Hours after the Internet lit up amid reports that Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis) was back on contract at Days of our Lives, Kurth took to social media to clarify his status. He will remain on the long-running NBC soap, but it will continue to be in a recurring capacity.
"I am actually not back on contract. But I am continuing to work on [DAYS]," Kurth shared in response to a Soap Central tweet about the actor's status with the show.
For the record, and because I believe in truth in journalism, I am actually not back on contract. But I am continuing to work on @nbcdays . Happily. https://t.co/HWegHslf9B
— Wally Kurth (@wallykurth) March 5, 2020
Kurth was said to have mentioned his new contract status during a recent podcast appearance. Eagle-eyed fans also noted that the actor's name had moved to the contract players section of the credits that rolled for the Tuesday, March 3, episode. DAYS blogger Jason 47 also reported that Kurth's last episode in a recurring capacity was February 28.
It is unclear why Kurth's name had moved in the credits. A DAYS spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kurth originally joined DAYS in 1987 and played the character on contract until 1991. He returned to the NBC soap opera in 2009 and has been playing Justin in a recurring capacity -- while also recurring on General Hospital as Ned Ashton. With Kurth not being upped to contract status, General Hospital fans can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Kurth will be able to continue juggling both his DAYS and GH roles.
It's been an active time on the DAYS casting front. Reports are circulating that Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe Lane) is returning to the soap opera as a contract player. Meanwhile, actors like Galen Gering (Rafe Hernandez), Chandler Massey (Will Horton), and Freddie Smith -- who played Kurth's on-screen son, Sonny Kiriakis -- have been let go.
In addition to likely being seen more on DAYS, Kurth can also be seen in the upcoming film A Deadly Bridenapping, which is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2020 release. The film also stars Camila Banus (Gabi Hernandez, DAYS), Brittany Underwood (ex-Langston Wilde, One Life to Live), and Dana Sparks (ex-Grace Bennett, Passions).
Are you disappointed that Wally Kurth has not been signed to a contract? Are you glad that he will continue to appear on both DAYS and GH? What kind of storylines are you hoping the powers that be have in store for the character? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
