PalmerCortlandt

There's some big news coming to us from the world of soap. One of the best actresses in the business, Kate Collins, is returning to 'All My Children' as Janet Dillon. You remember Janet, right? Or perhaps you recall her more popular name, Janet from Another Planet. That the nickname the character earned for her bizarre behavior and outrageous antics. She did once throw her sister Natalie down a well, leave her there to die and then threaten to shoot Hayley in the face.

Recently, the character has been played by Robin Mattson -- who is also a wonderful actress -- but Collins return is special because she's the originator of the role. She was last on 'All My Children' in 2007. Collins will be back on the show effective April 30, but the character has already been making her presence known.

The soap opera world lost another legend on Friday with the death of James Mitchell, who died in Los Angeles of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at the age of 89.

'All My Children' fans loved to hate Mitchell's character, Palmer Cortlandt, who had more schemes during his 31-year history in Pine Valley than Erica Kane has had husbands. Mitchell also received seven Daytime Emmy nominations for his work on the long-running soap, although, sadly he never won.

To honor the career of James Mitchell, here is a look back at five of his character's many dastardly deeds ...

One of the most famous stars of daytime, All My Children's James Mitchell, died Friday, January 22 in Los Angeles. He was 89 and suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, complicated by pneumonia. He hadn't been on the show much of the past couple of years, but he did make it back for the AMC 40th anniversary episode on January 5, and that turned out to be his last professional appearance.

James Mitchell was a man with two great careers. To soap fans, he was the indomitable Palmer Cortlandt, a brilliant tycoon and businessman, but also a man obsessed with his family and not above manipulation to get his way.