'All My Children': 15 Classic Moments

01 of 15

Erica faces down a bear

All My Children, Susan Lucci | Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) has been in peril many times but nothing captured the larger-than-life qualities of the character more than the time she told

Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) has been in peril many times but nothing captured the larger-than-life qualities of the character more than the time she told a grizzy bear looming over her ''You may not do this! I am Erica Kane! And you are a filthy beast!''

02 of 15

Carol Burnett starts her arc

Carol Burnett, All My Children | The funny woman is such a fan of the show that in 1983 she gladly signed on for an role as Verla Grubbs, the long-lost — Donna Svennevik/ABC/Getty Images

The funny woman is such a fan of the show that in 1983 she gladly signed on for an role as Verla Grubbs, the long-lost daughter of Langley Wallingford (Louis Edmonds). As such she was a thorn in the side of her stepmother Phoebe Tyler-Wallingford (Ruth Warrick) but best buds with Myrtle Fairgate (Eileen Herlie, pictured). She has since returned to the show multiple times, including in the weeks before AMC's finale.

03 of 15

Pine Valley's drug-induced sex craze

All My Children, Susan Lucci | Resident evil genius Dr. David Hayward (Vincent Irizarrry, pictured) created a libido-enhancing drug called Libidizone, intending to use it to break up Tad (Michael E. — Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC/Getty Images

Resident evil genius Dr. David Hayward (Vincent Irizarrry, pictured) created a libido-enhancing drug called Libidizone, intending to use it to break up Tad (Michael E. Knight) and Dixie (Cady McClain) but he ended up drugging an entire boatload of partygoers. Before he even got that far though, he knew he had gold when he first tested it on Erica and she got more than a little feisty.

04 of 15

Kendall turns out to be Erica's daughter

Sarah Michelle Gellar, All My Children | When Kendall first came to town (in a role originated by Sarah Michelle Gellar, pictured, and later taken over by Alicia Minshew), she clearly had — Ann Limongello/ABC/Getty Images

When Kendall first came to town (in a role originated by Sarah Michelle Gellar, pictured, and later taken over by Alicia Minshew), she clearly had it in for Erica. Soon we found out that Kendall was the daughter Erica conceived after a rape at the age of 14 and had given up for adoption. To say she had some major mother issues would be an understatement.

05 of 15

Erica says goodbye to her mother

All My Children, Susan Lucci | Mona Tyler (née Kane, played by Frances Helfin) was Erica's staunchest supporter but also a frequent target of Erica's outbursts. After Mona's death from lung

Mona Tyler (née Kane, played by Frances Helfin) was Erica's staunchest supporter but also a frequent target of Erica's outbursts. After Mona's death from lung cancer Erica broke down over her mother's coffin.

06 of 15

Tad proposes to Dixie in a chicken costume

All My Children | Tad and Dixie are a fan-favorite couple for many reasons, not the least of which is that they're fun. And Tad brought that sense of — Cathy Blaivas/ABC

Tad and Dixie are a fan-favorite couple for many reasons, not the least of which is that they're fun. And Tad brought that sense of whimsy to his wedding proposal to Dixie who was finally freed from her marriage to Adam Chandler (David Canary).

07 of 15

Phoebe marries Wade

All My Children | Phoebe Wallingford's (Ruth Warrick) battles with Mona (who stole Phoebe's husband) were a cornerstone of the show's earlier years. Though Phoebe was a formidable and — ABC

Phoebe Wallingford's (Ruth Warrick) battles with Mona (who stole Phoebe's husband) were a cornerstone of the show's earlier years. Though Phoebe was a formidable and overbearing character, she was also funny. But she had a penchant for the booze and in a drunken haze married young con artist Wade Matthews. What cinched the hilarity of that wedding was Phoebe's remark that all she wanted to do afterward was call Mona and brag about it to her.

08 of 15

Tom and Brooke lose their daughter

All My Children | Brooke English (Julia Barr) and Tom Cudahy (Richard Shoberg) were one of AMC 's great on-again, off-again couples. They weren't together as couple when their — ABC

Brooke English (Julia Barr) and Tom Cudahy (Richard Shoberg) were one of AMC's great on-again, off-again couples. They weren't together as couple when their golden child Laura was killed by a drunk driver but fans felt their connection and devastation all the same.

09 of 15

Natalie spends weeks at the bottom of a well

All My Children | You gotta love a good twins story line. When Natalie's (Kate Collins) psychotic twin sister Janet came to Pine Valley, she was intent on taking — Cathy Blaivas/ABC

You gotta love a good twins story line. When Natalie's (Kate Collins) psychotic twin sister Janet came to Pine Valley, she was intent on taking over her sister's life. To that end, Janet kept Natalie at the bottom of a well for weeks on end and assumed Natalie's role with her new husband Trevor.

10 of 15

Erica has an abortion

All My Children, Susan Lucci | One of the many groundbreaking things she did to become the iconic Erica Kane was portray TV's first legal abortion the same year of the — ABC/Getty Images

One of the many groundbreaking things she did to become the iconic Erica Kane was portray TV's first legal abortion the same year of the Roe v. Wade ruling. Of course, this being a soap opera, unbeknown to Erica the fetus was actually transplanted by the doctor into his wife and they raised the boy, Josh. As an adult, Josh would go after Erica.

11 of 15

Cliff and Nina's wedding

All My Children | They had spent years overcoming the roadblocks her father Palmer Cortlandt (James Mitchell) put up, so when Dr. Cliff Warner (Peter Bergman) and Nina (Taylor — Steve Fenn/ABC/Getty Images

They had spent years overcoming the roadblocks her father Palmer Cortlandt (James Mitchell) put up, so when Dr. Cliff Warner (Peter Bergman) and Nina (Taylor Miller) finally had their storybook wedding, it was worth the wait.

12 of 15

Tad slept with Liza's mom

All My Children | Many things helped Tad earn the nickname Tad the Cad, but few were as low as when Tad slept with Marian Colby (Jennifer Bassey) while — ABC/Getty Images

Many things helped Tad earn the nickname Tad the Cad, but few were as low as when Tad slept with Marian Colby (Jennifer Bassey) while seeing her daughter Liza (Marcy Walker). Turnabout was kind of the name of the game years later, when Liza slept with Tad's son who was dating her daughter. You follow?

13 of 15

Jessie dies in front of Angie

All My Children, Darnell Williams, ... | Dr. Angie Baxter (Debbi Morgan) and her husband police officer Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams) were quite the supercouple. So the tears flowed freely when Jesse

Dr. Angie Baxter (Debbi Morgan) and her husband police officer Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams) were quite the supercouple. So the tears flowed freely when Jesse died from a gunshot wound in the line of duty while Angie looked on. But then the tears flowed again when...

14 of 15

Jesse returned!

All My Children, Darnell Williams, ... | It turns out that Jesse had just gone into hiding to protect his family. He returned 20 years later and romantically reunited with Angie on — Keysha McGrady/ABC/Getty Images

It turns out that Jesse had just gone into hiding to protect his family. He returned 20 years later and romantically reunited with Angie on a train station platform.

15 of 15

Bianca comes out to Erica

Susan Lucci, All My Children | The term ''maneater'' is frequently associated with Erica Kane. So it was with great trepidation that on Christmas Eve 2000 her daughter Bianca (then played — Virginia Sherwood/ABC/Getty Images

The term ''maneater'' is frequently associated with Erica Kane. So it was with great trepidation that on Christmas Eve 2000 her daughter Bianca (then played by Eden Reigel) told Erica that she was gay. And it didn't go over well. Erica refused to accept it and it took a lot of work and time for her to come to terms with her daughter's sexuality.