When the name of Kelly Ripa is mentioned, it’s not just for her television appearances on Live with Kelly and Ryan. She has an impressive resume of on and off-screen achievements, from daytime soap opera starlet to morning show host, and as an admirable philanthropist. This article will explore, in depth, the career transition from Kelly Ripa: actress to influential game show host, and delve into the impactful legacy she and her work have left behind.
Kelly Ripa’s Soap Opera Career
Kelly Maria Ripa was born in October of 1970, and a few years later, at the age of 20, she won the role of Hayley Vaughan on the hit soap opera All My Children. Despite having no prior acting experience, she quickly won over the show’s producers and viewers with her energy and effortless charm. For the next 14 years, Kelly Ripa kept viewers hooked while watching her as a young, street-wise mother struggling to move up in the world.
Fun Facts About Kelly on All My Children
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She became the youngest ever actress to receive a Soap Opera Digest Award.
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Kelly Ripa was voted “Sexiest Female Soap Opera Star of 2003.”
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She also performed in some of the show’s original songs; one being the song “Love My Baby,” which she performed in the show’s 2001 on-air wedding ceremony.
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Kelly was even nominated for her 2005 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on All My Children.
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While on the show, she also unfortunately endured a flatlining during the taping of a 1997 episode, due to a combination of dehydration and exhaustion.
Kelly Ripa’s Transition from Soap Opera Star to Morning Show Host
In 2000, Kelly Ripa officially ended her contract with All My Children as she joined Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly, making her an overnight sensation in television entertainment news. Since then, Live! has gone on to win eight Emmy Awards, make an impact in pop culture, and even spark its own spinoff series, Strahan and Sara, in 2018.
Notable Live! Accomplishments
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Live with Regis and Kelly was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2007.
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In 2008, Ripa co-hosted the first annual American Giving Awards on NBC.
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In 2016, Kelly was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
4.Since Live with Kelly and Ryan began as a continuation of Live!, it has won six Emmy Awards.
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The show also stars as one of the first to interview President Donald J. Trump, who appeared alongside his daughter, Ivanka, in 2006.
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Additionally, since the show’s relaunch, Live with Kelly and Ryan’s entertainment reporters have justifiably been featured in a series of television and film commissions, such as in the 2017 drama film Home Again.
Kelly Ripa’s Philanthropic Endeavors
In addition to Kelly Ripa’s screen accomplishments, society must not overlook her philanthropic efforts. She has been an outspoken advocate on cancer and animal rights, as well as a benefactor of many charities.
Notable Philanthropic Activities
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In 2005, Kelly established the Orlando Puerta Memorial Fund, in memory of a close friend and award-winning theater producer.
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She has also been on the board of trustees for the Environmental Media Association for over ten years.
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Since 2010, she has been a proud supporter of Hope for Depression Research Foundation.
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In early 2019, she granted a $250,000 donation the Wounded Warrior Project.
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She has also joined forces with Alex’s Lemonade Stand to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research.
Kelly Ripa’s Legacy
Kelly Ripa made her debut as a soap opera star back in the early nineties, and almost 30 years later, her contributions are still having a lasting impact. From using her platform to speak out on important causes, to entertaining millions with her smile, Kelly Ripa is a role model that has undoubtedly served as an inspiration to many of her fans.
Kelly Ripa has had an astonishing career transition from a fresh-faced All My Children newcomer to iconic morning show host. She has achieved notable feats and even has a place in the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. Not to mention, she has also dedicated resources and her own time for philanthropic causes. For all these reasons and more, Kelly Ripa will certainly be remembered as one of the most trailblazing television stars in the game.
