Here are the latest comings and goings casting news from all four daytime dramas: The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless.
Soap Opera Casting For The Week of March 17, 2025
Find out if any of your favorite actors and actresses from yesteryear are returning to the shows you watch, if any newcomers have been cast in contract, recurring, or day-player roles, or if any popular performers are about to make their exit.
Days of our Lives
In a casting shocker Billy Flynn has revealed that he’s leaving DAYS and his role of Chad DiMera. The actor, who has portrayed the late Stefano’s youngest son since 2014, has been cast in a new role on The Young and the Restless and will begin airing on the CBS soap later this spring. DAYS fans won’t have to get used to Salem without Chad for a while. Due to the show’s advanced filming schedule, he’ll continue to appear in the role for several more months.
Charles Shaughnessy, who debuted as ISA agent Shane Donovan in 1984, resurfaces as Shane Donovan on Monday, March 17. Look for Deidre Hall’s Marlena and Stephen Nichols’ Steve to question Shane about the missing John on Tuesday, March 18. Shaughnessy also appears on Wednesday, March 19, opposite Emily O’Brien, who portrays his daughter, Theresa.
Tina Huang gets more screen time as former Salem district attorney Melinda Trask on Monday, March 17 in scenes with Tamara Braun’s Ava. She also appears on Friday, March 21, opposite Susan Seaforth Hayes’ Julie.
Ros Gentle continues her stint as Rachel Blake this week. She’ll clash with Dan Feuerriegel’s EJ on Friday, March 21.
The Young and the Restless
As noted above, DAYS star Billy Flynn, who has played Chad DiMera for over a decade, is defecting to Genoa City. The actor has been cast in an undisclosed new role and will begin airing on Y&R later this spring. Because of DAYS’ accelerated filming schedule, Flynn will be airing on both shows for quite a while.
Meanwhile, Lauralee Bell, who continually pops in and out as Christine Blair, will be back again this summer, specifically in June. Bell last appeared in January, when her character rang in the New Year with Michael Damian’s Danny.
With the big reveal that Christopher Cousins’ Dr. Alan Laurent is behind Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Sharon’s (Sharon Case) abduction, the actor gets more screen time, and so does his character’s fiancee, Beth Maitland’s Traci Abbott. The pair are back on Monday, March 17, when Traci interrogates Alan. Maitland also appears on Wednesday, March 19, in scenes with Peter Bergman’s Jack and Susan Walters’ Diane.
The Bold and the Beautiful
Aside from returning to Y&R, Lauralee Bell, who plays Christine Blair on the Genoa City soap, is set to make another visit to CBS sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. No details about her return have been disclosed yet. However, her character is scheduled to turn up for a stint beginning on Thursday, April 24.
The actress and her Y&R co-star Michael Damian, who plays Christine’s beau, Danny Romalotti, made their last appearance on B&B in August of 2024. At the time, the pair stopped by the Forrester mansion, while Danny was on his rock tour in Los Angeles.
General Hospital
A popular father-daughter duo is finally back at GH, specifically in Port Charles. James Patrick Stuart has surprisingly resurfaced in town as Valentin Cassadine, while Scarlett Fernandez is back as Charlotte Cassadine. Look for both characters to be featured this week. Stuart appears on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18.
Adrian Anchondo has begun a contract role as Marco, a mysterious attorney. The character began airing last week in scenes with Van Hansis’ Lucas. The actor’s credits include Law & Order: Organized Crime, NCIS: Los Angeles and FBI: Most Wanted.
Ellen Travolta has been getting some airtime as Gloria Cerullo, Lois’ (Rena Sofer) mother and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) grandmother. Word is she’ll play a big part of the secret parentage storyline involving Giovanni Mazza’s Gio. Travolta made her last GH appearance in May of 2024, when her character returned for her granddaughter’s wedding to Chase (Josh Swickard).
