Jeremy Horton, a legacy member of Salem’s famous Horton family, has had his share of ups and downs over the years. Now, the character is getting a fresh new chapter as Michael Roark steps into the role. With Roark’s dynamic presence, fans can expect Jeremy’s return to shake things up in true Days of our Lives fashion.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Roark debuted as Jeremy Horton, bringing a fresh energy to the legacy Days of our Lives character.
- Jeremy first appeared in 1989 as the son of Mike Horton and Robin Jacobs and returned in 2007 with a troubled past tied to illegal activities.
- His 2025 comeback began with warm scenes alongside Julie and Chad.
- Jeremy revealed he had turned his life around, earning a teaching certification and taking a substitute role for Thomas and Rachel.
- His unexpected visit to his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie, reopened old wounds as he expressed regret and sought closure.
- Jeremy will play a key role in the upcoming Horton family gala honoring his great-grandfather, Tom Horton.
- Roark, known to soap fans from The Young and the Restless, replaces Trevor Donovan in the role, marking his return to daytime television.
Baby Blues
Jeremy Horton first appeared on Days of Our Lives in 1989, when his mother, Robin Jacobs (Derya Ruggles), revealed to Mike Horton(then Michael T. Weiss) that she’d had his child while living in Israel. The family soon returned overseas, and Mike later joined them.
Flight Plan
In 2007, Jeremy (Trevor Donovan) came back to Salem, dating Stephanie Johnson (then Shelly Hennig) and partnering with Jett Carver (Marcus Patrick) — Abe’s (James Reynolds) nephew — and Chelsea Brady (Rachel Melvin) on a luxury charter business flying from Salem to Las Vegas. When funding fell through, Max Brady (Darin Brooks) invested, unaware that Jeremy was secretly selling fake designer clothes on the side.
Steve Johnson’s (Stephen Nichols) background check exposed Jeremy’s criminal record, but worse secrets followed: he was tied to a human-trafficking ring smuggling women from Eastern Europe to Vegas. Jett was actually an undercover ISA agent, and when the operation was exposed, Jeremy fled town instead of surrendering.
You Can Go Home Again
Jeremy made his reentrance into Salem on October 3 in the form of actor Michael Roark. He shared his first scenes with his cousin, Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes), who was very happy to see him, and Chad (Billy Flynn). Jeremy revealed that he recently hit a major crossroads in his life and decided to take a surprising new path. After earning his teaching certification, he returned to the classroom — stepping in as a long-term fifth-grade substitute teacher for none other than Thomas (Cary Christopher) and Rachel (Alice Halsey)! It’s a fresh new chapter for Jeremy, but he quickly leaves to run an errand.
That errand was stopping for flowers and heading straight to his ex Stephanie’s (Abigail Klein) apartment. She had just been talking about Jeremy to her current beau, Alex (Robert Scott Wilson), who offered his unwavering support. After he leaves, Stephanie hears a knock at the door and is surprised to see Jeremy on the other side. She reluctantly lets him in because he wants to clear the air.
Despite Stephanie’s best efforts to keep the past firmly in the rearview, Jeremy manages to talk his way in — begging for just a few minutes of her time. Once inside, he starts by congratulating her on her success as Anastasia Sands, before quickly shifting gears to admit his deep regrets about how he treated her in the past. Jeremy explains that he knew word of his return would reach her eventually, so he wanted to set the record straight — promising he’ll stay out of her life and that she has nothing to worry about.
One thing is for sure – he will be in front and center with the gala honoring his great-grandfather, Tom Horton (MacDonald Carey). The gala will bring back several Hortons to the canvas, including Jeremy’s father, Mike (now Roark Critchlow).
The Man Behind The Man
Michael Roark is familiar to soap fans for his portrayal of Travis Crawford on Y&R in 2016. He was a likable actor in a role that lasted only 8 months. Roark went on to do film and television roles, but is now back in the world of soaps.
There has been so much time that has gone by since Donovan left the show and Roark came on board that fans should not have a hard time adjusting to the new Jeremy. I, for one, am excited to see the Alex/Stephanie/Jeremy scenes because Alex was already ready to defend his girlfriend.
