The All My Children History Project

"I think it was easier to kill her, get her out of the way and move on"- Sydney Penny, SOD June 4, 2008

Sydney Penny breathes her last breath as Julia Keefer on May 27th. Only adding to All My Children's list of poorly written returns, Julia dies leaving her adoptive daughter, Kathy Keefer, orphaned again, sort of.

In honor of Penny's run on the show, let's take a look back at some of Julia's many memorable moments:

Julia Saves Maria from the Falling Chandelier (1994): Isabella and Hector Santos sent Julia to Pine Valley hoping she would be inspired to do something with her life by living with her successful big sister, Dr. Maria Santos soon to be Grey. The sisters did not exactly have the best relationship. Their animosity was a mix of their parents high expectations, and Julia's jealousy.
The greatest turning point for the sisters came about after a tornado ripped through the Valley Inn. Julia spotted a chandelier dangling on its last wire right above Maria. Without hesitation, Julia pushed Maria out of the way only to have her face ripped open by the crashing shards of glass.

Louie Greco rapes Julia (1994): Julia found her true self while living with her future husband, Noah Keefer, in Center City. Noah didn't care that Julia was disfigured, he saw the true beauty inside of her.
But their happiness was cut short when drug dealer Louie Greco broke into Noah's apartment and raped Julia. Julia found her way back to Wildwind, turning to Maria for help. Julia's road to recovery was marred by obstacles including learning she was pregnant with Greco's child and having an abortion, to the mental anguish she felt by even only looking at the man she loved, Noah.
Penny's performance as a recovering victim of rape garnered her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

Noah and Julia go on the Run in Jamaica (1996): To escape charges for Greco's murder, Noah and Julia became fugitives in Jamaica. After faking their deaths, the couple had a reprieve to admit their love for each other.





Julia and Noah Marry at Wildwind (1996): Edmund Grey opened Wildwind to Noah and Julia upon their return to Pine Valley. In a wedding inspired by Disney's Cinderella (Disney/ABC's media cross promotion at its best), Julia and Noah married in the Gothic castle in front of all their family and friends. The costumes were all custom made and inspired by the film.
The evening was truly a spectacle of daytime. Julia (and Penny) truly looked like a princess marrying her Prince Charming.
The details and grandeur of the event makes it one of the most memorable weddings in All My Children History.

Julia and Maria Reunite in the Wildwind Bar (2002): After six years apart, Julia and Maria come face to face in the Wildwind Barn. Only, Maria is an amnesiac and hiding her lover Aidan Devane from Edmund, and Julia has spent the last years of her life deep in the Witness Protection Program.
Just when Julia begins to think her all too rare visit was futile, Maria casually mentions the scar that used to be on Julia's face. For a second, the sisters look into each other's eyes and it is as if no time has passed at all.