Michael Roark has taken on the role of Jeremy Horton on Days of Our Lives. The character, previously played by Trevor Donovan, is a member of Salem’s first family and has a tainted past. He was Stephanie Johnson’s abusive ex-boyfriend.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Roark takes over the role of Jeremy Horton.
- Jeremy has a complicated past as Stephanie Johnson’s abusive ex.
- Roark brings film, TV, and soap experience to Salem.
Roark’s Primetime and Film Career
Born and raised in Schaumburg, Illinois, Roark has an extensive background in acting. He’s starred in the films Bennett’s War, Driven, and Alabama Dirt, had a role in the male stripping flick Magic Mike, and appeared in the TV series Beauty and the Beast, Sleepy Hollow, Banshee, Grey’s Anatomy, 9-1-1, NCIS: Los Angeles, and others.
Want to learn more about the actor? Here are seven things to know about Michael Roark.
What You Need to Know
1. Roark was interested in sports in middle school and high school. Upon heading to Illinois State University, he majored in Finance, but added Theater as a minor and took his first acting class. From there, his love for performing thrived, and he performed in several onstage productions
2. After finishing college, he opted to attend law school at the University of Florida, determined to complete his education before heading to Hollywood. Ultimately, he obtained his license to practice law. “I’ve always had a strong sense of justice and for what’s right and wrong. I liked the idea of becoming a federal prosecutor, and I was on that path,” he told Felix magazine. However, the financial crash of 2009 led him back to the acting world.
3. Roark made his big screen debut in the family film Dolphin Tale in 2011. It tells the story of Winter, a young dolphin who loses her tail in a crab trap, and Sawyer, the 11-year-old boy who befriends and helps her. The movie starred Nathan Gamble, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Harry Connick, Jr., and Kris Kristofferson
4. He’s no stranger to the soap world. Roark made his daytime debut on The Young and the Restless in 2016. He portrayed Travis Crawford, a bartender and owner of Hank’s Dive Bar. He was romantically involved with Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle).
5. Roark already had a couple of connections to DAYS before joining the show. He starred in the second season of the streaming series Driven as race car driver Colton Donavan, replacing Casey Jon Deidrick (ex-Chad DiMera, DAYS). Charles Shaughnessy, who portrayed Shane Donovan on DAYS, played his stepfather, Andy Westin. Roark posted a screenshot of the two of them on his Instagram along with the words, “To those moments in life when it hits you — ‘I’m going to remember this’ — It was a thrill to share the screen with @charlesshaughnessy.”
6. He shared his thoughts on the challenging acting profession with Digital Journal. “My mantra as I was starting out was to only worry about getting better,” he said. “There will be many seasons of doubt, defeat, and rejection along the way, and endless opportunity for distraction. Take time for yourself as needed, but don’t get blown off course. You need to learn how to persevere in this game.”
7. What drives him as a performer? “Ever since I stepped on a stage, I’ve been motivated by connecting with and inspiring the audience,” explained Roark to Digital Journal. “With TV and film, I have the opportunity to reach so many people I could never meet. This work also requires me to endlessly be working on myself and to keep reaching for and evolving to the best version of me… It also makes for quite a ride along the way.”
