The first annual 'Soap Opera Digest Awards were held in 1984 and hosted by then husband and wife Catherine Hickland and David Hasselhoff. Hickland was currently starring on the soap opera Capitol and Hasselhoff was currently in the series Knight Rider, and was still recognisable as Snapper Foster on The Young and the Restless.

Daytime

Exciting New Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Michael Leon (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Macdonald Carey (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Youth Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera

• David Mendenhall (General Hospital)

Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Peter Reckell (Days of our Lives)

Exciting New Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Kristian Alfonso (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Actress in a Mature Role in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Frances Reid (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Youth Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Andrea Barber (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Deidre Hall (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Soap Opera

• John de Lancie (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Lisa Trusel (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Daytime Soap Opera

• Days of our Lives

Outstanding Villain in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Joseph Mascolo (Days of our Lives)

Outstanding Villainess in a Daytime Soap Opera

• Nancy Frangione (Another World)

Primetime

Exciting New Actor in a Primetime Soap Opera

• Doug Sheehan (Knots Landing)

Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role in a Primetime Soap Opera

• John Forsythe (Dynasty)

Outstanding Youth Actor in Primetime Soap Opera

• Omri Katz (Dallas)

Outstanding Actor in a Primetime Soap Opera

• John Forsythe (Dynasty)

Exciting New Actress in a Primetime Soap Opera

• Priscilla Presley (Dallas)

Outstanding Actress in a Mature Role in a Primetime Soap Opera

• Barbara Bel Geddes (Dallas)

Outstanding Youth Actress in Primetime Soap Opera

• Shalane McCall (Dallas)

Outstanding Actress in a Primetime Soap Opera

• Linda Evans (Dynasty)

Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Primetime Soap Opera

• Steve Kanaly (Dallas)

Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role on a Primetime Soap Opera

• Lisa Hartman (Knots Landing)

Outstanding Primetime Soap Opera

• Dynasty

Outstanding Villain in a Prime Time Soap Opera

• Larry Hagman (Dallas)

Outstanding Villainess in a Prime Time Soap Opera

• Joan Collins (Dynasty)