Happy Birthday to AS THE WORLD TURNS Star Colleen Zenk — Relive Barbara’s Most Memorable Moments!

By Chris Eades Updated: January 20, 2017

Tags:

Best wishes to Colleen Zenk (Barbara, AS THE WORLD TURNS), who celebrates her birthday today!

Colleen Zenk - Getty

(Photo Credit: David Livingston/Getty Images)

The actress started on ATWT in 1978, and played the role continuously until the show left the air in 2010. Originally a musical theater actress, Zenk was actually still performing on Broadway alongside Chita Rivera and Donald O’Connor in Bring Back Birdie while on ATWT in 1980.

The multiple Emmy nominee is also an outspoken advocate for oral cancer awareness, having suffered through the disease herself. Currently, following multiple surgeries, she is in remission. Zenk’s real-life struggle was written into her daytime storyline when Barbara was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2008.

ATWT Barbara - JPI

Barbara was a troublemaker who had her fair share of drama, being shot, burned, nearly trampled by a bull, and kidnapped along with multiple marriages! Longtime fans recall her tumultuous history with ex-husband James Stenbeck, but by the time the soap went off the air, Barbara received her happy ending, marrying unlikely soulmate Henry Coleman.

Join us in wishing Zenk all the best and take a walk down memory lane in our gallery of ATWT photos through the years!

To keep up with what your favorite ATWT stars are doing now, keep reading the CBS edition of Soaps In Depth!

Atwt Colleen Zenk 03

CBS
Share this:
On location in the '80s with the late Anthony Herrera (James)
Atwt Colleen Zenk 16

CBS
Share this:
With the late Benjamin Hendrickson at Hal and Barbara's 1988 wedding, attended by Tamara Tunie (Jessica), Eileen Fulton (Lisa), Martha Byrne (Lily), Kathryn Hays (Kim), Michael Genet (Lamar), Andrew Kavovit (Paul), Brian Bloom (Dusty), and Don Hasting (Bob)
Atwt Colleen Zenk 08

John Paschal/jpistudios.com
Share this:
With Eileen Fulton (Lisa) and the late Helen Wagner (Nancy) in a scene from 2010
Atwt Colleen Zenk 06

Jimmy Wood/jpistudios.com
Share this:
After so many funerals for James Stenbeck, Barbara wants to make extra-sure this one in 2009 sticks! With Kelly Menighan Hensley (Emily), Roger Howarth (Paul), and Anthony Herrera (James).
Atwt Colleen Zenk 02

CBS
Share this:
With Anthony Herrera (James) and Hugo Napier (Gunnar) in the classic 1982 storyline where Barbara flashed back to bizarre visions of a previous life
Atwt Colleen Zenk 07

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
Giving some attitude to Ellen Dolan's Margo at the Oakdale Police Station in a 2009 episode
Atwt Colleen Zenk 04

CBS
Share this:
Posing with Danny Pintauro as a very young Paul back in the '80s
Atwt Colleen Zenk 09

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
Showing off her impressive dance skills with Trent Dawson's Henry at Metro in a 2010 episode
Atwt Colleen Zenk 13

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
After being diagnosed with oral cancer in 2008, Barbara retreated to a church to reevaluate her life choices.
Atwt Colleen Zenk 17

CBS
Share this:
Oakdale gathered together on March 26, 1986 to celebrate Chris and Nancy Hughes' 50th wedding anniversary.
Atwt Colleen Zenk 11

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
Clashing with Terri Garber's scheming Iris in an episode from 2007
Atwt Colleen Zenk 14

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
With Justine Cotsonas' Sofie, celebrating the re-opening of Metro in 2008 under the new ownership of Maura West's Carly
Atwt Colleen Zenk 01

CBS
Share this:
Attending Bob and Kim's wedding in 1985 with Henderson Forsythe (David), Conrad Fowkes (Don), Gregg Marx (Tom), Scott DeFreitas (Andy), Don Hastings (Bob), Kathryn Hays (Kim), Lindsey Frost (Betsy), Patricia Bruder (Ellen), and Hillary B. Smith (Margo)
Atwt Colleen Zenk 12

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
Having a serious heart-to-heart with Eileen Fulton's Lisa in this scene from 2008
Atwt Colleen Zenk 10

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
Barbara was unamused by her creepy surroundings when kidnapped by Iris in 2010.
Atwt Colleen Zenk 05

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
With Marie Masters (Susan) and Kelley Menighan Hensley (Emily) in a scene from 2008.
Atwt Colleen Zenk 15

George DeSota/jpistudios.com
Share this:
In 2010, as the soap prepared to go off the air forever, Barbara received a happy ending when she found love with Trent Dawson's Henry and the couple were married.