John Oliver could soon be adding a Daytime Emmy to an overflowing trophy case that already includes 23 Primetime Emmys, one Grammy, four PGA Awards, and four WGA Awards.
The host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight announced during Sunday’s episode that he was joining both General Hospital and Days of Our Lives in significant yet separate guest roles. The comedian will appear on GH on July 2, 3, and 6, and on Days on Aug. 11, 12, and 14.
“General Hospital was everything I hoped it would be,” Oliver said in a statement obtained by Gold Derby. “It’s a true honor to be a small stain on the history of this illustrious show.”
The acting gigs have been in the works since March 8, when Oliver publicly lobbied to be cast in a “juicy” role on a soap opera; both programs were quick to oblige.
“When John Oliver publicly threw down the gauntlet and said he wanted to appear on a soap, we didn’t hesitate for a second,” said executive producer Frank Valentini. “He was everything you’d hope he’d be: prepared, professional, funny, and genuinely kind to everyone on set. He plays an integral character in the story, and I can’t wait for fans to see who he crosses paths with in Port Charles.”
A publicity photo of Oliver’s GH character depicts him wearing a smart black suit and walking stoically while flanked by two armed security guards. The Days image shows him with an enormous black wig and donning a gray suit.
Oliver has one Daytime Emmy nomination to his name for writing the special class program The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear (2011). Now, thanks to General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, he will be eligible for the Best Guest Performer category, which was won in recent years by Dick Van Dyke (Days of Our Lives), Alley Mills (General Hospital), and Ted King (The Bold and the Beautiful).
The talk show host has won 23 total Primetime Emmys for writing and producing Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and for writing The Daily Show. His single Grammy is for Best Spoken Word Album for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook).
General Hospital, America’s longest-running scripted drama, holds the record for the most Best Daytime Drama Emmy wins, at 18. The program has produced close to 16,000 episodes since 1963, with some of its longest-running cast members being Maurice Benard, John Beradino, Rachel Ames, and Laura Wright. GH airs weekdays on ABC and streams on Hulu.
Days of Our Lives has entertained audiences since 1965. Originally airing on NBC, it transitioned to Peacock in 2022, marking a new streaming chapter after 57 years on network television. With iconic cast members like Deidre Hall, Kristian Alfonso, Drake Hogestyn, and Alison Sweeney, Days focuses on the lives of professionals in the fictional city of Salem, Ill.
