42 Years Ago Today, a Classic Daytime Soap Introduced Its Most Iconic Leading Man

42 years ago today, actor A. Martinez made his daytime television debut as Cruz Castillo on the then-brand-new soap opera Santa Barbara in a role that would go on to define not only his career but the show’s legacy.

While many will fondly remember Martinez’s time on the show, it is often overlooked that Cruz did not join the soap opera when it premiered. Though he was announced as a member of the cast before the show’s premiere, Martinez didn’t debut until episode 12.

Martinez revealed in a 2009 interview with Santa Barbara Online that when his agent set up the audition for the show, he was pitched a series similar to Dallas or Dynasty. “It was only when I got to the audition for Santa Barbara that I realized it was a daytime drama, which would shoot an hour-long episode every weekday, and never take a seasonal hiatus. The show would also be performed much like live theatre, and shot simultaneously on three or four cameras. I was very distrustful of such a process, thinking it impossible to do good work under those circumstances.”

He went on to reveal that he had turned the role down three times, with the production believing he was “negotiating” for a better deal. “My manager, thank goodness, convinced me to take a chance. When I look back now – it astonishes me that I could have been so oblivious to the wonderful possibilities of the show.”

During his time on the show, Martinez would create an extremely popular pairing opposite Marcy Walker‘s portrayal of Eden Capwell, a pairing that Martinez revealed came about thanks to a suggestion from then-music producer Jill Farren Phelps. “The writers were instructed to give our characters three days’ worth of forced intimacy, as we would be stranded together on a stake-out – and get locked in a room over a long weekend.”

Martinez would stay a part of Santa Barbara until 1992, when he left the series to take on a role on L.A. Law. With that said, the actor believed that he could return to the series one day, sharing, “I had expected to come back to it at some point, since the show had become successful all around the world, and I fantasized that it would be ongoing for many years to come.”

Unfortunately for Martinez and fans, the series came to an end on January 15, 1993.

Martinez and Walker recently reunited for a special event, looking back on their time on the beloved soap opera to raise funds for Walker, who is suffering from an unnamed illness.

While classic episodes of Santa Barbara are not currently available, with soaps continuing to gain traction with online audiences, fans are hopeful that the series will find its way online soon, to once again experience Martinez performance as one of daytimes most iconic leading men.