Which Soap Stars Are Leavingand Coming Back to Their Shows?

• Going: Dominic Rains

  

  He’s outta there. In late June, it was confirmed that the Chicago Med vet would not be scrubbing back in for Season 10 as trauma surgeon Crockett Marcel.

• Going: Michael Easton

  

  In late June of 2024, the soap-hopper, who’d played several roles on General Hospital over the course of a decade, announced that he had taped his final scenes on the daytime drama.

• Coming: Jonathan Jackson

  

  Nearly 10 years after his last visit to General Hospital, the five-time Emmy winner booked a long-term return engagment as Liz’s first love Lucky that was set to start in the summer of 2024.

• Coming: Bryan Craig

  

  Six years after General Hospital had Ava’s ill-fated lover Morgan haunt her, the two-time Emmy winner was set to reprise his role of Carly and Sonny’s son in August — but, alas, only for a single August episode, our sister site TVLine reported.

• Going: Trevor St. John

  

  The soap vet shared the news on X in June that his time as The Young and the Restless’ Tucker had come to an end. “I thank each and every member of the wonderful cast, the crew, the directors, the producers and production staff,” he said, “for the great experience from day one to the last.”

• Coming: Jamison Belushi

  

  The actress — who is, indeed, the daughter of Jim Belushi — guested on The Bold and the Beautiful as lab technician April. What’s more, she was set to be embroiled in a summer mystery on the show!

• Coming: AnnaLynne McCord

  

  The 90210 grad debuted on Days of Our Lives in June as the mysterious woman who may or may not be an amnesiac Abigail… with a healthy dose of plastic surgery thrown in to confuse the matter even more!

• Coming: Matthew Ashford

  

  Jack’s portrayer made his return to Days of Our Lives just in time for the character to complicate the search for his presumed-dead daughter, Abigail.

• Coming: Crew Morrow

  

  Bill and Katie’s son is getting the SORAS treatment on The Bold and the Beautiful as Morrow is set to take over the role. And if you’re thinking he looks familiar, you’d be right: The newbie is the son of The Young and the Restless’ Joshua Morrow (Nick)!

• Coming: Tom Arnold

  

  Fly the funny skies? That was what Bold & Beautiful had in mind when it booked the Roseanne vet — both on and off screen — to play Deuce Stevens, the captain jetting the Forresters back to Monte Carlo in the summer of 2024.

• Going: John Kapelos

  

  All bad guys must come to an end — and in mid-June 2024, Days of Our Lives‘ villainous Konstantin was sent back from whence he came: hell.

• Coming: Casey Moss

  

  Days of Our Lives‘ wardrobe department must have started stocking up on towels when the news broke that J.J.’s portrayer was winging his way back to Salem.

• Coming: Jonah Robinson

  

  Consider that first impression made. In mid-June, Days of Our Lives introduced the newbie as Dr. Mark Greene, Aaron and Felicity’s big brother.

• Coming: Gina Garcia-Sharp

  

  Any job that’s gotta be done for Young & Restless’ Tucker is a dirty one indeed. But the newcomer who plays his assistant appeared to be up to the challenge when she made her debut as Anna in June.

• Going: Jessica Serfaty

  

  With (almost) all her lies blown to pieces and a manhunt on the way, it looks like Sloan may spend the rest of her life on the run, bringin Serfaty’s Days of Our Lives run to an end. 

• Coming: Reylynn Caster

  

  After a year away following Cameron’s reign of terror, Caster is finally bringing Faith home to The Young and the Restless.

• Coming: Louis Tomeo

  

  Oh, to have the metabolism that could burn off donuts like Days of Our Lives’ Tate and new pal Aaron Greene, who showed up on the scene just in time for summer 2024.

• Going: Gregory Harrison

  

  Welp, at least he got to attend son Chase’s wedding on General Hospital. But no sooner had the bouquet been tossed than the Chase brothers’ dad passed away in his sleep, bringing to an end the primetime mainstay’s four-year run in the role.

• Coming: Christopher Cousins

  

  Yes, yes, we know we “inned” him weeks ago as Young & Restless’ Alan. But this time we’re “inning” him as the shrink’s twin brother, Martin.

• Coming: Kennedy Garcia

  

  In the middle of May, Days of Our Lives revealed that the daytime newcomer, who has Down syndrome, had been cast as Sweet Bits regular Felicity.

• Going: Midori Francis

  

  Dang it. A bright light since joining Grey’s Anatomy in Season 19, Mika’s portrayer would only be coming back for Season 21 to give Yasuda a proper sendoff.

• Going: Jake Borelli

  

  As Grey’s Anatomy neared the end of Season 20, the news broke that Schmitt’s portrayer would only be returning for Season 21 for long enough to wrap up his character’s storyline.

• Going: Camryn Manheim

  

  As May sweeps got underway, the primetime mainstay announced that her third season as Lt. Kate Dixon on Law & Order would be her last. Luckily, the procedural was likely to be around for centuries to come, so if the alum of The Practice ever changed her mind…

• Going: Thaao Penghlis

  

  “I’m leaving the soap world,” the Days of Our Lives veteran told Soap Opera News in May 2024. “There are changes happening that I can’t discuss right now. It feels like it’s coming from somewhere else, maybe with a different writer. When people start taking you for granted, you change.” Later, the actor, who touched down in Salem in 1981 as Tony (and then lookalike Andre), tweeted that “nothing is final.” So was he done-done or just done? Tune in tomorrow.

• Coming: Giovanni Mazza

  

  Though General Hospital didn’t seem to immediately inform Gio of the undress code at the Metro Court pool, Brook Lynn’s cousin was going to be sticking around to make a splash over the summer of 2024.

• Going: Eamonn Walker

  

  After 12 seasons as Chicago Fire’s Deputy District Chief Wallace Boden, the OG exited the NBC drama as a series regular — but at least he was expected to continue on in a recurring capacity.

• Coming: Juliet Donenfeld

  

  May 2, 2024, was a weird day for kids on General Hospital. Not only did this newcomer step in as a temporary replacement for Lily Fisher as Georgie, but another youngster was recast — permanently.

• Coming: Tristan Riggs

  

  We really liked Enzo De Angelis (left) as Liz’s son Aiden on General Hospital. But he was swapped out for another actor in early May nonetheless.

• Coming: Lane Davies

  

  In early May, it was announced that the daytime legend would be appearing on General Hospital as Neil’s attorney brother, Fergus, who was instrumental in getting Alexis disbarred. In other words, we’d be getting a rematch of Santa Barbara supercouple Mason and Julia (whom Davies and Nancy Lee Grahn played in the 1980s)!

• Coming: Maggie Carney

  

  May 1 marked the first Days of Our Lives appearance by this primetime vet, who’d been cast as EJ’s no-nonsense assistant, Rita.

• Staying Gone: Nicholas Alexander Chavez

  

  Though the General Hospital Emmy winner was supposed to return as Spencer once he was done filming Season 2 of Ryan Murphy’s Monster, our sister site TVLine reported in April that nope, the actor was gone for good.

• Coming: Jonathan Bailey

  

  We’d have to wait until Heartstopper Season 3 dropped in October to see the Bridgerton heartthrob in action, but in April, it was announced that he’d joined the cast of the LGBTQ+ romantic dramedy as Charlie’s celebrity crush. Also new to the Emmy-winning series would be Agent Carter’s Hayley Atwell as Nick’s aunt and Ray Donovan’s Eddie Marsan as Charlie’s therapist.

• Coming: Kristian Alfonso

  

  For a while there, we were worried that the actress wasn’t going to be returning to Days of Our Lives for its farewell to Hope’s father, Doug (and his late portrayer, Bill Hayes). Thankfully, it turned out that our fears were unwarranted.

• Coming: Tony Goldwyn

  

  Three weeks after Sam Waterston’s Law & Order exit, the Scandal POTUS stepped in as new D.A. Nicholas Baxter.

• Coming: Ellen Travolta

  

  No way would the matriarch of the Cerullo family let granddaughter Brook Lynn tie the knot without booking a return trip to Port Charles. This time, General Hospital scene stealer Gloria was even bringing husband Carmine (with George Russo stepping in for John Capudice).

• Going: Luke Kleintank

  

  The Young & Restless alum — he was Noah for a hot minute — planned to leave FBI: International and his role of Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester at the end of the CBS drama’s Season 3.

• Coming: Colin Donnell

  

  Right after Kleintank’s exit, this Chicago Med vet was set to make his entrance in the last two episodes of FBI: International. Could a Season 4 regular gig be far behind?

• Coming: Christopher Cousins

  

  Turns out there’s an upside to a nervous breakdown, at least in the case of Young & Restless’ Ashley. The show snagged the scene stealer who played One Life to Live’s Cain to recur as her shrink, Alan Laurent. 

• Coming: Daniela Ruah

  

  The NCIS: Los Angeles vet, who played Special Agent Kensi Blye for all 14 seasons of the NCIS spinoff, signed up to reprise her role in the 1,000th episode of the mothership.

• Coming: Johnny Silbilly

  

  There were probably better times to start recurring on Station 19 than during its final season, but we were still glad to see the familiar face (from Queer as Folk and Hacks) in action as first-responder-for-hire Dominic. Here, his patient seems to be saying, and we don’t blame her, “Oh my God, have you seen how well that uniform fits him?!?”

• Coming: Maree Cheatham

  

  The OG Days of Our Lives cast member, who played unlucky-in-love ex-nun Marie, was among the alumni set to return for the soap’s farewell to the late Bill Hayes and his character, Doug.

• Coming: Victoria Konefal

  

  Also headed back to Days of Our Lives for the show’s tribute to Hayes was this fan favorite, who played Doug’s granddaughter, Ciara.

• Coming: Lamon Archey and Sal Stowers

  

  Days of Our Lives’ Eli and Lani booked a flight back to Salem so that they could be there to support his grandmother Julie in her hour of need.

• Coming: Martha Madison and Brandon Beemer

  

  No way could Days of Our Lives say goodbye to Doug without bringing home Belle and Shawn for the occasion.

• Coming: Cherie Jimenez

  

  On April 10, 2024, Days of Our Lives announced that “we’re seeing some newcomers in Salem” and shared a photo of two them. One was this alum of Apple TV+’s Nova Vita with Marci Miller (ex-Abigail). Who was Jimenez playing, though? The show wouldn’t say, although it seemed likely that she was going to be Camila Banus’ successor as Gabi. In the picture with Jimenez was another fresh face…

• Coming: Al Calderon

  

  This new arrival on Days of Our Lives previously appeared on such series as The Haves and the Have Nots and The Dead Girls Detective Agency. He was also one of the few good things about The Walking Dead: World Beyond. (He’s wearing his soldier-boy garb from that show above). The identity of his new character was also kept secret. Gabi’s brother, Dario, maybe? A re-recast Sonny?

• Coming: Melissa Reeves

  

  Days of Our Lives revealed that it was bringing this vet back to play the role she originated, Jennifer, for a Thanksgiving celebration and to join in the memorial for the late Bill Hayes’ character, Doug.

• Coming: Matthew Ashford

  

  Needless to say, if Days of Our Lives’ Jennifer was coming back, on-again/off-again husband Jack would be, too.

• Coming: Malcolm-Jamal Warner

  

  9-1-1 tapped the Cosby Show vet for a four-episode arc as Amir, a hospital burn unit nurse with ties to Bobby’s past.

• Coming: Kimberlin Brown

  

  Or should we simply say “Not going after all”? Rumors of Bold & Beautiful baddie Sheila’s death were, as usual, exaggerated. Since that wasn’t her on the slab — the 10th toe was the giveaway for fiancé Deacon — it was only a matter of time before her portrayer was back in action. 

• Coming: Gloria Loring

  

  During an April visit to The Locher Room podcast, Days of Our Lives star Deidre Hall (Marlena) revealed that after nearly 40 years away, Loring was returning to the soap as Liz Chandler.

• Coming: Kody Kavitha

  

  General Hospital tapped the daytime newbie to sling hash as Hunter, the new manager of Port Charles hot spot Bobbie’s.

• Coming: Nick Cafero

  

  Don’t let the scrubs fool ya. The “Dr. Millin” that this head turner introduced on Grey’s Anatomy in April hadn’t been to medical school; he was just Jules’ social-media influencer brother.

• Going: Noah Galvin

  

  Midway through the final season of The Good Doctor, ABC’s medical drama jabbed a scalpel into our hearts by brutally murdering the fan favorite’s Asher Wolke. And just as his boyfriend was waiting to propose, too!

• Coming: Virginia Ma

  

  On her very first day as Nina’s assistant Madison on General Hospital, the Port Charles newcomer wore the pained expression for which we expected her to have a whole lotta use — especially if Drew was going to keep bypassing her desk to march straight into the Crimson editor’s office.

• Coming: Kendrick Cross

  

  A recurring player on General Hospital since 2023, Cross made his first appearance as Detective Bennet in months in April 2024 so that the police academy instructor could question the wisdom of Anna inviting Mob flunky Dex to start playing for the cops’ team instead of the robbers’. Maybe next Bennet will get a first name?

• Going: Rome Flynn

  

  With six, you get… going? Apparently so. After appearing in just a half-dozen Season 12 episodes of Chicago Fire, the Bold & Beautiful, Grey’s Anatomy and Haves and the Have Nots alum was written off as Derrick Gibson.

• Coming: Sean Whalen

  

  This was no April Fool’s Day prank: As March passed the baton to the month after it, the recognizable character actor — a fave from The People Under the Stairs — booked a return engagement as possibly the only nerd ever to walk among The Bold and the Beautiful: Carl the Hospital Janitor.

• Coming: Stephen Schnetzer

  

  The soap legend — Another World playboy Cass Winthrop from 1982-99 — revealed during a Locher Room visit that he was set to return to Days of Our Lives briefly after more than four decades as Julie’s brother, Steve.

• Out: Jamie Martin Mann

  

  In the spring of 2024, Days of Our Lives revealed that the insta-fave had decided to trade his role of Tate for the honor roll to focus on his college studies. At once, a called was placed to bring…

• In: Leo Howard

  

  The Legacies vet, a skilled martial artist, was ready and willing to kick butt as Days of Our Lives’ new Tate.

• Just Visiting: Tracey E. Bregman

  

  No way could Bold & Beautiful hold a funeral for the demented Sheila Carter without her longtime Young & Restless victim Lauren Fenmore showing up to dance on the psycho’s grave.

• Out: Olivia Colman

  

  Heartstopper fans were gutted to learn ahead of Season 3 of the Netflix coming-of-age dramedy that scheduling conflicts had prevented the Emmy winner from reprising her role of Nick’s mum, Sarah. But, said series creator Alice Oseman, “If we get a Season 4, I would love for Olivia to be a part of it again!”

• Going: Henry Joseph Samiri and Matthew Atkinson

  

  We doubted — or at least hoped against hope — that it wasn’t au revoir for good when Bold & Beautiful shipped off Douglas and dad Thomas to Paris in late March 2024. But after the latter’s deeply disturbing breakup with Hope, we could understand why maybe the character was due for a French twist.

• Coming: Lachlan Buchanan

  

  Before Station 19 shut its doors forever, in through them once more walked this Young & Restless alum as Emmett, the ex of Travis’ who was destined to blow up his new relationship with Eli.

• In: Ashleigh Brewer

  

  We could only hope that Bold & Beautiful was going to be perking up Liam’s love life when it was revealed that the Aussie actress would be returning as his former romantic interest, Ivy.

• Out: Kellen Enriquez

  

  Young & Restless announced in March that the towhead, who’s been playing Kyle’s son Harrison since his debut in May of 2021, would be recast come April.

• In: Redding Munsell

  

  Aaand this is the moppet (left) that Young & Restless picked to succeed Enriquez (right) as Jack’s grandson.

• In: Antonia Thomas

  

  Before The Good Doctor finished making rounds, original cast member Antonia Thomas set a return engagement as Dr. Claire Browne. She’d even be around for the series’ send-off.

• In: Brandon Larracuente

  

  Also scrubbing back in to The Good Doctor was the Season 6 regular who played Danny Perez.

• In: Clint Howard

  

  The former child star of Gentle Ben was tapped by Bold & Beautiful to play a homeless man who holds the key to an ongoing mystery. Maybe he’ll reveal how in all these years Forrester Creations has never had a gay designer!

• In… and Out: Lamon Archey and Sal Stowers

  

  Days of Our Lives finally brought back “Elani” — but only long enough for the couple to rest assured that her mom Paulina was going to be OK.

• In: Christel Khalil

  

  Lily returned to Young & Restless on March 13, 2024. And thanks to boyfriend Daniel’s hookup with his ex, the fireworks were cued up, um, a nanosecond later.

• In: Natasha Hall

  

  In March, Days of Our Lives temporarily had the actress step in for Jessica Serfaty as Sloan. Gotta say, as recasts go, this one was a home run!

• Out: Kimberlin Brown

  

  Bold & Beautiful let us see Sheila stop breathing after being stabbed during a murder attempt on daughter-in-law Steffy. But was the hellcat really out of lives? TBD.

• Out: Brian Gaskill

  

  It was last call for Young & Restless’ Seth when he raised a glass to Jordan’s charade. Busted, she gave him a fatal nudge into oncoming traffic.

• Way Out: Tonja Walker

  

  General Hospital didn’t even bring on the soap vet who originated the role of Olivia Jerome back in the 1980s to kill off her demented character. (For the second time.) She was just said to have been rubbed out during a February-sweeps prison transport.

• Going: Sam Waterston

  

  “The time has come for me to move on and take Jack McCoy with me,” the Law & Order mainstay said in February. “There’s sadness in leaving, but I’m just too curious about what’s next. An actor doesn’t want to let himself get too comfortable. I’m more grateful to you than I can say.” And vice versa, buddy.

• In: Syndey K. Smith and Zach Chyz

  

  Smith and Chyz are tackling two iconic roles on Days of Our Lives as they’ve been tapped to play a young Alice and Tom Horton in flashbacks following the family’s longtime home burning down during February sweeps.

• In: Arianne Zucker and Ashley Puzemis

  

  Less than a month after the actresses took off from Days of Our Lives so that Nicole could get daughter Holly into rehab, they were back. But, given what was going on behind the scenes, how long Zucker would be sticking around remained a big question mark.

• In: Eva LaRue

  

  The doctor is in… sorta! It was our sister site TVLine that first reported General Hospital had invited former All My Children M.D. Maria Santos to scrub in — but not as her old character, a new one: Blaze’s homophobic mother, Natalia.

• In: Jessica Capshaw

  

  After six seasons away from Grey’s Anatomy, Arizona’s portrayer was set to scrub back in, ABC announced in February. The guest star wasn’t coming back alone, either.

• In: Natalie Morales

  

  The Morning Show and Dead to Me vet would be joining Capshaw on Grey’s Anatomy in Season 20 as a fellow pediatric surgeon whose good intentions don’t always yield the best reactions.

• Out: Arianne Zucker

  

  In February of 2024, TMZ reported that the Days of Our Lives vet had, in effect, been dismissed as Nicole months after she spoke out about allegations of misconduct on the part of since-axed EP Albert Alarr. In response to her ouster, Zucker filed a lawsuit against the show for sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination. 

• In: Christy St. John

  

  Days of Our Lives’ Officer Goldman has been slowly moving from background to foreground as we get into the new year, but is she a trusted cop or duplicitous mole? The jury’s still out, but we always welcome an addition to the Salem PD!

• In: Adam J. Harrington

  

  Jagger is back on General Hospital after nearly 30 years, but this time, he’s played by a brand new face, has moved from cop to FBI agent and prefers to go by his actual name: John! 

• In: William Lipton

  

  Just when Trina was going to need old pal Cameron the most, General Hospital revealed that it was bringing him home to Port Charles. Sadly, not to stay.

• Out: Sam Waterston

  

  It’s hard to imagine Law & Order without Jack McCoy. But after the February 22 episode of the long-running procedural, we wouldn’t have to: It would be the last for the veteran actor, who joined the show back in Season 5. And taking his place?

• In: Tony Goldwyn

  

  Dun-dunn! No less than Scandal’s former POTUS was tapped to be Law & Order’s new D.A.

• Out: Nicholas Alexander Chavez

  

  To accommodate the actor’s temporary absence, General Hospital had Spencer plunge to a watery “grave” as part of Esme’s cockamamie plan to get baby Ace back.

• Out: Avery Kristen Pohl

  

  Esme’s plot worked out even worse for her than it did Spencer: Her portrayer was supposedly not going to be making another splash on General Hospital following the vixen’s death.

• In: Judah Mackey

  

  In February, Young & Restless’ Chelsea and Adam got a slightly late Christmas present — or a very early one for 2024? In any case, son Connor returned to Genoa City. (Ornaments not included.)

• Out: Joshua Benard

  

  The son of General Hospital star Maurice Benard (Sonny) wrapped his return engagement as Josslyn’s troubled classmate Adam in early February.

• In: Alley Mills

  

  After General Hospital — technically, Spencer — let Nikolas run off with baby Ace, Esme was so beside herself that she turned to Mommie Dearest Heather.

• In: Mishael Morgan

  

  We couldn’t help but hope that Young & Restless planned to put Devon and Abby’s relationship to the test when the Emmy winner teased her return as Amanda. And no, that can’t be the same couch on which she caught them cheating, can it?

• Out: Kevin Costner

  

  According to TV industry newsletter Puck, Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan has written the back half of the Paramount Network hit’s fifth and final season without John Dutton in it.

• In: Eden McCoy

  

  After taking some time off in the wake of her mother’s passing, the Emmy winner who plays Josslyn on General Hospital was set to return to work in February 2024. Needless to say, that meant that…

• Out: Courtney Fulk

  

  The sub that General Hospital brought in during Eden McCoy’s absence had wrapped her stint in Port Charles.

• Out: Arianne Zucker

  

  Color us surprised when Days of Our Lives sent Nicole off to Italy with her daughter in January — at least for now! Nicole’s got a lot of unfinished business in Salem. 

• Out: Ashley Puzemis

  

  Holly barely got to play with the big kids on Days of Our Lives before a drug overdose put her in a coma. And in January, she was packed off to Italy for miracle treatment to wake her up.

• Out: Jamie Martin Mann

  

  Kids — they grow up so fast and move on so quickly! It seems like only yesterday that Days of Our Lives SORAS’d Tate — technically, it was October 2023 — and in January, the character was shipped off to rehab. At least for the moment.

• In: Tye White

  

  The alum of American Auto was tapped to turn up the heat in Fire Country Season 2 as Bode’s cellmate, Cole.

• Out: Adam Huss

  

  If you blinked, you might’ve missed him. Turned out, General Hospital had only brought Nikolas back for long enough to convince son Spencer to let him take baby Ace and run.

• In: Darin Brooks

  

  Only three months after announcing that he was done at Bold & Beautiful as Wyatt, the Emmy winner was booked for a brief return.

• Out: Josh Stewart

  

  In mid-January, the Criminal Minds: Evolution actor announced on X that “sadly, my days of playing Will LaMontagne Jr. are over.”

• (More) In: Chuku Modu

  

  Just in time for The Good Doctor to hang up its scrubs, the actor who plays Dr. Jared Kalu was promoted to series-regular status.

• Out: Colleen Zenk

  

  On second thought, make that “Out?” After pulling off what may have been the surprise of the decade by showing up out of nowhere as crazy Aunt Jordan on Young & Restless, the As the World Turns legend appeared to wrap her run when the villainess was carted off to jail. But as her nefarious character would point out, appearances can be very deceiving.

• In: Michael Trotter

  

  The Right Stuff vet nabbed the plum part of Stabler’s kid brother Joe Jr. in Season 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime.

• Out: Ryan Carnes

  

  What? We can’t keep him? Apparently not. No sooner had General Hospital aired Bobbie’s memorial service than Lucas’ portrayer ended his return engagement.

• In: Taylor Kinney

  

  Is it hot in here, or is it just that the Chicago Fire favorite returned as Kelly Severide in Season 12 after a sudden departure the previous season?

• Passing Through: Brighton Hertford

  

  The General Hospital alum, who’d played Bobbie and Tony’s ill-fated daughter B.J. from 1986-94, returned in angelic form to interact with Mom’s loved ones at her funeral.

• In: Camryn Grimes

  

  Only days after giving birth to her and fiance Brock Powell’s son Bridger, the Young & Restless Emmy winner was back at work as Mariah.

• In: Alex Landi

  

  Good news for fans of Grey’s Anatomy’s “Schmico.” As production got underway on Season 20 of the ABC drama, the network revealed that Nico’s former portrayer was scrubbing back in.

• In: Stacy Haiduk

  

  MIA from Days of Our Lives since October 2023, the scene stealer brought Kristen roaring back in January — and no, not just to appreciate the finer points of Brady’s sexy stubble.

• In: Marc Anthony Samuel

  

  General Hospital couldn’t bid adieu to Bobbie without bringing back Felix to say goodbye to the fellow nurse with whom he brought down the house in 2018.

• In: Kirsten Storms

  

  After being spelled by Hope & Faith alum Nicole Paggi, Maxie’s usual portrayer reported back to work at General Hospital.

• In: Steve Burton

  

  Only a day after the actor announced that he was out at Days of Our Lives, he announced that he was headed back to General Hospital to raise Jason from the grave. Again!

• Out: Steve Burton

  

  The Emmy winner revealed shortly after New Year that he had taped his last episodes as Harris on Days of Our Lives — and just as General Hospital seemed to be crafting itself a new Jason, too.

• Out: Kelly Monaco

  

  In early January, the General Hospital fan favorite was again temporarily replaced by soap-hopper Lindsay Hartley, late of Passions, All My Children and Days of Our Lives.

• In: Kelly Monaco

  

  Only a day later, Sam’s usual portrayer was back on screen on General Hospital.

• In: Adam Huss

  

  We had known for a while that General Hospital had greatly exaggerated rumors of Nikolas’ death. But we were still caught as off guard as Ava when her ex made a surprise appearance at her art gallery.

• In: Brian Gaskill

  

  As 2023 was about to exit stage left, the news broke that The Young and the Restless had cast Brian Gaskill as Seth, whose acquaintance recovering alcoholic Nikki makes at an AA meeting. The soap vet was previously Bobby on All My Children, Rafe on Port Charles, Ozzy on Bold & Beautiful and Dylan on Guiding Light.

• In: Ryan Carnes

  

  General Hospital announced in late 2023 that it was bringing the actor back as Lucas for the saddest of occasions: its farewell to Bobbie Spencer, the iconic character played by the late Jacklyn Zeman. Carnes was but one of many recasts of Bobbie’s adopted son but held the role the longest and played, arguably, the doctor’s most memorable storylines.

• In: Adain Bradley

  

  Better late than never, it looked like Bold & Beautiful might provide #JusticeForEmma. Xander returned to the canvas full of accusations that Thomas was responsible for his ex-girlfriend’s murder. As luck would have it — good for Xander, bad for Thomas — Finn was only too happy to listen.

• In: AnnaLynne McCord

  

  Given how far ahead Days of Our Lives tapes, it would be months after the 90210 alum’s casting was announced that she’d finally make her debut on Peacock’s soap. But the description of her character certainly had us looking forward to it. Marin was said to be “the desire of many, but her heart belongs to only one man who continues to push her away for her own good.”

• In: Darragh Hand

  

  As intel about Season 3 of Netflix’s LGBTQ+ romance Heartstopper began to leak, creator Alice Oseman spilled the beans that this charismatic newcomer had been cast as Michael, Tori’s love interest from her first novel, Solitaire.

• Out: Kara Killmer

  

  A Chicago Fire regular since Season 3, the actress’ departure during Season 12 was disclosed in November of 2023. Perhaps to give the show time to write a happy ending for “Brettsey”?

• In: Ellen Pompeo

  

  Though the Grey’s Anatomy OG’s days as a series regular were behind her, she was set to make two appearances as Meredith in Season 20 of the long-running ABC drama.

• Out: Krista Allen

  

  We didn’t even realize that she had left until poof… she was gone. In fact, by the time the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, the Days of Our Lives vet who succeeded Hunter Tylo as Taylor on The Bold and the Beautiful had taped her final episode, aired for the last time and moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta. Could one of these actresses be the show’s next Taylor?

• Out: Tracy Spiridakos

  

  All the way back in October of 2023, our sister site Variety broke the news that Upton would be hanging up her badge following Season 11 of Chicago P.D.

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