So Long, Leo: Why We’ll Miss This Days of Our Lives Scoundrel

Sometimes characters show up on soaps to cause trouble and you can’t help but love them anyway. When Leo Stark first arrived on the Days of Our Lives scene last year, he seemed innocent enough, but we soon learned he was playing a con and setting up Sonny for sexual harassment.

However, during his second stint, Leo became one of the most fascinating and fun characters on the canvas and we feel DAYS was remiss letting this character go.

Leo, aka Matthew Cooper, seemed one-dimensional, but certainly was not. Towards the end, we got to see his vulnerability as he just wanted a normal father and family and to know he didn’t kill his own father many years ago.

But, he was also a laugh a minute most of the time. He was also different from so many of the gay characters soaps have introduced because he was flamboyant and revealed in his sexuality. Actor Greg Rikaart played it to the hilt and looked like he was having the time of his life doing so.

When you see an actor truly enjoying what he’s doing, it’s easier to enjoy the character when the character is not one of the good guys.

From Sonny and Leo’s Elvis-style wedding in the Kiriakis living room with Sheila officiating to Leo’s flirtations to Xander and even Brady, we couldn’t laugh more.

Then, we got the ultimate treat when Judith Chapman showed up in town as Diana Colville, Leo’s mother. Longtime fans remember Diana from the 1980s and loved the blast from the past.

But, the real treat was watching this mother-son combo from The Young and the Restless take their chemistry and banter to Days of Our Lives.

Thankfully, the door has been left wide open for Leo’s return and we hope we see him again one day — VERY soon.

Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.