makes amends, forming a mutual respect with Martin and Smitty as their real parents.

Naomi is married to a robbery and homicide detective, Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges). Both are committed to their marriage as well as careers, and are initially content with not having children, a decision they made together before marrying. Their happiness is briefly interrupted when Naomi’s period is late, which ends up being a false alarm. Jacob has a change of heart and begins to wonder what it would be like to have a child with Naomi, which frustrates her as she feels Jacob is backing out of their agreement. The couple is now seeing a couple’s therapist and seems to be back on track, sticking to their original plan of not having a child.

Social media influencers Kat and Chelsea have exciting love lives as well. Kat is dating attorney Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria). Their relationship is briefly interrupted by Tomas’ infidelity with Eva, but she forgives him. Chelsea is dating Dr. Madison Montgomery (Kenjah), and their relationship survives the meddling of an obsessed fan, Allison Bailey (Brianna Roberts), who kidnaps Chelsea so that known one else can have her. Together, the two own a business, ChelseaKat, which Chelsea briefly takes a step back from after the kidnapping.

Currently, the Duprees and their extended family are rallying around Anita after her diagnosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, an aggressive form of breast cancer that affects Black women at higher rates than others. Luckily, her doctors caught it early during an annual checkup, and she has begun treatment. Due to the nature of the cancer, which tends to grow and spread faster, the rest of the Dupree family is being tested for the BRCA gene, which is genetic, so they can take measures to prevent developing different forms of cancer. Kat, however, refuses to get tested, as she doesn’t want to live in fear. Nicole was negative, but unfortunately, Dani has the gene, and now Naomi and Chelsea need to be tested. Throughout everything, the Duprees are adjusting to their new normal as a family, never letting anything break their unit.

9. Family: Marshall | Duration: 1989-1991 | Soap: Generations | Network: NBC

The upper-middle-class African-American Marshalls were the main family of NBC’s Generations. Living in Chicago, the family was led by patriarch Henry (Taurean Blacque; James Reynolds) and matriarch Ruth Marshall (Joan Pringle). Henry built an empire out of an ice cream business and was a rival of Martin Jackson (Rick Fitts).

Other members of the Marshall family were Vivian Potter (Lynn Hamilton), Ruth’s mother. Ruth had another child from a previous relationship with Peter Whitmore (Ron Harper), daughter Chantal Marshall (Sharon Brown; Debbi Morgan), but she was raised as Henry and Ruth’s child. Chantel was an attorney who served as the Assistant District Attorney of Cook County. Together, Henry and Ruth have a daughter, Jacquelyn Marshall-Rhymes, and Adam Marshall (Kristoff St. John). Jacquelyn was a homemaker, and Adam was a junior executive within the Hale Hotel empire.

Jacquelyn was married to Kevin Rhymes and had two children, son Darren and daughter Lizzie Rhymes. Adam had a daughter, Danielle Marshall, through his affair with Dooren Jackson (Jonelle Allen). He was also romantically involved with Maya Reubans (Vivica A. Fox).

Henry met Ruth while she was pregnant with Chantel. He is the founder and co-owner of the family-owned business, Marshall’s Ice Cream, along with his wife, Ruth, and later Martin. They run five ice cream parlors on the South side of Chicago with the help of Rebecca Whitmore (Patricia Crowley; Dorothy Lyman). He serves as the voice of reason for his family, encouraging Adam to finish college, and is disappointed when he doesn’t want to go to graduate school. He also consoles Chantal, who says that her work is interfering with her personal life.

Martin expresses interest in going into business with Henry, who has Rebecca go over Martin’s proposal. He refuses to go along with Martin's business plan. While playing pool, Martin agrees to help refurbish Henry's Southside ice cream plant if Henry wins the game and agrees to move the plant to the suburbs if he wins. Ultimately, Henry wins, and Martin is upset that he has to go through with his offer to improve the Southside plant. Henry and Martin sign a partnership agreement.

Vivian raised Ruth as a single mother and moved to Chicago after her husband died. At the start of the series, she is taking college courses. Ruth was a co-owner of Marshall’s Ice Cream at the start of the series, but later sold 50% of her ownership to Marin.

Chantel takes on a case in which football player Eric Royal (Randy Brooks) is accused of running over a homeless woman while drunk driving. Eric insists he wasn’t drunk at the time of the accident, but Chantel goes for the maximum sentence and succeeds. However, Eric is diagnosed with hypoglycemia, which made him appear drunk at the time of the accident. Chantel steps down as District Attorney in order to get Eric’s conviction overturned, and wins the case. Chantel and Eric begin dating and later get engaged.

8. Family: Russell | Duration: 1999-2008 | Soap: Passions | Network: NBC/DirecTV TV

The African-American Russell family was a strong presence on Passions throughout its entire run. Debuting in the July 5, 1999, premiere episode, the family originally consisted of four members: the married couple Eve (Tracey Ross) and T. C. Russell (Rodney Van Johnson), and their children Whitney (Brook Kerr) and Simone (Lena Cardwell; Chrystee Pharris; Cathy Jenéen Doe). The Russells are one of the four core families in the fictional town of Harmony, New England, and are characterized by their close friendship with the Bennetts and Lopez-Fitzgeralds, as well as their ongoing feud with the Cranes.

As the series progressed, four more characters were added to the family: Eve's vengeful, adoptive sister Liz Sanbourne (Amelia Marshall); Eve's child with Julian Crane (Ben Masters), Vincent Clarkson/Valerie Davis (Phillip Jeanmarie/Daphnée Duplaix); Whitney's husband and Liz's son, Chad Harris-Crane; and Eve's aunt Irma Johnson. Most of the characters left during the show's transition from NBC to DirecTV, leaving Eve and Vincent/Valerie as the only representatives of the Russell family in the series finale. Vincent/Valerie made history as the first significant intersex character on an American soap opera, drawing positive attention for the soap’s representation of LGBTQIA+ people of color.

Eve is the matriarch of the Russell family and a respected doctor at Harmony Hospital. Her early storylines focus on her attempts to keep her past alcohol and drug abuse, and her relationship and child with Julian, a secret from her family and the rest of Harmony. Following the revelation of her past, she was characterized mainly through the rekindling of her romance with Julian and her tense relationship with their child, Vincent/Valerie.

The patriarch of the Russell family, T.C., is characterized by his violent temper and hatred of Julian Crane for supposedly injuring him in a hit-and-run attack and destroying his chances of becoming a professional tennis player. T. C. is initially portrayed as a harsh and unforgiving parent, pushing Whitney to train to be a tennis champion, as he once wanted to be, and he disapproves of her relationship with Chad Harris-Crane, feeling it is a distraction. He is also violent with Simone when she reveals she is a lesbian. After learning about Eve's past relationship with Julian and her responsibility for the car crash that ended his tennis career, T. C. files for divorce and has a brief romance and engagement to her adoptive sister, Liz Sanbourne. In 2007, he moved to New Orleans to help Whitney with her pregnancy and reconnect with Simone.

Simone is the youngest daughter of Eve and T. C. Russell, and is initially always seen in her older sister, Whitney’s, shadow. She is first introduced as a part of a love triangle with Whitney and Chad, but receives more prominence after she announces she is a lesbian and begins a relationship with Rae Thomas (Jossara Jinaro). She is the first African-American lesbian character to appear in a daytime serial, and Passions made history as the first daytime serial to show two women having sex in bed. T. C. beats her after hearing about her relationship with Rae, but after much resistance, her family eventually supports her sexual identity. After learning Vincent killed Rae, Simone decides to leave Harmony with her sister to help her with her pregnancy and to settle in New Orleans.

The oldest daughter of Eve and T. C. Russell, Whitney is introduced as a close friend of Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald Crane (Lindsay Korman), but she became prominent on the show as the love interest of Chad Harris-Crane. When Chad is incorrectly identified as Eve and Julian's son, his relationship with Whitney is judged to be incestuous. Whitney's confusion about her relationship with Chad and her shame at possibly committing incest escalates after she becomes pregnant and gives birth to their son, Miles Harris-Crane. The discovery of Chad's birth certificate proves the couple are not blood relatives, allowing them to resume their relationship and marry. Whitney leaves Chad after discovering his affair with Vincent Clarkson, and their later reconciliation is cut short when he is murdered by Alistair Crane.

Vincent/Valerie is Eve and Julian's child, and is later revealed to be the blackmailer and serial rapist of the show's 2007 summertime extravaganza. In the show's final episode on NBC, Vincent is revealed to be intersex and Valerie Davis is shown to be his alter ego. After the program moved to DirecTV, Vincent's storylines focused on his plan to torment Eve out of revenge for failing to prevent his abduction at birth, his sexual relationship with Julian, and his pregnancy with his father's child. Vincent teams up with Viki Chatsworth to kill the main characters at the rehearsal dinner for a mass marriage of four of the show's couples. Vincent and Viki are arrested after Tabitha Lenox sacrifices her magic to revive everyone.

7. Family: Grant | Duration: 1989-1996 | Soap: Guiding Light | Network: CBS

The Grant family of CBS’s Guiding Light had a brief but significant impact on the soap’s history. The four main family members were Gilly (Amelia Marshall), Vivian (Petronia Paley), Charles Grant (Ron Foster; David Wolos-Fonteno), and David Grant (Monti Sharp; Russell Curry; Terrell Tilford). By 2006, all family members of the Grant family were phased out of Guiding Light with the departure of Charles.

Gilly is the daughter of Griffin Williams (Geoffrey C. Ewing) and Vivian. She was raised to believe she was Charles’ daughter and nearly had a sexual relationship with Griffin before Vivian revealed the truth of her parentage. Gilly has two siblings: maternal half-brother David and paternal half-brother Marcus Williams (Kevin Mambo). Her most significant romantic relationship was with Hampton Speaks (Vince Williams), and they were married from 1992-94. Gilly was a spitfire and a professional woman whose defining characteristic was her ambition and desire to protect her family.

The son of Charles and Vivian Grant, David was originally the black sheep of the Grant family. In comparison to his TV Reporter Gilly, he seemed like a failure, leading to a contentious relationship between the siblings. David and Gilly’s dynamic was a major element of the storylines for the Grant family, placing them at the center of the Springfield drama in the 1990s.

During his first residency in Springfield, David served time for a crime he committed and was tried for a murder he did not commit. He was well-liked in the community and was especially close to Bridget Reardon (Melissa Hayden), Lucy Cooper (Sonia Satra), and Buzz Cooper (Justin Deas). His best-known storyline during this time was his star-crossed romance with Kat Speakes (Nia Long), which brought him into conflict with her father, Hampton, who was also married to Gilly.

Dr. Charles Grant was big on the Springfield scene during the 90s. He was appointed chief of staff at Cedar’s Hospital in 1996. Despite a hectic job, he always tried to put family first. He and Gilly often argued about how to raise the children, especially David, who was constantly in trouble, causing Charles and Gilly to worry. David and Gilly were charged with a murder they didn’t commit, but were eventually found innocent.

Vivian had a happy marriage with Charles for most of her time on Guiding Light, but she had deep secrets that soon came to light. When Griffin came to town, Charles befriended him, unaware of Vivian's history with him. It soon came out that Gilly was really the daughter of Griffin, not Charles. To Vivian’s surprise, Charles already knew all this because he'd had a blood test done on Gilly when she was born. The revelations led to the breakdown of their marriage, but they eventually found their way back to each other, remarrying before leaving Springfield.

6. Family: Andrade | Duration: 1984-1993 | Soap: Santa Barbara | Network: NBC

The Hispanic Andrade family had a brief prominence on NBC’s Santa Barbara during its early years. The family consisted of patriarch Rosa (Margarita Cordova), Ruben (Ismael 'East' Carlo), their daughter Santana (Ava Lazar; Margaret Michaels; Gina Gallego; Wanda De Jesus), and their son Danny (Rupert Ravens). All four were original characters created for the soap and debuted during its premiere week.

A fiery Mexican heroine, Santana started as a maid for the rich Capwell family, whose beloved son Channing Jr. was murdered in 1979. Now, five years later, Santana was enraged when Joe Perkins (Dane Witherspoon; Mark Arnold), the accused killer of Channing Jr., was released from prison. So angry, in fact, that she pulled a gun on Joe from a distance. She was quietly halted by Mason Capwell (Lane Davies; Terry Lester; Gordon Thomson), Channing's half-brother.

Santana has a brief but impactful romantic relationship with C.C. (Channing Creighton) Capwell (Peter Mark Richman; Paul Burke; Charles Bateman; Jed Allan). In 1992, just as C.C. was about to rekindle his relationship with Sophia Capwell (Rosemary Forsyth; Judith McConnell), Santana told him that she was pregnant with his child. After Santana nearly had an abortion, C.C. proposed to Santana, to which she accepted. However, during their wedding rehearsal, Santana miscarried the baby, which left her devastated. Santana ended her relationship with C.C. and moved to New York City to start a new life.

Youngest Andrade child, Danny, was part of the very first teen set on the show. Danny and his friends sought fame in Hollywood and even opened a hotel. He was involved with Jade Perkins (Melissa Reeves), but their relationship was eventually phased out. By 1985, Danny was almost forgotten. He returned briefly on a couple of occasions, only to exit the show permanently in 1986.

Rosa, a maid to the wealthy Capwell family, was always there for the Capwell kids as a surrogate mother, their real mother (Sophia) presumed to be dead. Ruben worked at the Capwell mansion as a gardener and did not have much of a role during his short stay on the show. He departed in February 1985 after roughly six months on the soap.

Rosa continued to mention Ruben, apparently still working on the Capwell grounds. She departed the soap in 1987 without explanation. Rosa returned in 1991 as a love interest for Rafael Castillo (Henry Darrow; Castullo Guerra). She remained a regular on Santa Barbara until the series finale in 1993, becoming the only member of the Andrade family to do so. Ruben was not mentioned at the time of Rosa’s return, other than her brief explanation that he had abandoned her.

5. Family: Ashford | Duration: 2012-present | Soap: General Hospital | Network: ABC

The African-American Ashford family of General Hospital has made a significant impact in Port Charles since their introduction in 2012. The first member of the family to be introduced is T.J. (Krys Meyer; Tequan Richmond; Tajh Bellow), a rebellious teenager who becomes romantically involved with Molly Lansing-Davis (Haley Pullos). The family is expanded with the introduction of T.J.’s mother, Jordan (Vinessa Antoine; Briana Nicole Henry; Tanisha Harper), his uncle, Curtis (Donnell Turner), and Trina Robinson (Tiana Le; Sydney Mikayla; Tabyana Ali), Curtis’s daughter.

T.J. travels to Port Charles from Baltimore, Maryland, to live with Shawn Butler (Sean Blakemore) after Jordan sends him away when she can’t handle him anymore. She gives him the choice to live with Shawn or be sent to military school. Shawn moves T.J. in with him at Kelly's Diner and enrolls him in Port Charles High, where he befriends Molly Lansing, who tutors him when he has trouble reading. Due to T.J.’s reputation, Molly’s mother, attorney Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn), disapproves of the relationship, forcing them to date in secret. After much begging and Shawn's support, T.J. and Molly get their parents' blessing to continue seeing each other.

In 2023, Molly and T.J. anticipated their first child via a surrogate, as Molly learns she can’t get pregnant, but the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Resolute, they decided to try again with Molly's sister, Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi) as the surrogate and egg donor. However, Kristina grows closer to the child during her pregnancy, making Molly and T.J. worry she may try to keep the baby after its birth, which she could do as they didn’t sign any documents. Sadly, they lose the baby in August 2024 after Kristina falls several stories from a window at the Metro Court Hotel following a confrontation with Ava Jerome (Maura West). The nonstop tragedy becomes too much for Molly and T.J., and they break up shortly after.

Much to the surprise of T.J. and Shawn, Jordan arrives in Port Charles in mid-March to reconnect with her son. She lets Shawn and T.J. know that she has decided to stay in town. Eventually, Jordan and Shawn revealed to T.J. their past affair and the truth about his father Tommy’s death: Shawn killed him in self-defense when Tommy learned of the affair; he didn’t die in battle. This revelation led T.J. to question Shawn's loyalty, but he eventually reconciled with both of them. After Shawn is sent to prison in 2016, Jordan begins a relationship with T.J.’s uncle and Tommy’s brother, Curtis.

Jordan and Curtis got married in 2018 and had a reception on the Haunted Star. Their celebration is interrupted when they find the body of Kiki Jerome (Hayley Erin) in their bedroom, left by Ryan Chamberlain (Jon Lindstrom) after he murdered her. Jordan and private investigator Curtis are forced to work on their wedding night when they question suspects. Jordan’s career proves to be a major obstacle in their relationship when TJ is kidnapped, but only Jordan and the police department are aware of the situation, as she can’t inform him of work matters. Curtis can’t accept that Jordan’s job forces her to keep things from him, and they divorce when he learns the truth.

Curtis moves on with Dr. Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr), and they eventually get engaged. He also becomes close to Trina, Portia’s daughter with Marcus Taggert (Réal Andrews). However, after learning that she is actually Curtis’s daughter through Portia’s affair, Trina reveals this information at the wedding reception in front of the whole party. Trina wants nothing to do with either of them, refusing to compromise her bond with Taggert, and Curtis leaves Portia. However, after several months, they both forgive Portia and form a a happy family.

In 2025, Portia compromises her family when she is forced to lie to Curtis again, after Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) threatens to reveal that Portia changed Heather Webber’s (Alley Mills) test results to keep her in prison so that she can’t hurt her family. When Curtis finds out, he is angry but stays with her so that they can’t testify against each other in court when Drew is shot, and the police try to find the shooter. Curtis plans to divorce her as soon as the trial is over, but has a change of heart when he learns she’s pregnant. When Portia is on the stand, she is forced to confess that she was with Dr. Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) the night of Drew’s shooting, calling the baby’s paternity into question. Trina and Curtis ice her out again after the revelation.

Trina’s most significant storyline was her romantic relationship with Spencer Cassadine (Nicholas Chavez). Their flirtation is interrupted by his mentally unstable girlfriend, Esme Prince (Avery Kristen Pohl), who tries to keep Trina from Spencer and ruin her life. Esme plants a camera while on a trip with Spencer, Trina, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy), and Cameron Webber (William Lipton) in a bedroom where Joss and Cam plan to lose their virginity to each other, and frames Trina. Spencer and Trina finally confess their love to each other while being held captive by Spencer’s Grandfather, Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy). Spencer saves Trina’s life when Esme tries to kill her in Paris, but Spencer is presumed dead along with Esme, devastating Trina.

4. Family: Carver | Duration: 1981-present | Soap: Days of Our Lives | Network: NBC/Peacock

The African-American Carver family on Days of Our Lives has been making a significant impact in Salem since their introduction in the 1980s. This legacy family spans four generations and began with the marriage of Rita (Lynn Hamilton) and the late Benjamin Carver. Together, they had four children: Abe (James Reynolds), Theodore (Rusty Cundieff), Jonah (Bumper Robinson; Thyme Lewis), and Karen.

Retired police commissioner and mayor Abe Carver is considered the heart and soul of the Carver family, and, by some, all of Salem. Arguably, his most significant arc is his supercouple romance with Lexie Carver (Cyndi James Gossett; Angelique Francis; Shellye Broughton; Renee Jones). They got married in 1991, and began the process of adoption when they learn they were unable to conceive a child.

Abe and Lexie adopted a son and named him Isacc, but they learned that he was the child of Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso) when his birth father came to town to claim him. Abe and Lexie fought to keep Issac, but when Abe saw what this was doing to Lexie, he signed over custody. They finally got their miracle baby in 2003 when Lexie got pregnant and gave birth to Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews), At the time of his birth, Lexie had been having an affair with her stepson, Brandon Walker (Matt Cedeño), and his paternity is in question. DNA testing ultimately confirms Abe as Theo's father, and he is named after Abe's late brother Theo.

Dr. Lexie Carver is the daughter of international criminal Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) and Celeste Perrault (Tanya Boyd), but she was raised to believe that her aunt Grace and Grace's husband are her biological parents. A major aspect of Lexie’s character is her desire to break free of her father’s influence and become a better person, which Abe helps her do. In 2012, Lexie discovered she had an inoperable brain tumor as a result of extended exposure to fumes like those present in the underground tunnels where Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) kept Lexie prisoner. After spending her last months with the people she loves, Lexie died in Abe's arms while the two of them sat together in their garden. Abe found love again in 2022 when he married Paulina Price Carver (Jackee Harry), and they adopted a daughter, Lani Price Grant.

In June 2008, a three-year-old Theo is diagnosed with autism, which puts a strain on the Carvers' marriage. Lexie later walks away from her position at the hospital to spend more time with Theo. In the fall of 2008, Abe decides to run for mayo,r and the parents struggle with the idea of forcing Theo to live a life in the public eye. In December 2008, Theo runs away from Lexie and gets lost, but Bo tracks the boy down and brings him home. In 2009, Theo starts making progress with his condition when he acknowledges Abe and Lexie as his parents for the first time.

These days, Theo leads the younger generation of the Carver family on Days of Our Lives. As a teen, he had a relationship with Ciara Brady Weston (Victoria Konefal), whom he carried a torch for even after she married Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson). When he returned to Salem in 2025, he spent Thanksgiving with Abe, Paulina, and the DiMeras. Later, while on a call with Abe, Theo is kidnapped and taken to the DiMera Crypt, where he comes across Tony (Thaao Penghlis), Kristen (Stacy Haiduk), and Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn; Conner Floyd). Theo was instrumental in rescuing them, providing intel to Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering).

3. Family: Panesar | Duration: 2020-present | Soap: EastEnders | Network: BBC

The South-Asian Panesar family of EastEnders has been making waves in Walford throughout the 2020s. The family is currently represented on the canvas by Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal), Parvinder "Vinny" Panesar (Shiv Jalota), Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), Ravi’s son Davinder Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), Ravi’s daughter Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), and Suki’s wife, Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace). In the years since her introduction, Suki has developed from an antagonist into a character with some vulnerability.

Suki’s “torrid” relationship with Ash Panesar (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha), her daughter with Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), was a central part of the Panesars' initial storylines. Suki and Ash’s When she arrives in Walford, Ash describes Suki as "a nasty, evil, lying narcissist who wraps everyone around her little finger" to her girlfriend, Iqra Ahmed (Priya Davdra). It transpires that their issues arose due to Suki disapproving of Ash being bisexual.

Suki arrives in Walford, claiming to have cancer and wanting to make up with Ash, telling her that she does not want to die with her only daughter hating her. Suki befriends Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), who is undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, and recites information about Jean's cancer to pass off as her own. Suki's "conniving streak" soon makes Ash realise that Suki is faking having cancer; she eventually admits that she faked it to bring her feuding family back together before their father is released from prison. Other significant storylines for Suki include coming to terms with her bisexuality through her relationship with Eve, and the return of her abusive husband, Nish. On New Year’s Day 2025, Nish tries to stop the wedding, but he is killed, allowing Suki and Eve to say their vows and start their life together.

Suki and Nish’s son, Kheerat Panesar (Jaz Singh Deol), arrives in Walford in 2019. He is the brother of Ash, Ravi and the late Jags Panesar (Amar Adatia). One of his earliest storylines revolved around his attempts to reunite Ash with the family after she disowned them for being unsupportive of her decision to have an abortion when she was younger, and judging her for her bisexuality. When Suki’s cancer lie is revealed, he stands by his mother. Kheerat leaves Walford in 2022 when he confesses to the murder of Ranveer Gulati (Anil Goutam) to protect Suki.

Ash arrives in Walford in 2019 and is involved in a romantic relationship with Iqra Ahmed (Priya Davdra). When she introduces Iqra to Kheerat, who is trying to repair his relationship with Ash, he disapproves of her dating a Muslim. In early 2021, Ash and Iqra broke up after growing apart. Ash starts a relationship with Eve, and her relationship with Suki is further strained when Eve starts dating Suki after her breakup with Ash. In 2023, Ash leaves Walford and moves to Canada after accepting a job offer.

Jags arrives in Walford around the same time as Ash and Kheerat. Jags develops a relationship with Habiba Ahmed (Rukku Naha), although he is not happy about her wanting to keep it a secret. When he finally tells his family about their relationship, Suki doesn't seem to be happy. Jags is framed for the robbery of Ruby's Nightclub and the assault of Martin Fowler (James Bye) by Suki. Jags goes to prison, and the Panesars later learn that he has been killed in an attack in his cell.

Nish is released from prison in 2022, and his arrival shakes Suki’s usual tough exterior. He is hellbent on getting his family back, including his marriage to Suki, which forces her to put his blossoming relationship with Eve on hold. When Suki returns from Mumbai, she comes face-to-face with Nish, and he manipulates her into giving their marriage another go.

In 2024, he falsely confesses to the murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), in exchange for Suki promising not to marry Eve. Suki goes along with her wedding to Suki anyway, but Nish interrupts the ceremony. Attempting to attack Suki, he is pushed off a hotel roof by Ravi and dies.

2. Family: Hubbard | Duration: 1981-88; 1994-95; 2001-02; 2008-2011; 2013 | Soap: All My Children | Network: ABC

The African-American Hubbard family began with the pairing of supercouple Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams) and Angie Baxter (Debbie Morgan) on All My Children in the 1980s. Police Chief Jesse Hubbard first appeared in Pine Valley in 1981 as the nephew of Dr. Frank Grant (John Danelle), who assumed custody after the death of Jesse's mother. Dr. Angie Baxter (later Hubbard) first appeared in 1982 as the daughter of a well-to-do Pine Valley couple, Les (Antonio Fargas), and Pat Baxter (Lee Chamberlin).

Shortly after Angie's first appearance on the show, they were paired with one another, becoming the first African American supercouple in Daytime history. Jesse and Angie were best friends to fellow supercouple Greg Nelson (Laurence Lau) and Jenny Gardner (Kim Delaney). They are arguably the two most popular African American characters in soap opera history and have been credited for improving African American representation in the genre.

One of their earliest and significant storylines was when Angie supported Jesse after he was accused of attempted rape by Liza Colby (Marcy Walker). Jesse went to Liza to convince her to stop trying to come between Greg and Jenny, and Liza claimed Jesse tried to rape her to get him out of the way. At the last minute, Liza confessed to lying about the attempted rape before Jesse could be charged.

Jesse and Angie got married in 1983, shortly before Angie got pregnant with their child. When Angie learns that Jesse doesn’t want to be a father for a few more years, she divorces him without revealing her pregnancy. After she gives birth, the baby is adopted by a couple.

Jesse is distraught with Angie for not telling him about their baby boy and for giving him up. When Angie begs him to take her back and to forgive her, they search for their son together. They locate and kidnap him, then flee to Sea City. The couple names the baby after Jesse's uncle Frank, who had died just before the child's birth. After Jesse and Angie convince a judge to give custody of the baby back to them because Angie's father forged Jesse's signature, they remarry.

Jesse “dies” in 1988 after joining the Pine Valley Police Department, leaving Angie devastated. While in the line of duty, Jesse takes a bullet meant for wealthy businessman John Remington (Eddie Earl Hatch), whose life is apparently being threatened. Despite receiving prompt medical attention, Jesse is pronounced dead a few days later.

Jesse is found alive by Angie 20 years later at the Pine Valley Train Station. Jesse explains to Angie (and later to Frankie) that he was kidnapped and that his abductors faked his death. He was brutally beaten, and the lives of Angie and Frankie were threatened in the process. Eventually, one of his captors took him to the woods and dug a grave in which Jesse was about to be buried. Jesse managed to turn the tables on the captor, kill him in self-defense, and bury him in that same hole.

Frankie (Cornelius Smith Jr.) begins a romance with Randi Morgan (Denise Vasi), a former prostitute, and they get married in 2009. Angie learned she was losing her sight due to treating a young boy without personal protective equipment. When she learns she is pregnant, she stops treatment to avoid harming the baby and becomes legally blind, but their child, Ellie, is stillborn. Jesse swaps their daughter for a newborn who was left in a police car, and Angie is none the wiser. Angie slowly gets her sight back, and their child’s birth mother, Maya, becomes the Hubbards’ nanny. Jesse can’t bear to watch Angie fall more in love with a child that isn’t hers and reveals the truth, devastating her. Maya leaves with the baby, and despite her broken heart, Angie forgives Jesse.

1. Family: Winters | Duration: 1991-present | Soap: The Young and the Restless | Network: CBS

The African-American Winters family of The Young and the Restless spans three generations. The family began with the popular pairing of matriarch Drucilla (Victoria Rowell) and patriarch Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John). The Winters family is now represented largely by their children, daughter Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) and son Devon Hamilton-Winters (Bryton James).

Neil and Drucilla were the first leading African-American couple on The Young and the Restless. During their first marriage, Dru was raped by Neil’s half-brother, Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore), and became pregnant. Despite her uncertainty over Lily’s paternity, she lets Neil believe he is the father and chooses not to get a paternity test. More than a decade later, it’s finally revealed that Lily is Malcolm’s daughter. However, she still considers Neil her dad, and they remain close.

In 2007, Dru is presumed dead after falling off a cliff during a struggle with Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), who was trying to ruin her friend Sharon Newman’s (Sharon Case) marriage to Nicholas Newman (Joshua Morrow). Phyllis was threatening to reveal Sharon’s affair with Brad Carlton (Don Diamont), and a brief struggle causes both Dru and Sharon to fall off the cliff, immediately sending Dru into the shallow waters below. An injured Sharon is later found, but search and rescue teams only find the remains of Dru's jacket, and she is presumed dead.

One of Lily’s most significant storylines was her supercouple romance with Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei), son of Phyllis Summers and Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). Inspired by Romeo and Juliet, the plots they were featured in included a "going on the run" story, a teenage marriage, and Internet pornography. Dru, Neil, and Phyllis didn’t approve of the relationship, partly due to Phyllis and Dru’s feud. They were put up against further obstacles, with Daniel being wrongly accused of driving under the influence and killing Cassie Newman (Camryn Grimes), daughter of Sharon and Nick. His imminent arrest sent Daniel and Lily on the run. They traveled from the Young and the Restless setting, Genoa City, Wisconsin, to Los Angeles.

When Dru and Neil threatened to send Lily back to boarding school, they ran away to Las Vegas to get married. Being underage, they forged their parents’ signatures so they could be married. Cracks quickly begin to show when Daniel becomes addicted to internet pornography, and they divorce. Lily’s next romance is with Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard; Billy Flynn), whom she marries and has two kids with: twins Charlie and Mattie, in 2010. Cane is believed to have died in 2019, but returns in 2025, revealing he faked his death.

Devon Hamilton-Winters gets adopted by Neil and Dru as a teen after growing up with a drug addict mother. After his adoption is finalized, he loses his hearing after being diagnosed with meningitis, and Dru is presumed dead. In 2012, he got his hearing back after undergoing a successful surgery. He has a supercouple romance with Hilary Curtis (Mishael Morgan), but she tragically dies with their unborn child in 2018. Devon is currently married to Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway).

Aside from having a child with Dru, Malcolm had a popular romance with Olivia Winters (Tonya Williams). Their romance was disrupted by Malcolm’s affair with Keesha Monroe (Wanda Acuna; Jennifer Gatti), who was HIV positive. Malcolm got tested and was negative, but Olivia couldn’t forgive him for endangering her son, Nathan Hastings. However, Keesha developed aids and had only months to live. They got married shortly before she succumbed to the illness, and Keesha died peacefully with Malcolm at her bedside.

Neil was killed off in 2019 after the death of St. John. In the storyline, Devon found out Neil died in his sleep from a stroke. The soap pulled out all the stops for Neil’s tribute, and Moore returned as Malcolm to honor St. John after nearly five years since his last stint. At Neil's funeral, Malcolm gives a tearful and emotional eulogy stating that while his relationship with his brother wasn't always perfect, he always had an unconditional love and admiration for him, and thanked Neil for all he's done for him and given him. After comforting everyone at the house, Malcolm heads back on the road, promising to stay in touch.