FILE PHOTO: Soap Stars To Hollywood Stars

(FILE PHOTO) In this composite image a comparison has been made of actor Ryan Phillippe. Many of today's leading Hollywood stars began their careers in daytime serials. As the US soap opera continues to fail, one of the traditional routes for actors to transition from small screen to box office is disappearing. In the last two years the long-running series 'All My Children,' 'As The World Turns' and the 72 year old 'Guiding Light' have all been cancelled. The final air date of the 43 year old daytime drama 'One Life to Live' on January 13, 2012 will mark the end of soap production in New York City.***(LEFT IMAGE) 1992: Actors Kelly Cheston (Alana), Ryan Phillippe (Billy) and Chris McKenna (Joey) pose for a publicity still for Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Daytime's "One Life to Live' on June 2, 1992. "One Life to Live" airs Monday-Friday, 2-3 p.m., ET, on the Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Television Network. ONE LIFE TO LIVE - Gallery - 6/2/92 (Photo by Steve Fenn/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)***(RIGHT IMAGE) NEW YORK - OCTOBER 16: Actor Ryan Phillippe and then wife Reese Witherspoon attend The Cinema Society & Zenith Watches screening after party for "Flags Of Our Fathers" at the SOHO Grand October 16, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)