‘Y&R’ and ‘DAYS’ Star Greg Rikaart Celebrates 20 Years of Being on Daytime TV

[This interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike.]

Greg Rikaart was set for a short-term run on CBS‘ The Younger and the Stressed as predatory Kevin Fisher, a bookkeeper at Marcino’s strip membership, in 2003. Kevin surfed the online searching for younger women upon whom he may prey and located one in harmless Lily Winters (Christel Khalil). Kevin seduced Lily, which resulted in her contracting chlamydia. The present, nonetheless, wasn’t by with Rikaart as soon as its social difficulty message to viewers had been delivered.

Recognizing his expertise and potential to be a long-term solid member, Y&R tied Kevin to sequence common Christian LeBlanc making him Michael’s half-brother. Rikaart went on to win the Daytime Emmy for Excellent Supporting Actor in a Drama Collection in 2005. In 2017, after switching to recurring at Y&R, the actor was tapped to play the irrepressible and entertaining Leo Stark on Days of our Lives (now streaming on Peacock).

Learn on to get Rikaart’s ideas on his daytime run, which started 20 years in the past on July 14.

What are your reminiscences of getting the audition to play Kevin and coming in to learn for the present’s producers?

Greg Rikaart: I’d been again in Los Angeles after being in North Carolina for about six months. It was Might 2003. I used to be going by my first unhealthy breakup. I used to be heartbroken. My supervisor mentioned to me, “[Playing Kevin] is a good alternative to place every part in your life on maintain and immerse your self on this function.” In case you’re a bit of distracted while you’re auditioning, it may be useful. I bear in mind the audition materials was so emotional. Marnie Saitta [Y&R’s then-casting director] is so nice. She works with you. I bear in mind on the callback, there was a line wherein Kevin says to Lily, who has instructed somebody about their relationship, “Dammit, Lily! Will you suppose!” He’s yelling at her within the scene. I bear in mind holding the edges and smacking them into my different hand. The producers jumped again at bit. I felt if I can preserve going, this half is mine.

Kevin later set Gina’s restaurant on hearth with poor Colleen (Lyndsy Fonseca) trapped inside. That might have meant the top of the character, however you stayed on. When did you understand Kevin had long-term viability?

I’d truly been signed to a 12 months deal after I first got here on however sure, the deal was for Kevin to not be on long-term. I’d began airing in July and on the present’s August fan occasion that 12 months, I used to be sat subsequent to Christian LeBlanc [Michael] in a very serendipitous second. As Jack [Smith, Y&R’s then-head writer/co-executive producer] tells the story, both he, Asia [Smith, ex-Sierra], his daughter, or his spouse, Norma, talked about how Christian and I favored each other. I didn’t know they have been going to make us half-brothers till shortly earlier than I bought the script. I could have been too naïve to appreciate what that brotherly connection meant. It was the present of all presents, getting Christian as my [TV] brother.

The viewers began to really feel sympathy for Kevin after he went to jail and bought a blanket thrown over him and severely crushed up by different prisoners.

I at all times tried to deliver vulnerability to him. However sure, him being in jail was [a turning point]. Kay Alden [then-head writer] instructed me at one level she’d been the holdout. She felt Kevin had gone too far, however I assume she drank the Kool-Support. [Laughs]

I owe a lot to Christian, who’d been within the enterprise for therefore lengthy. I could have been teen too naïve, however he knew what a present it was. We’d have dinner the place we’d go over our scenes and discover nuances we may play. I owe a lot of my longevity on the present to him and the work we put in in these early days.

What was it like when Joan Van Ark (Knots Touchdown) got here on as Gloria, Kevin’s mother?

Superb. Joan is a TV legend. It was so thrilling attending to work together with her, getting a mom on the present. I’ve such fond reminiscences from that complete time.

Plenty of actresses with primetime and movie credit got here into learn for the recast when Joan was leaving. The present went with cleaning soap vet Judith Chapman [ex-Ginny, General Hospital; ex-Anjelica, Days of our Lives] – who grabbed the reins and ran with it.

One of many issues that was so nice about Judith becoming a member of the present was that her course of is basically particular and interesting to observe, and it’s additionally fascinating to be part of. We had somebody who was able to hit the bottom working from day one. That’s Judith. She knew precisely what to do. She’s not solely technically savvy however she’s additionally a tremendously gifted actress. She was the right addition to the Baldwin/Fisher household. Michael was the straight man. Kevin was the ne’er do properly. Gloria was the mastermind.

Considered one of my favourite moments working with Judith was once we have been doing a scene and the director mentioned, “Judith, as an alternative of going through Greg, begin the scene along with your again to him after which, flip to him.” What that girl did and emoted in a easy flip… I’d by no means seen anybody else have the ability to do.

What was it like being reunited together with her on DAYS when she was solid as Diana, Leo’s mother?

What a present, really a present. [She’s] an incredible instance of somebody who not solely is aware of technically find out how to transfer rapidly however we [also] didn’t should waste a minute attending to know one another. We simply shifted gears on our characters’ dynamics and went from there. She referred to as me to inform me we’d be working collectively. I used to be simply thrilled.

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What was in your profitable Daytime Emmy reel in 2005?

There have been scenes with Michael, and Lauren [Tracey Bregman] tried to cease Kevin from killing himself. If I’m not mistaken, these have been additionally on Christian’s [winning] reel. I feel the opposite scenes have been between Kevin and Lauren the place he found she was taking part in him to get info she may give to Paul [Doug Davidson]. He felt terribly betrayed.

Kevin struck out romantically with Laura, however he was paired later with Jana, performed by Emily O’Brien, and Chloe, performed by Elizabeth Hendrickson.

On the time, Jana was the right “lid” to Kevin’s “pot.” She was on the market in her personal method. She was un-phased by Kevin’s checkered previous. She liked him for who he was. She did see the nice in him. It was pivotal and set the stage for him later to be prepared for different wholesome relationships. There couldn’t have been a Kevin and Chloe if there hadn’t been a Kevin and Jana first.

How did Kevin’s relationship with Chloe have an effect on him?

I feel he actually had no selection however to step up being an empath and nurturer as a result of a lot of their relationship was her coping with the loss of life of her daughter, Delia. That compelled him to develop up and mature emotionally and in very massive methods. Elizabeth and I’ve enjoyable working collectively. I feel it performs on digicam.

Kevin was apprehensive about having a son due to the abuse he lived by from his father Tom, performed by the late, nice Roscoe Born. Do you’ve got reminiscences of working with him?

Sure. I bear in mind him being sensible and scary on-camera. Off-camera, he was a stunning, beautiful man. However even in rehearsal he’d need me — as Kevin — to be uncomfortable. And he succeeded.

That’s properly put. I’d heard these tales about his course of with you.

Except it’s a must to, there’s no motive to by no means break character and be who you might be on digicam. However a bit of bit [of being that way before you shoot] might be good.

There was a time when an out character like Leo wouldn’t be on daytime or, if he have been launched, wouldn’t be on for very lengthy.

One other particular person I owe a lot gratitude is Marnie [who became the Days casting director after leaving Y&R.] She texted me as my final Y&R episodes [on contract] have been airing. She referred to as me in for Leo. He’s developed as time has gone on; he wasn’t as colourful then as he’s now.

Characters have been seducing and/or blackmailing one another into mattress or marriage for years. However we’ve not seen homosexual characters try this. What’s it prefer to play Leo?

Liberating, in a method. To your level, I see that we’re doing one thing that hasn’t been achieved earlier than. It’s a uncommon factor and a enjoyable factor to expertise, given how lengthy soaps have been round. I’m fortunate I’ve co-workers who’re so recreation [for our scenes] together with Billy Flynn [Chad], Paul Telfer [Xander], Eric Martsolf [Brady], and others — any man [Kevin] has ever hit on that present is like, “Let’s play! Let’s have enjoyable with these scenes. It’s a tennis match. Let’s hit the ball forwards and backwards.”

What would you prefer to see Kevin do subsequent?

I feel Kevin being a dad to his son, given what he went by with Tom, is a ripe space. I at all times love Kevin and Daniel [Michael Graziadei] stuff. It’s at all times enjoyable to behave with Michael. There’s loads of stuff that’s nonetheless untold.

And the way do you’re feeling about Leo’s present storyline?

Proper now, it’s significantly enjoyable. We’re moving into the meat and potatoes of the story with me, Emily [O’Brien, Gwen] and Peter Porte [Dimitri; ex-Ricky, Y&R], which is such an incredible completely satisfied reunion as we’ve all been on Y&R. They’re each so large. There’s no such factor as working traces an excessive amount of or discovering nuances. We’re doing a little enjoyable stuff. It’s a bit trailblazing in that it’s a love triangle involving a homosexual man [Leo] and a straight girl [Gwen] preventing over the identical man [Dimitri], who’s bisexual.

Do you’ve got a shout-out to the followers and different supporters who’ve adopted you for each exhibits and gone on Kevin and Leo’s respective journeys?

Sure. After I was youthful, I believed that I had the suitable quantity of gratitude and realization over being lucky that I bought to do the work. In 2017, all of it type of went away for a minute [when I switched to recurring on Y&R]. Then, it got here roaring again [with Leo and more appearances as Kevin]. On what I believed was my final day at Y&R, Eileen Davidson [Ashley; ex-Kristen, Susan, et. al., Days] pulled me apart and mentioned, “I promise you that is going to be the very best factor that’s ever occurred to you.” I wasn’t in a spot the place I may do not forget that.

At a photograph shoot for our 50^th, she jogged my memory of what she’d mentioned. And take a look at me now. I’ve two nice roles on two nice exhibits. I’ve a lot gratitude for the followers. If it weren’t for them and their funding in Kevin and Leo, neither of them would nonetheless be round. I’m grateful to the slew of nice writers who’ve given me nice stuff through the years — Jack, Kay, Lynn [Latham], Chuck [Pratt], Jean [Passanante] and Shelly [Altman], Maria [Bell], and Josh [Griffith, Y&R’s current head writer/executive producer]…and Ron, in fact. I feel he has a discipline day with Leo.

If I began itemizing extra folks, I’d be right here perpetually, however I additionally need to thank Sony Footage Tv, Peacock, and CBS. I’ve these two exterior households exterior of my very own fast household. There’s a lot love and help I get again. I’m a really fortunate man.

The Younger and the Stressed, Weekdays, CBS

Days of our Lives, Weekdays, Peacock