Here are the latest comings and goings casting news from all five daytime dramas: The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and Beyond the Gates.
Key Takeaways
- Major legacy returns headline the week, including Louise Sorel on DAYS, Morgan Fairchild on B&B, and Ray Wise on Y&R.
- Casting updates span all five soaps, with familiar villains, doctors, and family members reentering active storylines.
- GH brings back Kirsten Storms as Maxie, while Cameron Mathison remains on canvas as Drew.
- New and returning younger characters gain focus across B&B, GH, and Y&R, signaling shifting family dynamics.
The Week of January 26, 2026
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.
Days of our Lives Casting
Get ready for big trouble on DAYS. Louise Sorel is reprising her role as the diabolical Vivian Alamain this week. Sorel, who originally brought the character to life in 1992 and has appeared on and off over the decades, last aired in April 2025. Check out Sorel’s most memorable moment from her years on the soap.
Richard Wharton is back as Dr. Wilhelm Rolf. The nefarious DiMera minion interacts with Emily O’Brien’s Gwen on Monday, January 26.
Peter Porte continues his stint as Dimitri Von Leuschner. Here are some interesting facts about the actor.
Hank Northrop returns as Liam Selejko. He shares scenes with James Reynolds’ Abe on Tuesday, January 27.
Tina Huang clocks back in as Melinda Trask. The attorney helps facilitate Thomas’ (Cary Christopher) custody agreement on Thursday, January 29, opposite Billy Flynn’s Chad, Melissa Reeves’ Jennifer, and Wally Kurth’s Justin. Christopher, who’s played Thomas since 2020, is set to depart the soap next month.
Alice Halsey gets more airtime as the troubled Rachel Black. The young actress works with Stacy Haiduk’s Kristen and Martha Madison’s Belle on Friday, January 30.
General Hospital Casting
Kirsten Storms fans will soon be getting their wish. The actress, who took a break from GH last year to move to Tennessee and deal with a personal health issue, is back at work filming scenes as Maxie Jones. Storms shared the news on Instagram. That means Maxie, who’s been in a coma for months, will soon be waking up. Viewers can expect to see her on air on February 12.
Meanwhile, Cameron Mathison, who plays the loathsome Drew Cane, is not leaving the soap anytime soon. Although his character suffered a major ischemic stroke after Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) injected him with a lethal drug, he’ll remain on the story canvas.
Bluesy Burke is back as Charlotte Cassadine on Tuesday, January 27. She interacts with Alexa Havins’ Lulu and Laura Wright’s Carly. Check out these interesting facts about Burke.
Also on the teen front, Finn Carr gets more airtime as Rocco Falconeri. The character gets his feelings hurt on Friday, January 30.
Wes Ramsey made a surprise return as Peter August last week, the late son of Cesar Faison (Anders Hove). The character appeared in a hallucination to the kidnapped Anna (Finola Hughes).
The Bold and the Beautiful Casting
Morgan Fairchild reprises her role as Dottie on B&B, an old friend of the late Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery). The character discusses Forrester Creations’ business with Jacqueline MacInnes Wood’s Steffy and Laneya Grace’s Electra on Tuesday, January 26. The veteran actress last appeared on the soap in 2009. She was last seen as Haven de Havilland on General Hospital in 2024 and played Anjelica Deveraux on Days of our Lives in 2017.
Joining Fairchild is Jim J. Bullock as Joseph, Dottie’s assistant. He previously played Serge on the soap in 2005 and 2009. He’ll interact with Fairchild, Wood, and Grace on Tuesday, January 27.
Bryan David Garlick pops in as Hayes Finnegan, Steffy and Finn’s (Tanner Novlan) son. He has scenes with Crew Morrow’s Will and Sydney Bullock’s Dylan on Tuesday, January 27.
Ashleigh Brewer is back as Ivy Forrester. Look for the jewelry designer to witness something that shocks her this week. (Brewer recently married her longtime boyfriend last December.)
The Young and the Restless Casting
Ray Wise returns to Y&R as the evil Ian Ward. Once again, the former cult leader haunts Camryn Grimes’ Mariah in scenes that air Tuesday, January 27. Grimes recently shared her thoughts about working with the veteran actor.
Ethan Ray Clark has taken over the role of Dominic Winters, Abby (Melissa Ordway) and Devon’s (Bryton James) son. The daytime newcomer, who replaced Rainn and River Ware, debuted in the role last week.
Melissa Ordway is back as Abby Newman Winters. She interacts with her TV hubby and son, the aforementioned James and Clark, on Tuesday, January 27. Ordway, who was taken off contract by the CBS soap in 2025, has been getting more screen time of late.
