25 Daytime Departures That Shocked Us in 2018
Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of Our Lives)
The actor may play a character from the Kiriakis clan, but he’s gotta have some DiMera in him because even though Xander perished in a fire this fall, he’s set to rise like a Phoenix in 2019. His return was announced at the annual Day of DAYS fan event in November.
Eileen Davidson (Ashley, The Young and the Restless)
Citing that she wanted to spend more time with her family, Davidson, an Emmy-winner for her role as Ashley, left Y&R. The show sent her off in style, revealing Ashley had faked Jack’s (Peter Bergman) paternity test. Then, Ash boarded a plane to Paris and toasted her next chapter. We look forward to someday toasting her return to Genoa City.
Dominic Zamprogna (Dante, General Hospital)
The actor opted not to sign another deal to remain in Port Charles so off Dante went to fight crime on a secret mission. He’s already popped up back once in a fantasy episode of Sonny’s (Maurice Benard). Our fantasy is that Zamprogna returns to the show full time.
Jacob Young (Rick, The Bold and the Beautiful)
The Emmy-winning actor called it a “blessing” when he was switched to recurring status earlier this year. Young’s absence has been explained by saying that Rick and his wife Maya (Karla Mosley) have separated. Young’s got a series of projects keeping him busy, but it’d be a “blessing” for B&B fans if he were to return to the show in 2019.
Thaao Penghlis (Andre, Days of Our Lives)
Biting remarks and mind games took a hit when Andre DiMera was killed off. However, as Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie) once put it, “many die in Salem, but few are buried.” Penghlis is set to return to Days next March, but will he be Andre or Tony?
Ryan Paevey (Nathan, General Hospital)
Nathan died a heroic death and got a hero’s send off in one of the more realistic funeral episodes seen on soaps. The good news is that Ryan’s portrayer is alive and well and working! Post-GH, he’s appeared on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and in the Hallmark flick Hope at Christmas.
Daniel Hall (Scott, The Young and the Restless)
Soaps are all about love triangles, but, for some reason, Daniel had nowhere to go after his dual relationships with Sharon (Sharon Case) and Abby (Melissa Ordway) came to light. He’s missed — as is the Moonlighting-like banter Scott and Abby shared.
Max Shippee (Graham, The Young and the Restless)
Evil Graham donned surgical gloves and planned to inject Alzheimer’s stricken Dina (Marla Adams) with a deadly drug. Fortunately, the fit man in his prime was no match for the wiry Abbott matriarch. She wrestled the needle away from him and, during a struggle, Graham got stabbed and then died.
Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital)
The year began on a low-note for Laura fans when Francis exited the ABC soap. Fortunately, a deal was hammered out for the Emmy-winning, fan favorite actress to return and now she’s back in a front-burner storyline in which her husband Kevin (Jon Lindstrom) has been replaced his evil, murderous twin Ryan!
Abhi Sinah (Ravi, The Young and the Restless)
The adorkable (yeah, that’s a word) computer expert popped up here and there in 2018, but his offbeat romance with Ashley (Eileen Davidson), which had begun the previous year, faded away. Presumably, he’s still in Genoa City somewhere and could always turn up once more.
Christopher Sean (Paul, Days of Our Lives)
It was bad enough that Paul took a near fatal fall but then he found out Will (Chandler Massey) got his memory back and realized he still loved Sonny (Freddie Smith). So, Paul left Salem and his destination is a galaxy far, far away where he’ll voice the role of Kaz in the animated series Star Wars Resistance.
Donna Mills (Madeline, General Hospital)
Mills’ run as Madeline on GH was a delight, but all good things must come to an end and Nina’s (Michelle Stafford) criminal mom died while in prison. Mills won a Daytime Emmy for her time in Port Charles; we give her performance as Madeline a “10” on the “Abby scale.”
Vanessa A. Williams (Valerie, Days of Our Lives)
Valerie returned to Salem to lend her considerable medical skills to University Hospital and give Abe (James Reynolds) a love life. Alas, Williams run came to an end when the good doctor got an out of town job offer and she decided to accept it.
Doug Davidson (Paul, The Young and the Restless)
A mainstay in Genoa City for 40 years, Paul Williams, the chief of police, hasn’t seen much action lately. The actor shared on social media that he was switched to recurring status at the beginning of the year with the top-rated soaps. He’s received an outpouring of support from his followers on social media, all of whom are hoping he returns to the screen soon.
Ashleigh Brewer (Ivy, The Bold and the Beautiful)
She won Liam’s (Scott Clifton) heart for a while, but his dance card filled up with other women. So, Brewer opted to leave the half-hour soap and return to her native Australia where she booked a role in the down under sudser Home and Away as Chelsea Campbell.
Vinessa Antoine (Jordan, General Hospital)
The actress turned in her police commissioner badge after she was cast in Diggstown, a prime-time legal drama that will air in Canada. The show recast her with actress Briana Henry, who’s now charged with keeping the streets of Port Charles safe.
Marci Miller (Abby, Days of Our Lives)
She won our hearts taking over the role of Abigail and then broke them when she opted to leave the NBC sudser. The only thing that made her exit easier was her predecessor, Kate Mansi, reprised the role to continue Abby’s story.
Chloe Lanier (Nelle, General Hospital)
Emmy-winner Lanier left Port Charles after Nelle’s devious (and delicious to watch) crimes caught up with her. Viewers are hoping they’ll see her again and they probably will at next year’s Daytime Emmys given the powerhouse performances the actress turned in this year.
Louise Sorel (Vivian, Days of Our Lives)
In what appeared to be a fatal battle with her longtime nemesis Kate (Lauren Koslow), Vivian seemingly died. While in the morgue, she came back to life (because this is Days!) It’ll be great to see her back someday, causing havoc and threatening to put people in coffins.
Thad Luckinbill (J.T., The Young and the Restless)
Luckinbill reprised his role as J.T. for a powerful storyline that shined a light on the seriousness of emotional and physical abuse. When J.T. went to attack Victoria (Amelia Heinle), her protective mama Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) attacked him with an andiron, causing (we think) his death.
Hayley Erin (Kiki, General Hospital)
Erin had the thankless job of taking over the role of Kiki from fan favorite Kristen Alderson and proceeded to win the hearts of GH viewers with her earnest performances. Alas, those hearts were broken after Kiki became the victim of serial killer Ryan Chamberlin (Jon Lindstrom). The good news is that Erin is set to star in The Perfectionists, a spinoff of Pretty Little Liars, and Maura West gave an Emmy-winning performance as Ava responded to her daughter’s death.
Mishael Morgan (Hilary, The Young and the Restless)
The love story of Hilary and Devon (Bryton James) came to a sudden and violent end after Hilary and her unborn baby died in a car accident. An Emmy-nominee for her role as Hilary, Morgan won’t be forgotten anytime soon by “Hevon” fans.
Stephen Nichols (ex-Steve, Days of Our Lives)
In an abrupt exit, Nichols left Days and his absence was explained by saying that Steve was arrested – off camera. Here’s hoping he returns to the Salem scene in 2019 as a free man, ready to resume his life with Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) aka “Sweetness”.
Tequan Richmond (T.J., General Hospital)
The actor landed a role in the BET series Boomerang, prompting his exit from Port Charles. The show recast his role with newcomer Tajh Bellow. During his stay in Port Charles, Richmond received three Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Leading Actor.
Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, The Young and the Restless)
Chelsea had it all – friends, a profitable business, a life with Nick (Joshua Morrow), and two little boys to raise. But when the actress decided to leave the show, the Y&R writers decided that Chelsea would jettison all of this (even Nick??) in order to reprise her con artist ways. Chelsea, come home. All will be forgiven.
Characters come and go from soaps all the time, but 2018 seemed to have an extraordinary number of exits.
We're taking a look back at 25 familiar faces — from The Young and the Restless, Days of Our Lives, and more — who left their respective soaps this year. There were those who had been there for just a year, and others for decades, while some left for a second time after returning for a short stay.
Here’s hoping that they all pop back up on our screens in 2019! Click through the gallery above for all of the surprising exits.
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