Full Breakdown
Major Casting Shifts Across Daytime Soaps for the Week of May 25
5/26/2026, 12:38:19 PM
Core Casting Moves
- Returns: Jason Graham reappears as Doug McBride on *Beyond the Gates* (BTG) after a presumed death. Darin Brooks resumes the role of Wyatt Spencer on *The Bold and the Beautiful* (B&B), with his first episode slated for Wednesday, May 27. Denise Richards returns as Shauna Fulton on B&B, and Naomi Matsuda confirms the comeback of Li Finnegan with an Instagram post reading “Li Finnegen’s BACK!” . Theodora Greece (Alison Montgomery) also re-joins B&B after an eight-year absence. Michael Ocampo debuts as Gus, Javi Hernandez’s boyfriend, on *Days of Our Lives* (DOOL) on Thursday, May 28.
- Exits: Kate Mansi announces she will leave *General Hospital* (GH) as Kristina Corinthos-Davis; her final episode will air in June after she taped in April. Ben Gavin’s character Derek Baldwin is killed off on BTG, with his last appearance on Wednesday, May 20.
- New Storylines: Additional new or highlighted pairings include Jaden Lucas Miller’s conversation with his father Martin on BTG (May 27) and Melissa Reeves’s appearance as Jennifer Horton Deveraux on *Days* (May 26).
Background & Context
Daytime dramas routinely rotate casts to refresh long-running story arcs. In the past year, GH introduced Mansi in May 2023 and BTG launched original cast member Ben Gavin in its debut season. The current wave of returns and departures follows a pattern of re-engaging former leads while concluding arcs that have run for multiple seasons.
Key Actors & Their Roles
- Jason Graham – Doug McBride (BTG)
- Darin Brooks – Wyatt Spencer (B&B)
- Denise Richards – Shauna Fulton (B&B)
- Naomi Matsuda – Li Finnegan (B&B)
- Kate Mansi – Kristina Corinthos-Davis (GH)
- Ben Gavin – Derek Baldwin (BTG)
- Michael Ocampo – Gus (DOOL)
- Theodora Greece – Alison Montgomery (B&B)
Data & Statistics
- Returning actors: 5 (Graham, Brooks, Richards, Matsuda, Greece)
- Departing actors: 2 (Mansi, Gavin)
- New characters introduced: 2 (Gus on DOOL, Javi’s boyfriend)
- Episodes featuring these changes: May 25–29, 2024 (spanning GH, B&B, BTG, DOOL)
Official Statements & Responses
- Kate Mansi explained that she chose not to renew her contract after three years to focus on new projects and travel with husband Matt McInnis, describing the choice as “very difficult.”
- Ben Gavin reflected on his character’s death, noting that Derek “didn’t have a family, didn’t have parents around, and didn’t have a job, so I knew there was a chance of being an expendable character.”
- Network press releases confirmed the scheduled return dates for Brooks, Richards, and Matsuda but offered no additional commentary.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Adventures ahead.” — Kate Mansi, actress (Kristina Corinthos-Davis)
- “difficult decision” — Kate Mansi, actress (Kristina Corinthos-Davis)
- “Li Finnegen’s BACK!” — Naomi Matsuda, actress (Li Finnegan)
- “Derek didn’t have a family, didn’t have parents around, and he didn’t have a job, so I knew there was a chance of being an expendable character.” — Ben Gavin, actor (Derek Baldwin)
What’s Next
- Doug McBride’s storyline continues on BTG after his cliff-hanger return.
- Wyatt Spencer and Shauna Fulton will appear in B&B’s upcoming episodes, with the first appearances on May 27.
- Gus will interact with Javi Hernandez and Leo on DOOL beginning May 28.
- Kate Mansi’s final GH episode is slated for June, concluding her three-year run.
- Derek Baldwin’s death will be addressed in BTG’s May 20 episode recap and subsequent flashbacks.
These casting movements collectively reshape the narrative landscape of the major daytime soaps, setting the stage for new plot developments throughout late May and into June.
