Soap Opera Comings And Goings: Temporary Recast, Returns & A Spouse Debuts

Here’s a list of the top exit and entrance news from all four daytime dramas. Find out if any of your favorite performers from yesteryear are returning to the shows you follow, or if any new actors or actresses have been cast in contract, recurring, or day-player roles.

Days of our Lives

A popular role has been recast at Days of our Lives, albeit temporarily. When Greg Vaughan was unable to report for work on the soap opera a few months back, Jason Gerhardt was hired to take over as Eric Brady.  He’ll make his first appearance on Monday, August 7. Gerhardt is no stranger to daytime. He previously appeared as Three, one of Jerry Jacks’s henchmen, and Cooper Barrett on General Hospital. He also played Zack Kilmer on the primetime series Mistresses. 

Linsey Godfrey returns to the Salem scene as Sarah Horton, this week. The actress will interact with her TV mother, Suzanne Rogers, who plays Maggie Horton Kiriakis. 

By Godfrey’s side will be Kyle Lowder as Rex Brady. The duo will interact in scenes together on Friday, August 11.

Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles star Josh Flagg pops back in as businessman Yuri. He airs on Thursday, August 10 in scenes with Abigail Klein’s Stephanie Johnson. Flagg made his last appearance on the soap opera in May. 

Cary Christopher and Autumn Gendron reappear as Chad DiMera’s (Billy Flynn) children, Thomas and Charlotte, respectively. The kids appear on Thursday, August 10. 

Finley Rose Slater airs as Rachel Black on Thursday, August 10. She’ll share scenes with her TV parents, Stacy Haiduk’s Kristen DiMera and Eric Martsolf’s Brady Black.  

General Hospital

A popular leading man’s wife is set to make her General Hospital debut. Lauren Swickard, who’s wed to Josh Swickard who plays Harrison Chase, has been cast as Janice. The recurring character is a nurse at Ferncliff, the mental hospital that is treating Sasha Gilmore Corbin (Sofia Mattsson), and debuts on Monday, August 7.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith makes another appearance as Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) security chief, Brick. He airs on Monday, August 7.

The Young and the Restless

Doug Davidson’s long tenure at The Young and the Restless – he started on the soap opera back in 1978 – appears to be officially over. The actor, who hasn’t aired as police chief Paul Williams since 2020, has reported that he cleaned out his dressing room on social media. Davidson  thanked fans for their “kind messages” and noted that he was “eternally grateful to Bill and Lee Bell (the soap’s co-creators) and CBS for EVERYTHING!” On-screen it was recently mentioned that Paul retired from his police job and moved to Portugal, after ending his marriage to Christine (Lauralee Bell).

Lily Brooks O’Briant returns for another visit as Lucy Romalotti, Daniel’s (Michael Graziadei) daughter. She’ll pop in Genoa City beginning Wednesday, August 9.

The Bold and the Beautiful

After some prominent work last week, Sophia Paras is back as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Kelly Spencer, Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Liam’s (Scott Clifton) daughter. The young actress airs on Monday, August 7.

Naomi Matsuda pops back in as Li Finnegan. Look for Finn’s (Tanner Novlan) mother to appear on Friday, August 4.

A pair of Forrester Creations models are on the scene. Riley Rasmussen portrays Sloane on Thursday, August 10, while, Isabella Betwee returns as Skylar on Friday, August 11.