Love of Life (1951)
A landmark American daytime serial that captivated CBS audiences for nearly three decades.
Love of Life - Series Information
- Original Title: Love of Life
- First Air Year: 1951
- Last Air Year: 1980
- Created by: Roy Winsor
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Soap
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 3
- Number of Episodes: 219
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: CBS
Love of Life - Plot
Love of Life is an American soap opera which aired on CBS from September 24, 1951, to February 1, 1980. It was created by Roy Winsor, whose previous creation Search for Tomorrow had premiered three weeks before Love of Life, and who would go on to create The Secret Storm two and a half years later.
Where to Watch Love of Life
Looking for where to watch Love of Life?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
Love of Life - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Roy Winsor
Main Cast
- Bonnie Bartlett
- Ron Tomme
- Audrey Peters
- Hugh Franklin
- Jocelyn Brando
- Jerry Lacy
- Roy Scheider
- Bert Convy
- Season Hubley
- David Rounds
Writers
- Don Ettlinger
Love of Life - FAQs
Did Love of Life launch any notable acting careers?
Absolutely. Love of Life served as an early platform for several actors who went on to major fame. Roy Scheider, later celebrated for Jaws and The French Connection, appeared on the show, as did Bert Convy, Marsha Mason, Irene Cara, and John Aniston — father of Jennifer Aniston.
What is Love of Life about?
Love of Life centered on the lives, loves, and conflicts of characters in a small American community, following the classic soap opera formula of interwoven personal dramas, romantic entanglements, and moral dilemmas. Its long run on CBS made it one of the defining examples of the daytime serial format.
How long did Love of Life run on CBS?
Love of Life had an extraordinary run of nearly 29 years, airing on CBS from September 24, 1951, to February 1, 1980. That remarkable longevity made it one of the longest-running soap operas in American television history and a cornerstone of daytime programming.
Who created Love of Life?
Roy Winsor created Love of Life. He was a prolific architect of early American daytime television, having also created Search for Tomorrow just three weeks before Love of Life premiered, and later The Secret Storm. His work helped define the soap opera genre during its formative years.
Where can you watch Love of Life today?
Streaming availability for Love of Life is limited given its age, but you can check JustWatch for the most current viewing options in your region. Some classic soap opera archives and dedicated vintage TV platforms occasionally surface episodes from long-running daytime serials of this era.
Is Love of Life connected to other classic soap operas?
Yes, through its creator Roy Winsor. Love of Life shares creative DNA with Search for Tomorrow and The Secret Storm, all three conceived by Winsor. Fans of classic daytime serials may also enjoy All My Children, Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and Knots Landing.
Why did Love of Life end in 1980?
CBS cancelled Love of Life in early 1980 as part of a broader shift in daytime programming strategy. By that point, newer and higher-rated soaps were dominating the schedule, and the network chose to replace the long-running serial with fresher content better suited to evolving audience tastes.
What similar shows would fans of Love of Life enjoy?
Fans of Love of Life would likely enjoy other classic daytime serials such as All My Children, Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and Dark Shadows. For more contemporary soap drama, Knots Landing and Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots offer similarly compelling character-driven storytelling.
More About Love of Life
Explore further details about Love of Life on these authoritative resources.