The Classic Soap You Never Knew Hallmark Star Jesse Metcalfe Was On

Longtime soap opera viewers know that daytime television can offer up some of the most dramatic scenes ever portrayed. The actors are masters at delivering big plot twists and shocking bombshells on a daily basis, and fans wouldn't have it any other way. 

While some iconic soap stars have played their characters for decades — like "Days of Our Lives" star Deidre Hall — others have moved on to bigger projects. In fact, some of Hollywood's biggest names got their start on soap operas, per Country Living.

"Full House" star John Stamos got his big break on "General Hospital," when he was cast as Blackie Parrish, while Brad Pitt previously played the role of Chris on "Another World" (via Collider). 

Demi Moore portrayed the role of Jackie Templeton on "General Hospital" for a short time, Sarah Michelle Gellar was cast as Kendall Hart on "All My Children" before moving on to "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," and "Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles first appeared as Eric Brady on "Days of our Lives." Actors Mark Hamill, Morgan Freeman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael B. Jordan also landed soap opera roles early on in their careers.

While fans may not remember, Hallmark star Jesse Metcalfe got his big break on a soap opera as well.

Many fans may remember Jesse Metcalfe for his role as John Rowland on "Desperate Housewives." The character was the young gardener who worked for Gabi Solis (Eva Longoria) and had a torrid affair with the housewife, per Page Six. That role made Metcalfe a household name and shot him to heartthrob status. 

However, over the years, the actor has also starred in many other projects, including shows such as "Smallville," "Chase," "Two Broke Girls," and "Dallas" (via IMDb). He's also had roles in films like "John Tucker Must Tie," "Loaded," "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt," and "The Tortured."

One of Metcalfe's most memorable roles was the character Trace Riley on the Hallmark Channel's "Chesapeake Shores." However, he was written off the show, much to the surprise of fans. 

"I think maybe the new showrunner and maybe the producers behind that show were starting to find it challenging, figuring out really where they wanted to take these characters," Metcalfe exclusively told The List of his exit from the series.

Meanwhile, the actor has gone on to star in other projects for Hallmark, such as "A Country Wedding" and "Christmas Next Door" (via Hallmark Channel). 

While Metcalfe has become a staple on the Hallmark Channel, his longtime fans will remember him from his soap opera days, when he starred as the sweet and hunky Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on NBC's sudser "Passions."

Soap opera fans may remember NBC's short-lived sudser "Passions," which was set in the fictional town of Harmony and starred fan-favorite soap actors Eric Martsolf, Galen Gering, Justin Hartley, and Lindsay Hartley. Jesse Metcalfe portrayed Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the show from 1999 until 2004 (via Soap Central).

"Passions" featured themes of witches and warlocks and centered on prominent families in the town, such as the Cranes, Bennetts, Winthrops, and Lopez-Fitzgeralds. The series only ran for seven seasons before being canceled in August 2008 due to lack of viewership, per TV Series Finale.

During his time on the show, Metcalfe's character was a ladies' man who fell head-over-heels in love with Charity Standish. The teenagers planned to get engaged as soon as they turned 18 years old and mapped out their future together. However, they were hit with many obstacles along the way, and the pair was a favorite among "Passions" viewers.

The role of Miguel was later recast when Metcalfe left the soap and headed to "Desperate Housewives," per Soap Hub. Although the actor has gone on to do so many things in his career and has become a hit for Hallmark, his fans will likely always remember him as Miguel on "Passions."