Soap Stars Who Left the Spotlight and What They Did Next: Rena Sofer, Susan Lucci and More

Lucci initially kept busy once she ended her historic 41-year run on All My Children as Erica Kane in 2011. She quickly landed a recurring role in Lifetime’s prime-time soap Devious Maids and even had a supporting part in Jennifer Lawrence’s 2015 Golden Globe–winning movie Joy.

However, a string of personal troubles largely sidelined Lucci’s career by the late 2010s. In 2018, Lucci was rushed into emergency heart surgery after doctors discovered arteries in her heart were 90 percent blocked.

Following her recovery, Lucci became an ambassador for the American Heart Association. She exclusively revealed to Us Weekly in February 2019 that she felt “wonderful” after devoting several months to healing mentally and physically.

“[Your family’s] DNA you can’t alter, but some stress management you can,” she mentioned to Us. “And in terms of diet, I always think there’s room for improvement, so I’m cutting back a little on sugar. I don’t know if that’s going to help — we’ll see.”

As a result of her health crisis, Lucci and her family spent more time on the East Coast. Lucci was dealt another crushing blow in March 2022 when her husband, Helmut Huber, died at age 84 in Long Island, New York.

“Helmut’s passing is a tremendous loss for all who knew and loved him. He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather and friend,” a Lucci family spokesperson told Us. “The family kindly asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”

Some good news arose in 2025 when Lucci was cast in actor and director Jonah Hill’s upcoming movie Outcome, in which she’ll share the screen with Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz.