Comings and Goings: General Hospital, Young and Restless DAYS, B&B and BTG Week Of January 19
From a quartet of firings to a surprise return, here’s the very latest casting information about who’s coming and who’s going on General Hospital, Young and Restless, Beyond The Gates, Bold and Beautiful, and Days of Our Lives.
Who’s Coming
Beyond The Gates
Bonita Brisker (Sharon Winger): Anita (Tamara Tunie) leans on Sharon on Friday, January 23.
Ben Gavin (Derek Baldwin): Derek appears on Friday, January 23 and is on the receiving end of a talking-to from Ashley (Jen Jacob).
Darryl W. Handy (Marcel Malone): The detective puts in more work this week.
Malachi Malik (Elon Hawthorne): Jacob’s (Jibre Hordgres) father notches more airtime this week.
Cady McClain (Pamela Curtis): The Daytime Emmy winner returns again on Friday, January 23 when she and BFF Dani (Karla Mosley) set their sights on Izaiah (David Lami Friebe).
Jaden Lucas Miller (Tyrell): Tyrell’s stance on a family tradition catches Martin (Brandon Claybon) and Smitty (Mike Manning) off-guard on Wednesday, January 21.
Greg Vaughan (Kial Rollins): Daytime Emmy-winner Vaughan, who made his BTG earlier this month, is back in the mix this week.
Kenjah McNeil (Madison Montgomery): Madison experiences some friction in her relationship with Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) this week.
Bold and Beautiful
Jennifer Gareis (Donna Logan Forrester): Donna remains in the mix as the conflict between her sisters, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Katie (Heather Tom), continues to boil.
Days of Our Lives
Miles Anderson (Foster): Foster has a busy week that will see him dispensing advice to Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and hosting Julie’s book club in the shop.
Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux): Jack has a pivotal meeting regarding Thomas (Cary Christopher) and Charlotte’s (Autumn Gendron) custody.
Jack Ferrero (Gage Selejko): Young actor Ferrero made his debut last week in the role of Liam’s (Hank Northrop) son.
Kennedy Garcia (Felicity Greene): Cat’s (AnnaLynne McCord) airs this week.
Kim Hawthorne (Dr. Gregory): Rachel’s (Alice Halsey) appears again this week.
Boise Holmes (Father Bernard): The man of the cloth is on hand to perform baby Trey’s (Joseph Inlenf and Jordan Purdue) christening.
Melissa Reeves (Jennifer Horton Deveraux): Jennifer is also featured in the scenes involving her grandchildren’s custody arrangement.
General Hospital
Cosette Abintante (Scout Cain): Expect to see more of Scout this week, given her father’s health crisis.
Finn Carr (Rocco Falconeri): Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) son makes his next appearance on Thursday, January 22.
Andrew Hawkes (WSB Director Ross Cullum): Last week, Hawkes made his Port Charles debut as Cullum, who was revealed to be Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) partner-in-crime … and also Jack Brennan’s (Chris McKenna) superior at the WSB. The actor has appeared on a wide range of prime-time shows, including Chicago PD, Community, CSI, Dexter, ER, NCIS and The Rookie and briefly played a thief on Y&R in 2014.
Anders Hove (Cesar Faison): The Danish actor made a surprise return to the show last week — albeit only via his voice — when hostage Anna (Finola Hughes) heard her longtime tormentor via the Intercom in her cell at Wyndemere. Hove began playing Faison back in 1990, and last appeared in 2018.
Vernee Watson (Stella Henry): Curtis’s (Donnell Turner) fiercely protective aunt lets her feelings about Portia (Brook Kerr) and Isaiah’s (Sawandi Wilson) entanglement be known.
Young and Restless
Camryn Grimes (Mariah Copeland): Troubled Mariah appears again this week, and on Friday, January 23, she is slated to receive a haunting message.
Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman Winters): The actress, who is on recurring status with the show, is set to appear on Friday, January 23 — and according to the teasers for this week’s shows, trouble is on the horizon for her character, Abby, and Abby’s hubby, Devon (Bryton James).
Who’s Going
Days of Our Lives
Carson Boatman (Johnny DiMera): The actor, who assumed the role of Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ’s ()Dan Feuerriegel son in August 2021, has been let go alongside three other stars. He will continue to air well into 2026, as the show tapes its episodes approximately 10 months in advance.
Raven Bowens (Chanel Dupree DiMera): Bowens is one of several Salem-ites who were informed at the beginning of the year that their characters were being written out. Like her on-screen husband, Boatman, she will remain on screen for many months. Bowens made her debut on the show in March 2021.
Cary Christopher (Thomas DiMera): The Daytime Emmy-nominated young actor, who confirmed last year that he has departed DAYS in the role of Chad’s (Billy Flynn) son, is approaching his final air date. “My last appearance on Days of our Lives will be next month,” he wrote on his official Facebook page. “It’s been such a great ride! Please welcome the new Thomas with open arms.” (The show has yet to announce the name of the actor who will take over Christopher’s role.) The rising star will next be seen in the family drama It’s Not Like That, which stars Scott Foley (ex-Noel Crane, Felicity). Christopher portrays Justin in the series, which premieres on Wonder Project on Prime Video on Sunday, January 25. “I think you will absolutely love it,” he enthused in his post, adding, “And right now I am in Berlin working on an exciting new project.” Christopher began playing Thomas in 2020.
Leo Howard (Tate Black): Howard, who has played Brady’s (Eric Martsolf) son since April 2024, was the third of the four actors the show has decided to write out.
Ashley Puzemis (Holly Jonas): The final star to be released from the show is Puzemis, who has played Holly since
General Hospital
Tim Lounibos (Judge Sullivan): Now that Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) trial for shooting Drew (Cameron Mathison) has drawn to a close, Lounibos has wrapped his stint as the judge presiding over the courtroom proceedings.
Alumni Report
Former DAYS star Shelley Hennig (ex-Stephanie) has been cast alongside Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage and Justin Long in Best Pancakes in the County, a thriller set at a diner…. As the World Turns alum Jake Silbermann (ex-Noah) will star as Stanley in the new Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, which is set to star Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf…. Ian Ziering (ex-Cameron, Guiding Light; ex-Steve, Beverly Hills, 90210) is hosting Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition on The CW, a reality set to premiere in May 2026…. The new indie flick Veronica & Julian stars Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe, DAYS) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo, DAYS) in the title roles, with one of the supporting roles being played by Passions alum Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone).
In Memoriam
Erika Slezak (ex-Ronnie, GH; ex-Viki, One Life to Live) posted a message on her official website paying homage to Lynn Benesch, also known as Lynn Benish or Lynn Chester, who played Meredith Lord Wolek, Viki’s sister, after learning of the actress’s passing in 2023 at the age of 82. Born in Westchester, NY, Benesch passed away and was buried in Milton, GA. Her husband, Larry Tucker, died in 2024.She was the mother of two daughters, Jennie and Annie, with her first spouse, the late Colby Chester, who was also an actor.
“I recently learned that Lynn Benish, who portrayed my sister Meredith on One Life to Live, has passed away,” Slezak wrote. “After she left California, Lynn and I had lost touch. Lynn was incredibly supportive during my early days on the show, providing invaluable help throughout my first year on OLTL. She led me by the hand and told me where everything was and what the schedule was. She and Syd Andrews, our stage manager and Ernie Graves who was Victor, literally walked me through that first day. Lynn’s kindness will always be remembered. May she rest in peace.”
The actress made her daytime debut in 1961 on The Doctors, where she portrayed the role of Bonnie Evans for seven episodes. In 1969, OLTL Creator/Head Writer Agnes Nixon decided to recast the role of Meredith and tapped Benesch to succeed original cast member Trish Van Devere. She remained with the show until 1973, when Meredith passed away from a malignant blood disease. In 1987, but when Viki famously traveled to heaven in an out-of-body experience, Benesch reprised the role for a guest appearance and Viki briefly reunited with her beloved sibling. After exiting OLTL, Benesch went on to appear in movies like Planet of the Apes and on TV shows like Happy Days and Rhoda. In 1986, Benesch appeared in short-term role on Y&R, Beverly Stark, which was her final TV credit. Beverly was the controlling mother of a pregnant teenage runway, Molly Stark, who became involved with Danny (Michael Damian) and Cricket (Lauralee Bell).
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