ALL MY CHILDREN has welcomed back three of its most popular vets: Rebecca Budig (Greenlee), Debbi Morgan (Angie) and Darnell Williams (Jesse). Beloved though they may be, they are hardly the first much-missed alums to be lured back to Pine Valley. Here’s a rundown on some of the most headline-grabbing comeback kids.

— Digest

Left In: 1997
Returned In: 2002
The Inside Scoop: La Rue was at the peak of her popularity when she opted to leave in 1997, citing a desire to try her luck in prime-time and films. Fans of her on-screen romance with then-real-life husband John Callahan (ex-Edmund) had their prayers answered in 2002 when the actress, who had recently welcomed her first child, daughter Kaya, with Callahan, announced that she'd inked a deal with AMC. Maria returned from the dead with amnesia and although Edmund and Maria reunited, viewers complained that the show had botched her comeback. Callahan was let go in February 2005 and La Rue exited shortly thereafter in July.

— Digest

Left In: 1986, 1990
Returned In: 1988, 1992
The Inside Scoop: Knight was one of Pine Valley's most popular leading men when he felt the call of Hollywood in 1996. Two years later, he returned, and fans welcomed him back with outstretched arms. Their enthusiasm for Tad's new romance with Cady McClain's Dixie was enormous, and they were as heartbroken as Dixie when the actor chose to leave again in 1990. Tad was presumed dead on-screen, but viewers were made privy to the fact that Tad was still alive. After another two-year absence, Knight came back — and this time, he seems to have made Pine Valley his permanent home.

— Digest

Left In: 2002
Returned In: 2003
The Inside Scoop: Mathison resigned from the AMC ranks in 2002 to pursue opportunities in Hollywood. But after a whirlwind year in his personal life (he married spouse Vanessa and welcomed their first child, son Lucas), the stability of daytime lured him back to Pine Valley. His on-screen romance with Alicia Minshew (Kendall) picked up where it left off, but Rebecca Budig's Greenlee was added back into the mix, creating a triangle with storyline repercussions that are still felt today.

— Digest

Left In: 1996, 2002
Returned In: 1998, 2005
The Inside Scoop: McClain was a mere 18 when she took over the role of Dixie from Kari Gibson in 1988. And eight years into her run, she decided it was time for a change. The show (and Tad/Dixie fans) rejoiced when she agreed to return in 1998. But by 2002, she was out the door again, citing the need for a fresh creative challenge. AS THE WORLD TURNS provided it, but after playing Rosanna on that show to Emmy Award-winning acclaim, she decided to leave. Before long, AMC snapped her up to reprise the presumed-dead Dixie. But before she'd even hit the one-year anniversary mark, she was abruptly fired and Dixie was killed off, a move that outrages many fans to this day.

— Digest

Left In: 1999
Returned In: 2000
The Inside Scoop: DYNASTY alum Nader's pairing with Susan Lucci's Erica was one of the show's most successful — but in 1999, he received his walking papers, a move decried by Digest as the worst male axing of the year. Vociferous fan protest led the show to resurrect Marick the following year, but Nader's private problems were made all too public when he was arrested in a drug bust and he and the show parted ways again in 2001.

— Digest

Left In: 1984
Returned In: 1995
The Inside Scoop: After leaving AMC, Walker continued to build a solid line-up of soap credits and was especially identified with her SANTA BARBARA creation, Eden Capwell Castillo. After a two-year run on GUIDING LIGHT as Tangie, she agreed to reprise the role of Liza on AMC in 1995. Liza's unfinished business with Tad provided strong storyline fodder and fans cottoned to her pairing with David Canary's Adam. But in 2004, Walker and her husband decided to move to North Carolina to begin a new life. Walker, who now uses her husband's surname, Smith, gave up acting in favor of working as a youth minister.