Three Cheers for Greg Rikaart Slaying Both His DAYS and Y&R Roles

On Tuesday, March 29, soap opera fans got a double-dose of Daytime Emmy-winner Greg Rikaart when he appeared on both Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless — in some markets at the exact same time, so you could flip back and forth and double your fun.

Greg Rikaart — Different Strokes for Different Shows

Rikaart is hardly the first actor to play different roles on different shows. A few years ago, co-star Eileen Davidson pulled off the same trick by appearing on The Young and the Restless as Ashley Abbott and on Days of our Lives as Kristen DiMera at the same time. But those characters are more similar than they are different. Rikaart pulled off the trick of portraying practically polar opposites.

Good and True

On Y&R, Greg Rikaart graced the small screen as Kevin Fisher. Kevin was being berated by his wife, Chloe Mitchell Fisher (Elizabeth Hendrickson)…because he was being too good of a guy. Chloe was angry that Kevin flew off at the drop of a hat to rescue his brother, Michael Baldwin (Christian Le Blanc). And he successfully brought Michael home to his wife, Lauren Fenmore Baldwin (Tracey Bregman). How dare he? (OK, so Chloe’s beef was with him not telling her he was jetting off into danger, and not the whole saving his brother thing).

Greg Rikaart Plays Bad to the Bone

Meanwhile, on DAYS, Rikaart was Leo Stark, in bed with Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn), and explaining to boyfriend Craig Wesley (Kevin Spirtas) how he did it all for him. Most people who walk in on their boyfriend in bed with someone else end up storming out in a huff. After Leo explained himself, Craig ended up proposing.

The proposal makes absolutely no logical sense. But Rikaart’s performance sold it. Sure, the viewers can see that Leo is smarmy and opportunistic, and an absolutely horrible human being who gets off on creating chaos and hurting others the way he believes he’s been hurt. But Rikaart’s acting skill makes it clear why Craig fell for him, and why he keeps buying what Leo is selling.

And that’s all Rikaart. Next year, we expect him to be nominated for a Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actor, where his closest competition will be…Greg Rikaart. Imagine that.