Colleen Zenk Reflects on Unexpected ‘Y&R’ Exit: ‘I’m Sad Jordan Went Away So Quickly’
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Colleen Zenk admits that she’s disappointed her run as The Young and the Restless’ Jordan Howard has come to an end. “I’m sad Jordan went away so quickly,” she says of her alter ego, who met her maker last week after swallowing poisoned tea. “I thought that Ian [Ray Wise] and Jordan would go out like Bonnie and Clyde together.”
Nevertheless, Zenk, who played As The World Turns’ Barbara Ryan from 1978 to the show’s finale in 2010, feels thankful to have been hired for the role after more than a decade away from soaps. “What a gift at my age and my tenure to be given that kind of character,” she reflects. “And to be able to work with the people that I worked with, first with Mel [Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman], then Amelia [Heinle, Victoria Newman] and sweet little Hayley [Erin, Claire Grace] and Eric [Braeden, Victor Newman] and then Ray [Wise]. It’s been so much fun.”
When the actress was initially tapped to play Jordan in 2023, the gig was short-term but quickly became longer. “When Josh [Griffith, executive producer/head writer] first got a hold of me, he said, ‘I’ve got this character. Are you interested? It’s only about 12 shows,’ ” she recalls. “And I said, ‘I’m in.’ And then the 12 shows turned into 50 and then I came back for another 22. It’s just been a great ride with a great group of people, from actors to production.”
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Though Zenk had plenty of daytime experience under her belt, she says she battled nerves when she showed up to the studio. “It was daunting, and I was completely intimidated,” she confides. “Coming into the show that first week, I was terrified until Eric, on our first or second day of work, looked into the camera and he said, ‘Thank God, you hired me a pro.’”
She also found many familiar faces on set to help ease her way. “There are so many people out there from World Turns and Guiding Light,” she explains. “Chris LeBlanc [Michael Baldwin, who played ATWT’s Kirk McCall], I’ve kept up with for years and I’ve known Peter Bergman [Jack Abbott] since we were both 22. So, the New Yorkers made me feel like I was home, between Vivian Gundaker, one of our main producers who was the lead producer on World Turns, who I’ve known since she was an intern, down to Fritz Brekeller, who is one of our stage managers, who I’ve known since he was an intern on World Turns. And there were just so many people that came through that I’ve known from other shows in New York. Little Lizzie Henderson [Chloe Mitchell, who played All My Children’s Maggie and Frankie Stone] and I rebonded, which was great.”
Zenk also met some new co-stars over the months she spent there. “I met Jess Walton [Jill Abbott] for the first time when she came back for Devon [Bryton James] and Abby’s [Melissa Ordway] wedding [last November],” Zenk relays. “We were in the makeup room, and she gets up out of the makeup chair, she sees me, she runs over and we both start crying because we couldn’t believe after all these years, we had never met each other. And we had that beautiful little moment in the makeup room in front of everybody, and then I never saw her again.”
Ray Wise was another actor with whom she developed a close bond. “I’ve never met Ray before, but I knew his work,” she shares. “He’s everything that everyone told me he would be. He’s the real deal. He is kind, he is supportive, he is gracious, he’s funny as hell and he’s a pure gentleman. And he’s an actor who supports other actors. I loved my time with him, and we became good friends, and he’s called a couple of times since I’ve been home just checking up on me.”
There are other performers Zenk wishes she could have shared scenes with before she wrapped her run. “I never got a chance to work with Peter [Bergman],” she laments. “I only had one day with Christian [LeBlanc]. And Michelle Stafford [Phyllis Summers]! I adore her and never got to work with her or Tracey [E. Bregman, Lauren Fenmore]. We became really good friends. I thought I was going to be in the Abbott world when I came back but that didn’t happen. I would have loved to work with the Abbotts — Peter, Eileen [Davidson, Ashley Abbott] and Beth [Maitland, Traci Abbott] — all of them over there.”
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Zenk says she loved working out what made Jordan tick and going along for the ride as she descended into madness. “I wasn’t given really any direction,” she notes. “I just had to go with what was on the page and figure Jordan out myself. The only thing I kept saying to Josh Griffith was, ‘If I go too far, pull me back.’ He said, ‘You can’t go too far.’ I went, ‘OK.’ That was very freeing as an actor. I had to jump in with both feet and not even think about how out there I was being.”
The actress appreciates the support she received from the show’s devoted fans when they heard she was cast in the role, and the positive feedback since. “I didn’t expect the overwhelming welcome I got when I came back and now I’m getting the overwhelming sadness because they’re saying, ‘No, no, don’t die,’ ” she muses. “So, I’ve had it from both ends and it’s been lovely. It’s been really lovely just seeing the outpouring of love and the respect that I’ve had from everybody.”
Though she’s kept busy since her Oakdale days, Zenk reports that she fully embraced her soap return. “I’ve been able to do a lot of different things since World Turns,” she offers. “I played Tallulah Bankhead in Looped, I did Hello, Dolly! again, and I played the gun-toting madam on a Western web series called Thurston. There was also a lot that came into my lap over the last decade or so that I turned down because I didn’t feel it was right. But when Josh got a hold of me for this, I felt it was right.”
And while she wishes the job could have lasted longer, “my biggest takeaway is I can still work this medium,” Zenk declares. “I can still do this. And for my age with no work, I look pretty good on camera, not too bad. For a 72-year-old woman to be given this kind of opportunity, I’d jump in again.”
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
What a terrific lady and a fantastic actress. La Zenk owned this role and if her time at Y&R is truly done (I'm not convinced!) then surely some other lucky soap or primetime show should scoop her up.
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O
I remember Ms. Zenk from As the world turns. Very talented actress. I hope more roles come her way. She is a blessing to any role that comes her way.
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G
I adore Colleen Zenk's work.
Maybe she's off the canvas temporarily and will return?
She's talented and it's been fun to watch her interact with all of the Y & R cast.
A real pro!
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P
I thought she did a fabulous job!! I hated to see her killed off. I was tired of the storyline but would have liked her to somehow stay on the show.
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O
Colleen Zenk did a wonderful job playing the demented Aunt Jordan. Her last scenes were intense as she stood once again in the hands of the Newman's wrath. What I didn't think was that Aunt Jordan would back down so easily from being captured. Especially since she had already escaped prison before, it didn't seem like a Aunt Jordan move to drink the poison tea by her own doing. I would think she wouldn't take her own life at that time & instead see what other options may have been presented for her to escape. She had been able to escape mental facilities, prison & Victor's private cell in his basement. She never presented herself as one to give up in her quest. Her ending seemed too easy & imo not consistent with Aunt Jordan's personality & determination.
Prison would have been an option for her to threaten at some later date.
I want to say I hope Colleen Zenk gets a daytime Emmy nod for her work on Y & R. It was great seeing her work in daytime again. Hopefully we will see her turn up on another soap, that would be great.
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T
I absolutely agree with everything that you have said! Colleen is a phenomenal actress, that is for sure! She definitely deserves an Emmy for her role as Jordan.
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G
Always liked her on As the World Turns. So disappointed so never won an Emmy. Hopefully she will show up again somewhere.
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G
She's a superb actress but Dear Lord it was past time to put that story line and the viewers out of our misery. Since 2023 eh? Seems about right.
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G
I watched ATWT from beginning, loved Colleen. Was so sad when it when away. I have watched Y&R since beginning, and as thrilled to see Colleen again. She is so beautiful and talented. Thank you miss Colleen. Hope you show up on my TV again. I am 80
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O
I remember her as Barbara on As the World Turns.
Really enjoyed her character on Y&R. She was
so wonderfully evil!
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R
Great actress but Aunt Jordan was not my favorite character & in my opinion the plot went on too long & too dramatic.
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R
It's about time, her story line has been so ridiculous and unbelievable, like someone could escape from prison 3 times, etc. Nothing against the actress, just a stupid story line.
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G
Remember Lady Zenk from As World Turns. She was a remarkable actress then and still is..
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C
Is there a chance that Phillip Chancellor could return for a while to chat with his brother Billy about Jill selling the company to Victor it's a thought and would be interesting to see as well as Jill I have watched Y and R since I was in grammar school believe it or not with my mother may she rest in peace
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C
I wish she would have stayed on Y and R a little bit longer but it was well played
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C
She was wonderful!! Maybe she can come back as a twin!! Hey, it happens!
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B
Colleen Zenz ,I remember you and your husband from ATWT. I enjoyed seeing you after all these years, Thank you and Good luck,From Florida .
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O
I loved her as Barbara!!! I didn't know she was Y&R. I was about to start looking at it again since I retired but, she's gone. She is fantastic actress.
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J
Colleen looked great at 72. She was fantastic in a terrible storyline. I would have loved to see in a scene or 2 vs Phyliss. I wish her successful employment in the near future. #barbararyanforever
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R
Love Colleen zenk.hope she comes back.also we miss cameron
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R
Jordan was Barbara Ryan v2.0, who hated Rose.
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G
She’s to sweet and pretty to be a mean person
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T
I love Colleen Zenk!!! She's very talented and a fantastic actress!!! She played Barbara as from As The World Turns!!! I wish they had never canceled As The World Turns or Guilding Light!!! They were my favorite soaps!!! I hope Colleen would come back on Young and The Restless. She could've faked her death or have a twin. She could possibly go to Bold & the Beautiful!!! She could be play Deacon's mom or Bill's Mom. Maybe she could possibly play Sally!!! It would be great!!!
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C
I loved Ms. Zenk in As The World Turns...in fact I was so sad and upset when that show went off the air! She did an awesome job being the horrible person, Jordan, on my one and only soap The Young And Restless!
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O
We aren't or with Ian we got tired of that storyline
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C
You Go Girl...!!!
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O
Please don’t jump in your character was horrible not many people liked you it’s time for you to retire honey stay home and play with the grandkids or great grandkids are great great grandkids
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O
I'm glad that witch is gone! I hated that story line!
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G
Glad Jordon is gone didnt like haer
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S
I'm glad she and her character are gone. And it better be final. But watch the inept GCPD and coroner's office will "forget" to do an autopsy.
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