Just when one you think there isn’t enough African American talent on daytime soaps, a few long lasting veterans are possibly leaving to venture onto other projects that could be more fruitful.
Recently, two-time Emmy winner and ‘The Young and the Restless‘s 19-year veteran Kristoff St. John released a statement on his Facebook page, denying reports that he was set to leave the #1 rated daytime soap.
“As of right now, today, I am not leaving The Young and The Restless. I love my daytime home and treasure it. I love all of you and thank you for your beautiful support.”
According to Soaps In Depth, a rep for the actor stated, “Kristoff St. John will make a very brief departure from daytime to focus on a professional opportunity. As he considers Genoa City home, he looks forward to returning quickly and giving fans much more of Neil Winters.”
Meanwhile, ‘One Life to Live‘ star Tika Sumpter posted a video message on her Facebook page informing her fans that she decided to go to recurring status with the ABC soap. She has been Layla Williamson, the sister of Llanview Assistant District Attorney Evangeline Williamson (formerly played by Renee Elise Goldsberry), on the show since 2005.
“As of July 30th, I will no longer be on contract. I will be on recurring (status). This was my choice. I decided this because it’s just time to move on for me. It’s time for me to try other things. And… it’s just time. You know, you come at a crossroads in your life and you know that it’s time to go on.”
Sumpter will be starring opposite TNT’s Hawthorne’s Collins Pennie in ‘Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming,’ the sequel to the 2007 box office hit. It will be released on video on September 21.
In the meantime, ‘Y&R’ has added Julia Pace Mitchell to the cast.
Debuting today, she’s playing Sofia Dupre, the confident, no-nonsense CFO to Tucker McCall’s company.
She shares screen time with Tucker, Neil, and Malcolm.
She’s representing bold, beautiful and black plus sized woman on daytime television with her new role.
If she looks familiar, Mitchell was last seen on the big screen in ‘Notorious,’ the Biggie Smalls film. She played Jan, the mother of his first child.
She will next be seen ‘Faster,’ starring Dwayne Johnson.
