Young and the Restless Exit Shocker: Greg Rikaart Leaving After 14 Years
It’s the end of an era at The Young and the Restless.
TVLine has learned exclusively that Daytime Emmy winner Greg Rikaart — who has played reformed perp Kevin Fisher on TV’s No. 1 soap for the past 14 years — will exit the CBS sudser later this summer. Although reps for Y&R and Rikaart declined to comment, sources confirm that The Powers That Be opted not to renew Rikaart’s contract. [UPDATE: Rikaart has released a statement confirming his departure.]
When Rikaart debuted in 2003, his Internet predator character was only slated to appear on a short-term basis. But fans took to his villainous alter ego and Y&R subsequently signed him to a contract. Kevin has long since been redeemed, now works for the Genoa City Police and recently found out that he’s the father of on-again/off-again wife Chloe’s daughter.
Rikaart — whose primetime credits include guest stints on Bones, Major Crimes and CSI: Miami — will continue to tape episodes through June, with his swan song slated to air in August. Rumor has it that exec producer Mal Young and head writer Sally Sussman are leaving the door open for Kevin to return down the line (i.e. he’s not getting killed off).
Thoughts on Rikaart’s departure? Is the blow cushioned somewhat by the fact that Kevin will not head out of Genoa City in a body bag? Hit the comments with your thoughts.
OH NO! This news makes Y&R fans really sad. Kevin & Mariah did have great chemistry together.
They havent been using him well enough. He deserves better anyhow.
Please keep Kevin! He is funny and quirky!!
From your mouth to producers ears.
Yes they be messing up the storyline the writer’s
So true!!! What has happened to the real story ????!
I know right…
Dislike!!!! We need him!!! His character needs to stay & we want to watch Bella grow up!!!!
I agree Cre!!!
Bella is probably a child that has been kidnapped by Chloe. WE ALL KNOW DNA TESTS CAN BE ALTERED..
Which she did … it’s Billy’s baby! She was trying to create another Delia!!!
Would not put it past Chloe’s law breaking antics to kidnap a child to call her own, except Bella looks almost identical to Delia when she was that age, so she is definitely Chloe’s child.
Annie, I don’t know where you got that she altered the DNA test to make Bella Billy’s baby. She had stolen a sample of Billy’s sperm to get artificially inseminated, but she had also slept with Kevin, so she truly didn’t know which one was Bella’s father. Which is why she sent both of them letters to instruct them to do a new dna test because the dna test that Kevin had previously taken when she first showed up to GC with Bella, she had exchanged his speciman with some random sperm so he would not show as the father even if he was. The new DNA test that both Kevin and Billy took was not altered in any way (Chloe was long gone from GC by then) and showed without a doubt that Kevin was Bella’s father.
Getting rid of Greg ( Kevin) is yet another reason why Y & R is no longer the #1 soap. I have watched it for decades and am now so disappointed in what actors you toss out !! Listen to your fans, please !!!!!!!!!
Amen. Bad choice getting rid of Kevin.. smh
I LOVE Kevin so glad he is Bella’s father, maybe they just taking a vacation. I wish him luck. DON’t stay gone for too long. He makes the show great
Not sure where this story is going but all the exciting actors are leaving. Why not get rid of Sharon’s role. Or Chelsea’s or even Phyllis. Now here they brought in Hillary and Juillet and Tessa -no story to follow except hunger for younger men….
YEA ur so right about that Kevin Tran I really like them together but ……I really don’t know what’s wrong w/the writers these days a lot of fans include myself are seeing the rates going way down the soap of young and restless it is so twisted theirs a lot of that soap doesn’t make sense.
really sad I enjoy his role will miss him so much
Boo to Y&R for not renewing Greg’s contract!!! That is very upsetting!!! Kevin is a major reason why I watch Y&R!!! This better have nothing to do with his personal life. Greg was brave enough to admit his sexuality years ago, and there was a time when that was “not allowed” for daytime actors!!! Kudos to you Greg and best of luck to you in your future endeavors!!! Maybe go to GH, a better soap than Y&R anyways!
Come on powers that be, why would you get rid of one of the players that really makes Young and the Restless worth watching? The new wtiters seem to not be getting the full drift as to how the show should play out. Also bring back Adam.
Yes
I feel you they have no direction
I agree….they should keep Kevin…….he is one of the best
Yes!
I agree!!! Bring Adam nack!!!
It has been a boring story since Adam left. Now they’re getting rid of another good actor!
Ikr
It is actors like this young man that has kept me watching. Victor, Nikki, Paul, Michael, Loren, Jack, Ashley, Nick are all what makes this show. I have been watching since the first day it aired on TV.
Him being gay makes it unbelievable. So while is kissing girls, in the back of our minds we know he thinking “I like boys” lol.
Lets not get into the obvious moral debates. We all know men and woman go together. Point blank and period…
Jim, that had to have been the most homophobic, racist comment that I have ever read! Please Please do jot claim to be religious
How was that racist??
IKR!! If someone wants to call that commenter’ s opinion homophobic, then stick to that point Don’t include Real Victims of Racism in your beef.
Some people think everything is racist. It is lack of intelligence.
He wasn’t but he’s homophobic which is just as wrong!
I wouldn’t want a gay man to kiss a woman playing that role their mouths has been where it should not be the buttop is not made for the mouth waste come from that area
To be true full if I was an actress and the roll was to kiss a gay man NO I WOULD NOT they have anal sex their tongue would NOT be in my mouth
You know what anal sex is?! Since the mouth does not have to be involved. And for those homophobic idiots, you think straight people don’t partake in any anal sexual acts? Seriously what is wrong with people these days that they have so much anger towards people whose cannot accept Any different then themselves! Sad world we live in.
like straight men don’t have anal sex….get real fool. they are the ones who want anal sex the most.
I did not see anything about religion in his post. Did you?
Sure, Jan….
I do agree. Like it or not, men and women belong together.
Straight men watch soaps?
Why not? We watch everything else.
I totally agree. With that being said, I have nothing against his personal life. However, he just could not could pull off the character of Kevin who likes women and now is a father. It was actually very awkward seeing him with women on screen. It seems very uncomfortable. I think it is for the best. But I wish him well.
You don’t know if the straight man , if he is during anal sex how would u no?love Kevin on the show.
Huh ??
This is BS! Y&R must be trying to lose viewers.
Considering that comments are monitored, not to go off topic and talk smart about TV then how did Jim’s obnoxious comment get posted?
Kevin is on Days of our lives. Such a good actor.
Gosh I remember being in college and becoming addicted to Y&R. I think Kevin started as the guy who was stalking Colleen and JT saved her from him. Good old days!
I’ve been watching since Paul and Lauren were teens – Good ol days in fhe 1970s.
lol :)
It was Lily
Lily dated Kevin and he locked Colleen in the room at Gina’s restaurant. Kevin started a fire and JT came in and saved her.
Yikes! My mom will be sad to hear about his departure. Mom has been a fan, since episode 1! Kevin deserves a HAPPY send off. Poor Kevin, happiness always eludes this character.
Doesn’t surprise me. Y&R has been in a long and slow decline for years. Jeanne Coopers death was the beginning. Then the show allowing Michelle Stafford, Billy Miller, and Marcy Rylan to all leave for GH didn’t help. Letting Michael Muhney go sped up the process. And then hiring Justin Hartley and giving him a plastic surgery storyline knowing he was headed to primetime soon was just puzzling. The current regime doesn’t seem to understand that actors, not the characters the actors are portraying (Jason Thompson is NOT Billy Abbott sorry), are what makes a show great. Letting Greg go is just another mistake this show is making. Please right the ship before it sinks. Best of luck Greg, you’re an amazing actor and will land somewhere fabulous!
Heading to primetime soon? He was on the show for two years.
This is us was already in the early planning stages at the time. And he only signed a two year deal letting them know he was interested in returning to prime time. The normal contract would have been for a three/four year deal.
Yeah he can join the big bang whatever.
Jason Thompson is perfectly fine as Billy Abbott :) It is nothing new/unusual that the roles were recast. Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley or Melissa Ordway are not worse then Michelle Stafford, Michael Muhney or Marcy Rylan,
Agreed!
Justin, although a good actor, was no MM as Adam. And Melissa is just finally feeling like Abby. Gina can do any role, no matter who had it previously.
Each to their own :) Jason is terrible in the role and I keep thinking why is Dr. Patrick talking to Victoria? And although Gina is AMAZING (loved her as Dinah on GL), she is NOT Phyllis. And don’t get me started on the girl that plays Abby. She’s lovely but I’d rather watch paint dry as everyone around her steps over her in scenes. Sorry to be passionate, Y&R used to be my guilty pleasure and I miss the glory days!
One more point and I promise I’ll stop! Remember the Jack/Phyllis/Nick/Sharon/
Restless Style days? Omg. Lightening in a bottle! It was like watching a prime time soap. Back on subject…we’ll miss you Greg!
Agree to all above. Michelle Stafford can never be replaced! The chemistry between she and anyone especially Nick….one hot tamale!! Miss those days too!
Love me some Michelle Stafford and love her on GH!!! I remember those Y&R days!!! “I’m going to squash that little bug!!!” That is Phyllis Summers!!!
I completely agree with you on the recasts Adam. All I see is Patrick Drake and he and GIna have the chemistry of nothing!!! Gina is NO PHYLLIS and can’t hold a candle to Michelle Stafford in the role, Phyllis should never have been recast, that’s when I started slowly getting away from watching Y&R, and poor Melissa Ordway, she’s just no Abby and does nothing for the role the way Emme Rylan did. GH got all the good ones and here’s hoping Greg follows suit!!!
A fellow Michelle fan! Geeking out but do you remember the scene where she finally gets caught for trying to run over Cricket? Her eyes closed and just a few tears fallong, slowly saying, ‘I hate that bug’. Now THAT’s Phyllis Summers!
We will have to agree to disagree there.
Billy is supposed to be blond/ish in order to blend in with the other Abbots.
No, the blond comes from Dina mergeron…John Abbott had brown hair, as does Billy’s mom, Jill. This casting of Billy Abbott completely works for me, and I like his chemistry with both Vicki and Phyllis.
Well said!
WELL SAID ADAM……..I CAN THINK OF SEVERAL OTHERES I WOULD RATHER SEE LEAVE THAN KEVIN……HILLARY, GLORIA, CAIN, REED TO NAME A FEW. THEY ARE ALL SO SELF-CENTERED AND SNARKY….CAN’T STAND WATCHING THEM. WOULD NOT MISS ANY OF THEM.
wow 2017 and there are still people who write in all caps?
It’s easier to read, to each his own nit picker
I agree 100%. Not too interesting anymore.
I think the new Billy Abbott ( Jason Thompson) is great and his chemistry with both VIctoria and Phillis shows that this casting worked.
You said it perfect!
It’s the actors themselves we grow to love!
Adam, your comment is well stated!!
Agreed. Now if we can just get rid of evil Hillary.
I agree
NO.NO…KEVIN. ..PLEASE DON’T LEAVE !!!!! You people need to keep this man on contract. WE ALL LOVE OUR KEVIN.
I don’t watch it anymore but I did when he made his debut and years after that. (Even the whole Angelina/Angelo fiasco). I also remember Greg from Dawson’s Creek.
I had forgotten Angelina/ Angelo. I think I was so traumatized, I blocked it out. Thanks for bringing it up- I may have nightmares! LoL
Adam is so right. Why would they let Greg go. He iS such an important part of the show and really loved by all the fans. Dumb decisions like this are what is causing fans to leave Y&R. After watching it for over 20 yrs. I also am thinking of leaving. Terrible story lines, bad writing etc. smarten up writers or watch your show get cancelled.
Wow! Greg Rikaart will be totally missed! On The Young and the Restless!
so sorry to hear this. But, you’ve got to do what’s benifit to you. I wish you returns when you can. and prImetime if it’s better. all the best and blessings! !!!
This is indeed sad news! Hope this decision can be reversed!! Keep Kevin !!!
Ohhh nooo i really like Kevin. Greg is an awesome actor and will be sad to see him go. I agree that like i just read that another actor can’t portray him. Like Billy Abbott Billy Miller (i know wasn’t the 1st billy Abbott) but there it’s no other actor. Michael Mulney is and i mean only the only person who can be adam i did grow found of Justin after awhile but he also could never be the real Adam Neumann and portray him the way m.m could..also..Phillis. I can’t recall the actress name who is now at General hospital. I feel this Phillis is a great actress..and she’s growing on Me. Anyways i really hope they can find away to change this and keep him ( they could save some $and get rid of Victoria’s teen son and the few teen girs)
So true, get rid of Reed and the other young actors, make no Sense whatsoever to the show. Stupid. Just trying to garner a younger audience for the summer, but what happens in the fall when they go back to school,and you’ve already lost your main audience. Hello GH
We had teenager before, Nick, Sharon, Victoriia, so … why not have some youngsters now ??? It is natural circle of life :)
You truly don’t see the sense of having younger characters? It’s building up the next generation of the show. Just like the show did with other characters when they were young (Victoria, Nick, Sharon, Devon, Lily, Kevin, Billy, etc). If soaps didn’t do that, they only characters that would be left would be 60+ years old. Just because you don’t understand the logic doesn’t mean it’s stupid.
Will he be replaced? Who will take cares of his daughter?
Didn’t you read that the door will be open for him to return in the future :)
Bella will probably be leaving with him.
Why would you write off a good part of the show?
Well this makes me sad…. I only wish the best for him and hope some day he will be back on the show… He needs to stay😔
Very unhappy to see him go. O e if the good ones. Just wish he would have been used more to be more relevant instead of all the young, useless teenagers who just fill up time not substance. We g move Y and R. Very sad.
I love Kevin and don’t want to see someone with such Incredible acting skills to leave. I was so happy he is Bellas Dad just the other day. I hope you can work out something to keep Kevin
I have watched Y&R since 1989, lately the show is kinda boring. It seems there are not enough people in GC to go around, everyone ends up sleeping with each other. All the good characters leave and I find myself not being so into the show anymore. It used to be exciting all the time, not so much now.😐
Noooo ! I agree with others who posted he hasn’t been used enough, and it’s a waste of his considerable talent, but the writers could easily fix that! His absence will affect a whole arena of actors! Sad this is happening!
Maybe he is going to meet up with Chloe, since Victor gave her enough money to get away and live on. Maybe they will raise Bella together.
Yes! Now that will be a good turn of events. Then they can all come back when Adam resurfaces and Chloe will no longer be wanted for his murder.
Big mistake. I love Kevin.
He probably a victim of budget cuts because the ratings tanked in February. Bad move.
That totally stinks!! I was looking forward to watching Kevin in full blown daddy mode with Bella!! Good luck to Greg in the future and he’ll be sorely missed on The Young and the Restless!!
Oh no, I really liked him. Hate to see him leave.
Oh no, I really liked him. Hate to see him leave…