James Read Takes His Final Bow on Days of Our Lives After 10 Years — But Is It for Good?

James Read says goodbye to Days of our lives – at least for now!

In the December 11 episode of the Peacock soap, villain Clyde Weston (Read) fell into a coma after being shot by Catherina Greene (Susan Elena Matus) because of the trouble he had caused over the years.

Read has joined Days of our lives in 2014 and has played Clyde — who is the estranged father of Ben Rogers (Robert Scott Wilson) and stepfather of Jordan Ridgeway (Chrishell Stause) — in more than 250 episodes since then.

As fans may recall, Clyde is behind heinous crimes including murder, rape, and blackmail, in addition to running a drug ring during his time in Salem.

James Read on ‘Days of Our Lives’.

NBC

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Read, 71, said in a statement to PEOPLE that he hopes his days in the soap opera are not yet behind him.

“It’s been a fantastic run so far, only the soap gods know if it will continue!” he shared. “I always think days as a family and we have enjoyed every minute of working there since I started 10 years ago.”

A spokesperson for the soap also teased that he might return in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, “James Read has been a recurring character on the show for the past 10 years and is a much-loved member of the Days family.”

A spokesman added: “Clyde may be incapacitated for now, but we never say ‘never’ by day.”

James Read on ‘Days of Our Lives’.

NBC

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Read in 2014 in an interview for Soap opera summarysharing, “I was immediately very drawn to the character in the material that was sent to me.”

“Clyde is not the role that people initially thought of me as during my career. In all these years, many people remembered me for the first time [the hit TV miniseries] North and South”, he continued then. “I was really playing a physical hero. Since that initial exposure to large audiences, most of my roles have been like that. I was extremely flattered that the people at DAYS thought of me for this. For many producers and directors, I wouldn’t be the first name that would come to mind, because it’s not the kind of role I’ve been associated with.”

Eight years later, Read told the magazine that he was surprised by the character’s longevity on the show.

“I don’t think anyone thought Clyde would be waiting long for Salem,” he said, adding that he thought it would be “six months. I was happy with it as I had never worked overtime before and wasn’t sure I would like it. It was a way to get my feet wet and decide if I liked it or not.”

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Days of our lives can be streamed on Peacock.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education