Soap Opera Comings and Goings: Big Returns, Exits and a Crossover

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

Soap Casting For Week of April 1, 2024

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

The Bold and the Beautiful

After six years away from the fold, a popular star is returning to The Bold and the Beautiful. Ashleigh Brewer is resurrecting the role of Ivy Forrester, Eric Forrester’s (John McCook) niece. The actress played Ivy from 2014 until 2018, when her character moved back to Australia. 

Tracey Bregman, who plays Lauren Fenmore Baldwin on The Young and the Restless, is making another visit to B&B. She airs on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 and is set to share scenes with John McCook’s Eric.  

Hollis W. Chambers makes a couple more appearances as Hollis. The Il Giardino bartender airs on Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3.

Jordyn Lynn Ariza returns as Beth Spencer, Liam (Scott Clifton) and Hope’s (Annika Noelle) daughter. The tyke airs on Tuesday, April 2.

Sean Whalen is back as Carl on Friday, April 5. The geeky character briefly recurred on the soap in 2016.  

On the exit front, two key Forresters left town last week. Matthew Atkinson’s Thomas and Henry Joseph Samiri, who plays his onscreen son Douglas, both relocated to Paris… for now.

Days of our Lives

Stephen Schnetzer, best remembered as Cass Winthrop on Another World, is heading back to Days of our Lives for a short stint as Steve Olson. The actor revealed the news during a recent episode of The Locher Room. Schnetzer, who is Julie’s (Susan Seaforth Hayes) brother, originally portrayed the character from 1978 to 1980.  

Bryan Dattilo is back as fan favorite Lucas Horton. The character, who’s currently holed up in “a safehouse”, makes another Days of our Lives appearance on Thursday, April 4, 2024. He’ll share scenes with his TV mom, Lauren Koslow’s Kate.

There’s also an all-new Tate Black when Leo Howard takes over for Jamie Martin Mann on Friday, April 5.

General Hospital

After a long absence, Cassandra James finally resurfaces as Dr. Terry Randolph on General Hospital. She’ll share scenes with Jane Elliot’s Tracy on Thursday, April 4.  

Charles Mesure is back as the incarcerated former WSB director John Brennan. Finola Hughes’ Anna questions the character about Pikeman on Friday, April 5. 

Alley Mills returns as Heather Webber on Thursday, April 4. She’ll interact with Jon Lindstrom’s Kevin and Genie Francis’ Laura.

Bobbie’s diner is getting a new manager. Kody Kavitha has been cast as Hunter. She’ll make her Port Charles debut on Thursday, April 4. The actress has appeared on S.W.A.T. and Awkward. Virginia Ma joins the cast as Madison, Nina’s (Cynthia Watros) new assistant at Crimson. She debuts on Tuesday, April 2. Ma’s credits include Magnum P.I. and The Thundermans.

Hudson West is back as Jake Spencer on Monday, April 1 in scenes with his TV parents, Steve Burton’s Jason and Rebecca Herbst’s Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Asher Antonyzyn returns as Danny Morgan on Friday, April 5. 

The Young and the Restless

Beth Maitland is back on the scene as Traci Abbott on The Young and the Restless. Look for her sister act with Eileen Davidson’s Ashley to be in full focus, when the pair share heavy emotional scenes on Wednesday, April 3.