Days of Our Lives star Greg Rikaart has been in the soap world for over 20 years. However, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the actor.
Soap fans know that Rikaart began his career on The Young and the Restless as Kevin. In 2017, Rikaart’s contract was not renewed, and he exited the CBS soap.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Soapy with The Bold and the Beautiful star Rebecca Budig (Taylor), Rikaart revealed a hard truth he got when he left Y&R. The topic came up as the hosts discussed how they each would have stayed in certain soap roles if circumstances hadn’t forced them out.
“I played Kevin for, well, regularly for 15 years and continue to still play him on occasion. And frankly, had I not been sort of forced out of that comfort zone, not by my own choice. I would have stayed because it was a great job and a great role, and I adored the people I worked with, but sometimes being forced out of that comfort zone ends up being a gift you never even knew you needed,” Rikaart spilled.
The actor then revealed that The Young and the Restless icon Elieen Davidson (Ashley) gave him some food for thought on his final day on set.
“I’ll never forget. When I was leaving The Young and the Restless in 2017, Eileen Davidson said to me on my last day, she said, ‘This is going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.’ I was absolutely not in a place where I was able to hear that,” he expressed.
In 2018, the actor was cast as Leo on Days of Our Lives, where he made brief appearances until 2022, when he became a full-time cast member. Rikaart reunited with Davidson on the show and was reminded of the truth she told on his final day on Y&R.
“Cut to a few years later, she and I are both going back and forth between The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. And we were in hair and make-up together one day at Days, and she said, ‘Do you remember what I said to you?’ and I couldn’t and she had to remind me and she said, ‘and I was absolutely right’ and she was,” the soap star stated.
For those who haven’t listened to the new podcast, Soapy, we highly recommend you do. Budig and Rikaart are amazing as hosts. As Paradereported, Deidre Hall gushed over them after his appearance on the podcast, and her assessment was spot on.
