Dan Stewart (ATWT) was much more valuable to the show after he died. The never-ending rivalry between his widow Kim and his ex-wife Susan, with his daughters Betsy and Emily tossed into the toxic stew--great stuff.
I'll never forget the wedding of Sean Donely (GH) to Tiffany Hill. Tiffany was her 'stage name', but hardly anyone knew it. With the entire town of Port Charles assembled at the Church, the minister asked "Do you, Elsie Mae Krumholtz, take Sean Donely...." to which everyone in the Church exclaimed incredulously, "Elsie Mae Krumholtz?!?!"