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‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston

By Michael Fairman

Published

6 months ago

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Photo: CBS

Rob Scott Wilson has the unique vantage point in acting on soap operas after going from playing good guy to villain and Necktie Serial Killer, Ben Weston on Days of our Lives, and then being redeemed in a story arc that ran from 2014-2022. To then, being written another character to play starting also in 2022 with the arrival in Salem of a grown-up Alex Kiriakis.

On Tuesday, Wilson appears as the special guest on Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart. During his visit, he reflects on his unique path to stardom from being the first male model on he Price Is Right to playing Peter Cortlandt in Prospect Park’s All My Children reboot, to then landing in Salem and Days of our Lives as first, Ben Weston and now the aforementioned Alex.

As DAYS fans know, when Wilson took over the role of then Ben Rogers (formerly played by Justin Gaston), he eventually went by the name Ben Weston, and suddenly the story turned where Ben was revealed as very troubled, very evil, and eventually a serial killer!

Photo: JPI

REALIZING BEN HAS GONE TO THE DARK SIDE

Wilson remembered the moments he found out about the character twist, and told Rebecca and Greg, “I read the initial breakdown for this character and it went in complete different direction for Ben Weston. I was happy to be there. I loved working, but I couldn’t really sink in yet, and I really didn’t sink into that role for over a year. And unfortunately, when it really started to click, they ended up writing tremendous for me and that carried for a very long time and that is when they turned him heel. You know, all of a sudden I found out I’m the killer. I took that very personally because I was like, ‘Man, I’m doing everything I can here. Not only am I taking out all these beloved characters that other people like, but now my ass is on the line.”

Realizing he may not be long fo the role sine he was killing off fan favorite characters, Rob added,  “So if this door is shutting in my face, at least I have to make sure that they remember who they shut it on. If I can just create something that can be remembered rather than just a bad thing. …. because nobody wants to be killed off and nobody wants to be the killer doing it. You’re taking jobs, and your own is ending. So, if we can ground this in a place as honest as possible and try to find a reason behind it and ground it in love and, and whatever it is that can make this digestible and work, I think there’s a really great opportunity.”

Later, Rob had a change of heart when they could utilize Ben’s traumatic past to give some reasoning behind his behavior. Wilson explained, “I started seeing it differently and opening my eyes to a different part of him and kind of digging into the trauma that he had gone through. I thought about all the story that we had touched on a little bit between the relationship with his sister (Jordan played by Chrisell Stause) who was abused, his father (Clyde played by James Read), who abused him, and all these things that made him kind of this caged beast as mysterious and quiet and calm as he was perceived when he first showed to town. The reason for that is because he is hiding. He’s hiding something. What a time to let it all be revealed when that door is closing on him, And as bad as it was, it, it opened up a lot of doors.”

Photo: JPI

PAYING FOR HIS CRIMES

However, the moment came when it was time for Ben to pay for his crimes. Wilson added, “Albert Alarr was our producer at the time and he called me up in into that office. He’s like, ‘Rob, you know, we love you. We had this storyline and it it makes sense (to write him off). I really did love the people I worked with, and it really did hurt me to think about, this coming to a close.”

Noting to Greg and Rebecca who was oft by the Necktie Serial Killer, Wilson noted that before his story wrapped th show was thinking of ways not to lose him entirely. “Before we were even done, the discussions began, that we’re going to figure out a way to get you back, ” recounted Rob. “We’re going to do this, we’re going to do that, but you’ve killed like six people, you got to go away for a little while.”

Photo: JPI

Wilson told the Soapy co-hosts, Ben’s horrific deeds! “He ‘killed’ Will (Chandler Massey) who was beloved, and the character of Paige (True O’Brien), Serena Mason (Melissa Archer). He killed like women and then he killed Will and he killed his midwife (Denise Duff). It was drastic. Then he beat up Chad (then Billy Flynn), so viciously!”

You can check out this exclusive clip where Rob talks about turning Ben bad below.

Now let us know, did you enjoy Rob as Ben Weston? Do you hope the character returns one day? Was the Necktie Serial Killer spree one of DAYS best storylines? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners: ‘General Hospital’ Takes Drama Series, Tamara Tunie and Scott Clifton Top Acting Honors

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1 day ago

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October 30, 2026

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The 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards have just concluded on Friday night, October 30, and it was ABC’s General Hospital who took home the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series for the sixth time in row. Executive Producer, Frank Valentini accepted the award on behalf of the show.

Beyond the Gates scored its first two acting honors in the young history of the show. Veteran actress, Tamara Tunie won her first ever Emmy for Lead Actress a Daytime Drama Series for her performances as Anita Dupree, while Ambyr Michelle took home the gold in the Emerging Talent category.

Scott Clifton won his fourth Daytime Emmy overall, and second Lead Actor Emmy for his heart-tugging performance as Liam Spencer, who believed he was battling an inoperable brain tumor, only for it to turn out to be medical ruse to bilk Liam’s father out of $1 million dollars.

Scott Clifton

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

DECADES BETWEEN BETH MAITLAND AND ROGER HOWARTH LAST EMMY WIN

In the Supporting Actor and Actress categories, Daytime Emmy history was made with Beth Maitland  (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless) winning her second Emmy 41 years since she won her first won, and Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless) following suit for the men with his coming 32 years after he won in 1994 for One Life to Live.

Roger Howarth

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

Jeff Kober picked up his second Daytime Emmy win for his role as Cyrus Renault on General Hospital in the Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series category. He previously won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role in 2022, following a nomination in the same category in 2021.

The Kelly Clarkson Show, meanwhile, won Outstanding Daytime Talk Series it its final year, while Sherri Shepherd won for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host after finding out her talker had been canceled after four seasons.

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS/YouTube

THINK OF LAURA

General Hospital star Genie Francis (Laura) received the Lifetime Achievement Award and shared from the stage, “I know 50 years sounds like an awfully long time, but it doesn’t feel like that to me,” she said. “As they say, if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

Overall, General Hospital, Beyond the Gates and The Kelly Clarkson Show received the most gold statuettes for the night with four wins apiece.

Here’s a look at the honor roll for tonight’s big winners below:

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault, General Hospital)

Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
General Hospital

Outstanding Directing in a Daytime Drama Series
Days of our Lives

Outstanding Talk Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show

Outstanding Talk Series Host
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri

Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates

Outstanding Costume Design/Styling for a Daytime Program
The Young and the Restless (Episode 13273)

Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, The Kelly Clarkson Show

So, who were you happy to see win a Daytime Emmy on tonight’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Do you think the right show and actors took home the gold? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section. In case you missed it, you can watch the replay of tonight’s livestream of the Daytime Emmy ceremony below.

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Daytime Drama at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

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1 day ago

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October 30, 2026

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Drama Series Daytime Emmys

Tonight at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, the top prize is Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. This year four soaps are in the running, will the best show take home the gold? Now it’s your turn to let us know your pick!

Going into the night’s festivities, The Young and the Restless leads all nominations this year with 18. Meanwhile, the upstart Beyond the Gates, in its first Daytime Emmy appearance in its history received a record 15 nominations for a first time entry into the Emmy competition.

Then, there is General Hospital who could win its sixth Daytime Emmy in a row for Outstanding Daytime Drama series and its 19th overall. Will they continue the streak?

Meanwhile, Days of our Lives looks to prove just because they are on Peacock and not on network television that they continue to be relevant, especially in a year where we learned Ryan Gosling and John Oliver where big fans of the show.

To watch the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards live, you can catch it on the NATAS/Emmy official You Tube channel here beginning at  8pm ET/5pm PT.

Now it’s your turn! Take the Michael Fairman TV poll below and then let us know in the comment section, which show you are rooting for tonight to take home the gold statuette?

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Lead Actress at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

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2 days ago

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October 29, 2026

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Lead Actress Nominees Daytime Emmys

Five leading ladies of daytime drama are getting ready to go for the gold on Friday night, October 30 at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

Will it be one of two women securing their first-ever Daytime Emmy nominations from the newest soap on the block, Beyond the Gates? Will Heather Tom become the winningest actress ever in Daytime Emmy history if she wins what would be her 7th gold statuette?

Could Michelle Stafford become a four-time Daytime Emmy winner? And, will Stacy Haiduk, win for Lead after previously being nominated in twice in the Supporting Actress category? Stay tuned.

In case you didn’t know, and to get you up to speed, the 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera, Days of our Lives), Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree, Beyond the Gates), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless), Heather Tom (Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful), and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates).

Heather Tom

Photo: CBS

HEATHER TOM POISED TO BREAK TIE WITH ERIKA SLEZAK FOR WINNINGEST ACTRESS IN SOAPS

Heather Tom spoke with Variety on the potential of breaking the daytime actress tie for most wins with One Life to Live’s veteran Erika Slezak. The B&B actress, writer and director explained she is not in rivalry with Slezak.

“I don’t think I could be in a rivalry with Erika Slezak because she’s just iconic. It kind of floors me to think that I’m kind of in the same conversation as her, because I was such a huge fan. I had the honor working with her and I just loved every single second,” shared Heather. “She always just brought it. There was never a day where she phoned it in. I certainly cannot feel like I’m in the rivalry with her because I would just have to say that she’s already won.”

As previously reported, ahead of the big day, the annual Lead Actress Ladies Luncheon was turned into a dinner and a house party by last year’s Lead Actress winner, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, General Hospital).

Make sure to tune-in to the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards streamed live on the NATAS/Emmys You Tube Channel beginning at 8pm ET/5pm PT emanating from the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California tomorrow night!

Now below, vote in Michael Fairman TV’s poll and let us know which Lead Actress should win the Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy, and then let us know in the comment section who you 

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