James Read Takes His Final Bow onDays of Our LivesAfter 10 Years — But Is It for Good?

Mar. 15, 2025

James Read on ‘Days of Our Lives’.Photo:Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

James Read is bidding farewell toDays of Our Lives— at least for now!

Read joinedDays of Our Livesin 2014 and has played Clyde — who is the estranged father of Ben Rogers (Robert Scott Wilson) and stepfather of Jordan Ridgeway (Chrishell Stause) —  in over 250 episodes since.

As fans may recall, Clyde has been 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

NBC

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

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

A spokesperson for the soap opera also teased that he may 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 well loved member of the Days family.”

The spokesperson added: “Clyde may be incapacitated for now, but we never say ‘never’ in daytime.”

In 2014, Read opened up about what attracted him to playing the villain on the longtime soap opera in an interview withSoap Opera Digest, sharing, “I was instantly and enormously attracted to the character in the material I was sent.”

“I don’t think anybody thought Clyde would be long for Salem,” he shared, adding that he thought it would be “a six-month thing. I was happy with that because I had never done daytime before, and I wasn’t sure I would like it. It was a way to get my feet wet and decide whether or not it appealed to me.”

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Days of Our Livescan be streamed on Peacock.

source: people.com