The Young and the Restless fans bid farewell to James Hyde, who played the menacing character of Jeremy Stark. Recently, Hyde opened up about his experience working on the show, from his unexpected debut to his emotional exit. He talked about his character’s evolution, his interactions with co-stars, and his final scenes with Michelle Stafford. Despite feeling bittersweet about leaving the show, Hyde reflected on his time at Y&R as an unforgettable experience. Let’s dive into his journey as Jeremy Stark and his thoughts on leaving the soap opera.
Initially, James Hyde was only supposed to play Jeremy Stark for one episode on The Young and the Restless, where he appeared in flashback scenes opposite Susan Walter (Diane). However, the soap’s producers saw something special in Hyde’s performance and brought him back for more episodes. Prior to this, Hyde played the role of Sam on Passion for the show’s entire run. But in Genoa City, Hyde found a new home and quickly became part of the soap opera’s family.
James’ Bittersweet Goodbye!
In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Hyde opened up about his time on the set of the show. He spoke of the kindness and professionalism of everyone involved, from the actors to the production team and even the people in the office. But as the end of his stint on the show approached, Hyde found himself struggling with bittersweet emotions. Knowing that he wouldn’t be returning made it difficult to say goodbye to the people who had made him feel so at home.
As James Hyde approached his final episodes on The Young and the Restless, his emotions were in turmoil. Shooting opposite Michelle Stafford’s character, Phyllis, only made his imminent exit all the more difficult. “I was just kind of bummed that this was coming to an end, and it hit me hard,” Hyde confessed. Feeling off-kilter, he turned to Stafford for support, and the two found themselves talking in-depth about the challenges of saying goodbye.
According to Hyde, Stafford’s kindness and support helped him regain his footing in the face of his impending exit. “She was so sweet and helped me to get back on track again,” he recalled. From that point on, he was able to come to terms with his departure from the show. In fact, when he received the script for his final scenes with Stafford’s character, he was ecstatic. Hyde knew that the Jeremy/Phyllis scenes were going to be nothing short of electrifying.
James Hyde’s Final Scenes on The Young And The Restless
The final scenes featuring Hyde and Stafford turned out to be as intense as the actor had anticipated. “It was like watching two psychos in the same room,” Hyde reflected. Their exchange went from a threat to lying and even approached the brink of a sexual encounter. However, things took a wild turn when Phyllis tried to escape, only to be stopped by Jeremy. The actor described the sequence as a rollercoaster of emotions, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Hyde shared that in the final scenes, his character’s actions led to disastrous consequences, as he underestimated the power of a mother’s love for her children. He went on to describe the intense and thrilling nature of filming the climactic scene, saying, “It was a real psychological and robust show to the end. It was a total enjoyment to shoot, and now it’s RIP, Jeremy Stark.” Although Hyde’s portrayal of Jeremy Stark was short, it left a lasting impression on both the cast and fans of The Young and the Restless. Hyde’s performance and the impactful storyline he was a part of will be remembered for years to come. Who knows, we may even see James Hyde return to Genoa City one day!
