This morning’s episode of “Live with Kelly and Mark” brought a heartwarming surprise for hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. The married co-hosts were reunited with Olivia Daddona, who played their on-screen baby, Enzo, from the soap opera “All My Children.”
During the show, Ripa shared with the audience that she and Consuelos had often wondered about the fate of their TV baby. “We’ve often wondered, what ever happened to Baby Enzo, and where is Baby Enzo?” Ripa said. “And Baby Enzo is in our audience today.”
The camera then panned to Daddona, who was holding a photo of herself as a baby with Ripa on the set of the soap opera. Daddona explained that she was chosen over her twin brother to play Enzo because “at the time, he didn’t have enough hair.” She also mentioned that she is just three days younger than Ripa and Consuelos’ real-life daughter, Lola. Daddona recalled that her mother would hold Lola off-camera while Ripa held her.
Ripa asked Daddona if she was still acting, to which she replied, “No, this is my big break now, I guess!” The audience laughed, and Ripa agreed, saying, “Yes! We discover people here.”
Consuelos then asked about Daddona’s current life, and she shared that she is now 23 years old and works in sports. “I’m happy to be here, it’s good to reunite,” she said.
Ripa and Consuelos’ characters on “All My Children,” Hayley Vaughan Santos and Mateo Santos, welcomed their son, Lorenzo (aka Enzo), in an August 2001 episode. At the time, Ripa and Consuelos were already parents to their son Michael and newborn daughter Lola. The couple exited the show in 2002 and later welcomed another son, Joaquin.
The reunion was a nostalgic moment for Ripa and Consuelos, who met and fell in love on the set of “All My Children” in the 1990s. They have been married since 1996 and have three children together: Michael, Lola, and Joaquin.
Ripa reflected on the impact of “All My Children” on her life in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE, calling the role a “happy accident” that changed her entire life. “It changed my life. It changed my entire life – not just my acting life, but changed the whole trajectory of my life,” she said.
The reunion with Daddona was a touching moment for the couple, who have been co-hosting “Live with Kelly and Mark” since early 2023. The show has retained a strong daytime audience, and the couple celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary on the set in May.
As the episode came to a close, Ripa and Consuelos expressed their joy at reuniting with their on-screen baby. “It’s so good to see you,” Ripa told Daddona. “I’m happy to be here, it’s good to reunite,” Daddona replied.
The reunion was a reminder of the lasting impact of “All My Children” on the lives of Ripa and Consuelos, as well as the fans who have followed their journey over the years. The couple’s love story, both on and off-screen, continues to captivate audiences and bring joy to their viewers.
