Young and Restless Comings and Goings Shocker: Ray Wise Returns as Ian Ward
Veteran actor Ray Wise made an unexpected return to Young and Restless when Ian Ward appeared to a stunned Mariah (Camryn Grimes) at the end of the October 21 episode. However, this particular visit is going to be quite brief as the character is not back in the flesh, but only as a figment of Mariah’s imagination as she works through the trauma that the villain has created in her life.
Evil Never Dies
Wise is perhaps best known for playing Leland Palmer on Twin Peaks, and has also appeared in prime time series like 24, Reaper, Savannah, and Fresh Off the Boat, as well as films like Swamp Thing, RoboCop, and Jeepers Creepers 2. But the actor actually started his career in daytime back in 1970, playing attorney Jamie Rollins on the soap opera Love of Life until 1976.
In January 2014, Wise returned to daytime when Y&R cast him in the role of villainous cult leader Ian Ward, which he played on a recurring basis until July 2016. At the 2015 Daytime Emmy Awards, he took home the trophy for Outstanding Special Guest Performer for his work on the soap. In November 2024, Wise made a surprise return as Ian to stir up even more trouble in Genoa City with the help of new partner-in-crime Jordan Howard (Colleen Zenk). While Ian was shot and presumed dead in January 2025, the villain opened his eyes in the ambulance, revealing to the audience that his demise wasn’t all it cracked up to be. “Well, you can’t keep a good villain down, you know?” Wise winked to Soap Opera Digest at the time. “You just can’t do that! And I was very happy that they kept the door open for Ian to make a return at some point.”
When the actor’s last stint wrapped, he made it very clear he was hoping for a comeback. “I think people enjoy my character because he’s out there and he’s interesting to watch and never a dull moment,” Wise mused. “And I would like [fans] to make it known to Josh [Griffith, executive producer/head writer] that Ian Ward should come back at some point in the future!”
While this appearance is just for one episode (in addition to the tag of today’s show) as Mariah confronts Ian and all the trauma that he’s put her through, Ian is technically still alive out there somewhere, likely plotting his revenge on the Newman family. So who knows if Wise might be back again at some point in the future to reprise the role, this time live and in person?
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