Soap Opera Comings and Goings: Returns, A Wrap and an Exit… for Now

Here are the latest comings and goings casting news from all four daytime dramas: The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless.

Casting For The Week of October 7, 2024

Find out if any of your favorite actors and actresses from yesteryear are returning to the shows you watch, if any newcomers have been cast in contract, recurring, or day-player roles, or if any popular performers are about to make their exit.

General Hospital

After an extended break, Genie Francis resurfaces as Laura Collins this week. The actress is set to make her first appearance on Wednesday, October 9. She’ll also share an emotional reunion with her TV son, Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky, on Thursday, October 10.

Meanwhile, Kelly Monaco has wrapped up filming at the ABC soap. Her mother reported to social media that the actress filmed her final scenes as Sam McCall on September 27. Monaco, whose character is being killed off, joined the soap in 2003. Her last airdate has yet to be disclosed. 

Charles Mesure continues to get more airtime as Jack Brennan. He appears on Monday, October 7, Tuesday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 9

Parry Shen pops back in as Brad Cooper. Look for the character to confide in Josh Kelly’s Cody on Friday, October 11.

Michael E. Knight returns as Martin Grey. On Friday, October 11, the lawyer strategizes with his client, Nancy Lee Grahn’s Alexis. 

Days of our Lives

The comeback tour continues in Salem. On the heels of Kristian Alfonso, Peter Reckell, and Alison Sweeney’s upcoming returns as Hope Brady, Bo Brady, and Sami Brady, respectively, comes more good news. Several other stars from yesteryear are heading back to the NBC soap. Scheduled to appear in the new year are Matthew Ashford (Jack), Christie Clark (Carrie), Leanna Hunley (Anna), Victoria Konefal (Ciara), Chandler Massey (Will), Thaao Penghlis (Tony), Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) and Charles Shaughnessy (Shane).

Meanwhile, Casey Moss is set to resurface soon. Look for JJ Deveraux to begin airing again on Thursday, October 17. Moss began playing Jack and Jennifer’s son in 2013 and made his last appearance in 2022. 

James Read is back as Clyde Weston. On Thursday, October 10, the convict appears in powerful scenes opposite Jonah Robinson’s Mark.

Cary Christopher and Autumn Gendron will reprise their roles as Thomas and Charlotte DiMera on Monday, October 7. The child actors will share scenes with Billy Flynn’s Chad, AnnaLynne McCord’s “Abigail,” Susan Seaforth Hayes’ Julie, and Greg Rikaart’s Leo.

Tina Huang gets more screen time as Melinda Trask on Wednesday, October 9. She’ll interact with Greg Vaughan’s Eric.

Bruce Beatty makes another appearance as Seth Burns. The Salem University Hospital administrator interacts with Carson Boatman on Tuesday, October 8.

The Young and the Restless

Vail Bloom confirmed her exit as Heather Stevens, at least for now. A mentally unstable Sharon seemingly killed off her character (Sharon Case). Bloom, who originally played Heather from 2007 to 2010 and returned in 2023, teased that she may appear in additional episodes. Sharon is already being haunted by the late Cameron Kirsten, played by Linden Ashby, who gets more airtime this week. 

Lily Brooks O’Briant is back as Lucy Romalotti, too. The teen airs on Monday, October 7, and Wednesday, October 9, in scenes with her TV father, Michael Graziadei’s Daniel, and Conner Floyd’s Chance.

Meanwhile, on the return front, it looks like Brytni Sarpy is resurrecting her long-missing character, Dr. Elena Dawson. The actress posted photos and videos of herself at the Y&R studio, referencing the soap’s upcoming 13,000th episode, along with the message, “Just popping in to say hello to the fam.” 

The Bold and the Beautiful

Liam (Scott Clifton) and Hope’s (Annika Noelle) daughter gets some quality screen time this week. Jordyn Gracie appears as Beth Spencer on Tuesday, October 8, Wednesday, October 9, and Friday, October 11, in scenes with her TV parents.

Heidi Engerman pops back in as Lainey. The Forrester Creations model and her pal Toni, played by Jasmine Dampier, air on Monday, October 7, in scenes with Crew Morrow’s Will and Clifton’s Liam. Morrow is the real-life son of The Young and the Restless star Joshua Morrow, who plays Nick Newman.

Henry DiNapoli returns as Brodie on Tuesday, October 8. The character was last seen in November 2023, when he babysat Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) children.

Last but not least, Minita Gandhi plays Shandra on Friday, October 11.