Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Guiding Light

Original title: The Guiding Light
  • TV Series
  • 1952–2009
  • TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,878
579
Guiding Light (1952)
Soap OperaDramaRomance

This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.This show took place in the fictional Midwestern town of Springfield and centered on the middle class Bauer family.

  • Creators
    • Irna Phillips
    • Thomas J. Bornkamp
  • Stars
    • Bernie Grant
    • Ed Bryce
    • Lynne Adams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,878
    579
    • Creators
      • Irna Phillips
      • Thomas J. Bornkamp
    • Stars
      • Bernie Grant
      • Ed Bryce
      • Lynne Adams
    • 32User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 106 wins & 453 nominations total

    Episodes10543

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos302

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 294
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Bernie Grant
    • Dr. Paul Fletcher…
    • 1956–1970
    Ed Bryce
    • Bill Bauer
    • 1959–1983
    Lynne Adams
    • Leslie Jackson Bauer Norris Bauer, R. N.…
    • 1966–1976
    Kay Campbell
    • Helene Benedict
    • 1957–1964
    Kim Zimmer
    Kim Zimmer
    • Reva Shayne…
    • 1983–2009
    Beth Chamberlin
    Beth Chamberlin
    • Beth Raines…
    • 1989–2009
    Barnard Hughes
    Barnard Hughes
    • Dr. Bruce Banning
    • 1961–1966
    Chase Crosley
    • Jane Fletcher Hayes, R. N.
    • 1963–1968
    John Boruff
    • Henry Benedict
    • 1962–1966
    Les Damon
    Les Damon
    • Bruce Banning
    • 1956–1960
    Michael Allen
    • Michael 'Mike' Bauer
    • 1958–1962
    Anthony D. Call
    • Dr. Joseph 'Joe' Werner…
    • 1972–1976
    Jeanne Arnold
    Jeanne Arnold
    • Ellen Mason
    • 1969–1973
    Robert Gentry
    Robert Gentry
    • Dr. Ed Bauer…
    • 1966–1998
    Maureen Garrett
    Maureen Garrett
    • Holly Norris…
    • 1976–2009
    Curt Dawson
    • Peter Chapman…
    • 1977–1980
    Sandra Smith
    Sandra Smith
    • Julie Conrad Bauer
    • 1962–1965
    Cecelia Walker
    • Laura Sarah Marler Bauer
    • 1981–1992
    • Creators
      • Irna Phillips
      • Thomas J. Bornkamp
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    6.62K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    kerpptd

    I miss Philip

    Grant's portrayal of Phillip over the years was great. I am still holding my breath for the day he come's back to Guiding Light. I know that GL cut a lot of the best cast members last year, but I hope they didn't cut out us fans of the best actors who portrayed not only Phillip Spaulding, but Ross Marler and the cutting back of Rick Bauer, Holly and Blake. Please come back Phillip- I have been a fan of Guiding Light since before you and Rick came back from boarding school and Rick changed his name. Grant, you are greatly missed, as is the character you portrayed, it is not just my hope, but that of my mother's and sister's that you come back soon. You are fondly missed, and we can't wait till you walk into the board room of Spaulding, unannounced and get into it with Allen. The story line for your return could be the best GL has had in years.
    Rick-135

    A great soap:

    I admit,I do not care for the way Paul Rauch runs this show nowadays but through-out the 80's and well into the 90's,Guiding Light was the best daytime drama out there. The 4 musketeers (Mindy,Rick,Phillip and Beth) were by far some of the best characters ever. I miss the character of Mindy Lewis played by either Krista Tesreau or Kimberley Simms and GREAT actors like Beverley McKinsey (Alex) and Michael Zaslow (Roger) and soon the very talented Wendy Monez (Dinah) will be leaving,so sad. However many great actors still remain with the show like Michael O'Leary (Rick),Grant Aleksander (Phillip),Maeve Kinkead (Vanessa) and Mary Kay Adams (India) so for the the enjoyment of watching these great actors and a few others,Guiding Light still shines (only not as bright)
    10Sylviastel

    Please watch Guiding Light and Save television history from cancellation!

    I love Guiding Light. In fact last Friday, our CBS affiliate in New York interrupted for "breaking news" within minutes of the show's finale. It's bad enough on a Friday a few minutes before the credits ran. I have watched Guiding Light for 14 years now and I am hooked. This year, CBS will decide it's fate. With only 2 million Nielson viewers, the show could be canceled and replaced with useless television talk shows which are cheaper to make. If Guiding Light and As The World Turns are canceled, daytime television would be in enormous trouble. I remember a time when New York City was the capital of the soaps but now only 4 soaps remain. I was furious with Mayor Giuliani for not preventing the cancellation of Another World in 1999. He did nothing but yet his wife appeared on the show and others as well. If Guiding Light gets canceled, Irna Phillips and Charita Bauer would be turning over in their graves over the loss. I hope CBS makes the right decision! I hope you watch the show for its continuous excellence in acting, writing, and directing. This show deserves to be recognized as a part of American history. Believe me, the Roger and Holly relationship far outweighed any couple on daytime or prime-time television. I love Doug Hutchison's portrayal of the mysterious Sebastian Hulce. I love my veteran performers like Marj Dusay, Ron Raines, Jerry ver Dorn, Maureen Garrett, Beth Ehlers, Frank Dicopoulos. Believe me, there is nothing on prime-time or in the cinema that is like Guiding Light! If you can watch Desperate Housewives, give daytime a try. You just might like it.
    sirinightngail

    Why Don't They Bring Back Michael Bauer?

    I've often wondered why the writers never think about bringing back Mike. After he left the show, it's as if he never existed. Now I realize the Bauers have less of a role on here now, but I've often wondered about Mike. The character that played him is still around, making commercials.

    And, while I'm at it........why ARE the Bauers talked about less and less??? I know Michelle is gone away to make a life with Danny and the two children. Maureen has been dead for a looooong time. Ed is out and about. Rick? Hardly ever see him. Allan Michael is the only "tie" left (Mikes's grandson).
    so_marvelous

    comment on show

    I have watched Guiding Light long enough to know that Kim Zimmer is the most talented actress there is on tv. She is awesome in that she draws viewers into her performance and makes them feel what the character Reva Shayne is feeling. The show is one of the best of all time, the writing is unique and centers around long time Springfield families. Guiding Light is the longest running daytime drama and I think that says a lot about the quality of the show. With actors and actresses like Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, Beth Ehlers, Grant Alexander, Jerry ver Dorn and plenty others, the show has just what it needs to be successful for many more years to come!

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    As the World Turns
    6.3
    As the World Turns
    All My Children
    6.8
    All My Children
    The Young and the Restless
    5.3
    The Young and the Restless
    One Life to Live
    6.9
    One Life to Live
    Days of Our Lives
    5.3
    Days of Our Lives
    General Hospital
    6.6
    General Hospital
    Another World
    7.0
    Another World
    Guiding Light
    Guiding Light
    The Bold and the Beautiful
    3.5
    The Bold and the Beautiful
    All My Children
    7.8
    All My Children
    The Guiding Light
    7.2
    The Guiding Light
    The Edge of Night
    7.8
    The Edge of Night

    Related interests

    Marsha Clark, Alison Sweeney, and James Scott in Days of Our Lives (1965)
    Soap Opera
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many episodes of this show and other daytime television shows are believed to be lost forever. It was live until the 1960s, and many prior episodes exist as kinescopes (videotape was not invented until 1956). Procter & Gamble Productions did not begin archiving its shows until the late 1970s, believing there was no use for them after their initial airing. The original tapes were re-used.
    • Quotes

      Rick: I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant! Well, I'm not. My wife is. I'm just overweight.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 25th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Die Springfield Story
      Written by Ralph Thiekötter & Maik Weppner

      Courtesy of Heinz & Klaus Funk, Hamburg

      (German version)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does Guiding Light have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 30, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • CBS (United States)
      • Official GL Message Board (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Springfield Story
    • Filming locations
      • Springfield Township, New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)
      • RDF Television
      • TeleNext Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.