Leo Stark’s new year has been bleak so far. And not just because of the frigid temperatures and winter storms raging through the U.S. His marriage went up in smoke and, as a result, he spent much of his time reeling, drinking, arguing, falling apart, soul-searching, and saying goodbye. Meanwhile, Greg Rikaart, who plays Leo, was on fire in January, which is why he’s Soap Hub‘s Performer of the Month for Days of Our Lives.
Key Takeaways
- Greg Rikaart earns Performer of the Month after Leo’s marriage implodes and emotions spiral.
- Leo battles heartbreak, self-doubt, and unresolved feelings as Dimitri’s return shakes everything.
- Powerful performances highlight Leo’s inner tug-of-war between growth and old, destructive habits.
January 2026 Performer of the Month
Rikaart Thrives When Leo Experiences Chaos and Drama
Rikaart is at his best when he’s playing all the emotions all at once. Leo pretty much lost his husband two seconds after they said their “I Dos.” Their marriage quickly imploded thanks to the sudden return of the man he loved before Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon): Dimitri Von Leuschner (Peter Porte). And ever since, Leo has been lost, unable to make a decision, and he returned to his self-loathing ways.
He tried to hold his head high, but that was impossible when he was too busy drinking his drama away. This month, he opened up to Chad (Billy Flynn) and Xander (Paul Telfer). He confronted the problem (Dimitri) head-on, only to realize that he still had feelings for him. Each realization sent him further into despair, because he knew what they would mean for his relationship with the man he currently loved. Javi wanted all of his heart, one hundred percent. Could Leo give him that?
The Choice Between the Black Hat and the White Hat
Rikaart played his character’s turmoil verbally — Leo often gets to communicate exactly what he’s thinking and feeling. Somehow, the actor beautifully delivers Leo’s stream-of-consciousness dialogue every time.
But the Emmy-winning actor also let us see the effects of his character’s dilemma in other ways. For example, we could see the heartbreak in Leo’s eyes. We couldn’t hide from them. Leo didn’t want to admit to himself that the good guy he had evolved into with Javi by his side may be gone. He knew that if he did reunite with Dimitri, he would be back to living life on the dark side. Which is probably why he hasn’t made that decision yet.
The Fallout of Dimitri’s Return Will Continue
However, Javi is helping make that decision easier if Leo goes that route. Ultimately, Javi didn’t have faith that they as a couple could persevere. Granted, he left town to go care for his father, but he could have let Leo go with him. He gave up and exited stage right, and Rikaart showed how shattered he was by yet another relationship ending horribly.
Needless to say, Rikaart had great material to play in January. He nailed every emotional beat and then some. In 2005, he won a Daytime Emmy for his work on The Young and the Restless. Last year, He was nominated for DAYS. And while it’s only January, he should be considered a contender for an Emmy in 2026.
READ: DAYS’ Wally Kurth steps back from touring with the Day Players.
MORE: DAYS’ Jackée Harry hints that Paulina’s season of joy is about to get complicated.
NEXT: DAYS’ Greg Rikaart opens up about reinvention, resiliance, and trusting the long game.
